SPG-9

The SPG-9 Kopyo (Template:Langx, transliterated: Stankovyi Protivotankovyi Granatomet "Kopyo" - Easel Anti-tank Grenade Launcher "Spear") is a tripod-mounted man-portable, 73mm caliber recoilless gun developed by the Soviet Union. It fires fin-stabilized, rocket-assisted high explosive (HE) and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge projectiles similar to those fired by the 73mm 2A28 Grom low pressure gun of the BMP-1 armored vehicle. It was accepted into service in 1962, replacing the B-10 recoilless rifle.

Description

Template:More citations needed section The projectile is launched from the gun by a small charge, which gives it an initial velocity of between Template:Convert. The launch charge also imparts spin to the projectile by a series of offset holes. Once the projectile has traveled approximately Template:Convert from the launcher, a rocket motor in its base ignites. For the PG-9 projectile, this takes it to a velocity of Template:Convert before the motor burns out.

The SPG-9 is heavy, ~Template:Convert, and normally transported by vehicle, and carried into position by its two person crew. It can be deployed in about a minute. The weapon is in service with a large number of armed forces, and a variety of ammunition is produced; however, they are mostly copies of the original Soviet PG-9 HEAT and OG-9 fragmentation high explosive (Frag-HE) rounds.

The SPG-9 is widely available to terrorists and maritime pirates such as in the Horn of Africa region, and in other regions to a lesser degree. It is not as popular as the RPG-7 because it must be mounted on a vehicle or boat and cannot be easily carried and shoulder fired. The SPG-9 requires much more skill to fire accurately than the RPG-7. There have been reports of these mounted in skiffs and larger "mother ships". The SPG-9 can typically be found mounted on a wide variety of vehicles known as "technicals" in Somalia.

A variant for use with airborne troops including detachable wheels was built as the SPG-9D.

Combat use

The SPG-9 was used by both sides during the Transnistria War.

In addition to using the SPG-9 as light indirect fire artillery, members of Wagner PMC modified SPG-9 ammunition to be fired from more portable RPG-7 launchers during the Battle of Bakhmut.

In mid October 2023 Israeli forces, during the Gaza war, captured a flyer produced by Hamas about destroying Merkava tanks. The flyer recommended the SPG-9 as an effective way of defeating the Israeli Trophy System designed to intercept incoming RPG or Anti-tank Guided Missiles. The SPG-9 was recommended due "simply by virtue of its projectile’s high speed".

Projectiles

Round (projectile)	Type	Weight (kg)	Fuze	Length (mm)	Explosive content (kg)	Muzzle velocity (m/s)	Effective range (m)	Maximum range (m)	Armour penetration (mm)	Notes
PG-9 (PG-9V)	HEAT-FS	4.39	VP-9	920	0.322 (hexogen)	435	800	1,300	300	—
PG-9N	HEAT-FS		VP-9	920	0.340 (OKFOL-3.5)	435	800	1,300	400	—
PG-9VS	HEAT-FS	4.4	?	920	?		1,300	?	400	-
PG-9VNT (PG-9NT)	HEAT-FS	3.2	?	920	?	400	700	1,200	600 or 450 behind ERA	Tandem-charge
OG-9V (OG-9)	FRAG-HE	5.35	GO-2 or O-4M	1062	0.735 (TNT)	316	–	–	n/a	Cast iron casing
OG-9VM (OG-9M)	FRAG-HE	5.35	GO-2 or O-4M	1062	0.655 (TD-50)	316	–	–	n/a	—
OG-9VM1 (OG-9V)	FRAG-HE	5.35	GO-2 or O-4M	1062	?	316	–	4,500	n/a	—
OG-9BG (OG-9G)	FRAG-HE	6.9	O-4M	1030	0.750	316	–	7,500	n/a	Bulgarian made
OG-9BG1 (OG-9G1)	FRAG-HE	5.48	O-4M	1024	0.750	250	–	4,200	n/a	Bulgarian made

Users

File:SPG-9 Operators Map 20.03.2024.png

Map with SPG-9 users in blue

File:Batalionul 191 infanterie 10.jpg

Romanian soldiers with an AG-9 (license built SPG-9) in traveling position.

File:Afghan spg 9 1.jpg

A Mongolian Mobile Training Team member reviews the SPG-9 recoilless gun with Afghan National Army soldiers prior to a live-fire weapons demonstration, September 2, 2012, at the Camp Scenic weapons range near the Darulaman Infantry School in Kabul, Afghanistan. The MTT specialize in SPG-9 recoilless rifle systems and train ANA soldiers at the infantry school.

• Template:Country data Afghanistan
•  : manufactured locally as Arsenal ATGL
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• Template:Country data Democratic Republic of the Congo
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• Template:Country data Georgia
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• Template:Country data Iran: AMIG SPG-9
• Template:Country data Iraq
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• Template:Country data Libya
• Template:Country data Mali
• Template:Country data MoldovaTemplate:Sfn
• Template:Country data PolandTemplate:Sfn
• Template:Country data Romania: RomArm AG-9
• Template:Country data RussiaTemplate:Sfn
• Template:Country data RwandaTemplate:Sfn
• Template:Country data Sudan
• Template:Country data South SudanTemplate:Sfn
• Template:Country data Syria
• Template:Country data Ukraine,Template:Sfn also used by separatist forcesTemplate:Sfn
• Template:Country data Vietnam SPG-9T2
• Template:Country data Turkmenistan

Non-state actors

• Template:Flagdeco Iraqi KurdistanTemplate:Sfn
• Template:Flagdeco Islamic StateTemplate:Sfn
• Template:Flagicon image Lord's Resistance Army
• Template:Flagicon image Kurdistan Workers' Party
• Template:Flagdeco Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-OppositionTemplate:Sfn
• Template:Flagicon image Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North
• Template:Flagdeco Free Syrian Army
• Template:Country data Transnistria
• Template:Flagicon image Hamas

See also

• SPG-82

External links

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