View source for SPG-9

{{Short description|Soviet recoilless gun}}
{{Infobox weapon
 | name              = SPG-9
 | image             = SPG-9M rus.jpeg
 | image_size        = 300
 | caption           = A Russian SPG-9M
 | origin            = Soviet Union
 | type              = [[Recoilless gun]]<br/>[[Anti-tank gun]]
<!-- Type selection -->
 | is_ranged         = yes
 | is_artillery      = yes
<!-- Service history -->
 | service           = 1962–present
 | used_by           = 
 | wars              = [[Vietnam War]]<br/>[[Iran–Iraq War]]<br/>[[Salvadoran Civil War]]<br/>[[Lord's Resistance Army insurgency]]<br/>[[Gulf War]]<br/>[[Lebanese Civil War]]<br/>[[Iraq War]]<br/>[[Second Sudanese Civil War]]<ref>{{cite journal|date=August 1998 |volume=10|issue=4|title=Sudan – Global trade, local impact: Arms Transfers to all Sides in the Civil War in Sudan|url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/sudan0898%20Report.pdf|page=24|journal=Human Rights Watch Report}}</ref><br/>[[Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile|Third Sudanese Civil War]]<br/>[[Libyan Crisis (2011–present)|Libyan Civil Wars]]<ref name="Neville 2018 12,35">{{cite book|title=Technicals: Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Great Toyota War to modern Special Forces|series=New Vanguard 257|first=Leigh|last=Neville|date=19 Apr 2018|isbn=978-1-4728-2251-2|publisher=Osprey Publishing|pages=12, 35|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mGlPDwAAQBAJ|access-date=25 October 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026064443/https://books.google.fr/books?id=mGlPDwAAQBAJ|archive-date=26 October 2018}}</ref><br/>[[Northern Mali conflict]]<br/>[[Syrian Civil War]]{{sfn|Neville|2018|p=37}}<br/>[[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|War in Donbass]]<br/>[[Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)]]<br/>[[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8kYvGMUaVs |title=UN accuses Saudi, UAE of funding armed groups in Yemen |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2017-08-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823033234/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8kYvGMUaVs |archive-date=2017-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKfs_whXnis |title=Taiz: Houthi fighters battle militia in Yemen city |date=25 August 2016 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><br/>[[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]]<br/>[[2022 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes]]<br/>[[Russo-Ukraine War]]<!-- Production history -->
 | designer          = 
 | design_date       = 
 | manufacturer      = 
 | production_date   = 
 | number            = 
 | variants          = 
<!-- General specifications -->
 | weight            = {{convert|47.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<br/>{{convert|59.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<br/>with tripod<ref name="opfor"/>
 | length            = {{convert|2.11|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="opfor"/>
 | part_length       = 
 | width             = {{convert|99|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}<br/>allowing full traverse<ref name="opfor"/>
 | height            = {{convert|80|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="opfor"/>
 | diameter          = 
 | crew              = 2 (1 gunner, 1 loader)
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
 | cartridge         = 
 | caliber           = {{convert|73|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[smoothbore]]<ref name="opfor">OPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide, TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, January 21, 1999</ref>
 | action            = 
 | rate              = 5–6 rounds per minute<ref name="opfor"/>
 | velocity          = {{convert|250|–|435|m/s|ft/s| abbr=on}}
 | range             = {{convert|800|m|yd| abbr=on}}
 | max_range         = {{convert|1,200|–|6,500|m|yd| abbr=on}}
 | feed              = Manually [[Breechloader|breech-loaded]]
 | sights            = PGO-9 optical 4× sight or PGN-9 IR and passive night sight
<!-- Artillery specifications -->
 | breech            = [[Interrupted screw]]<ref name="opfor"/>
 | recoil            = None
 | carriage          = [[Tripod]]
 | elevation         = +7°/−3°
 | traverse          = 30° total
}}

The '''SPG-9''' Kopyo ([[Russian language|Russian]]: '''СПГ-9 Копьё''', transliterated [[Russian language|Russian]]: ''Stankovyi Protivotankovyi Granatomet "Kopyo"'' - Heavy Antitank Grenade Launcher "Spear") is a tripod-mounted man-portable, 73 millimetre calibre [[recoilless rifle|recoilless gun]] developed by the [[Soviet Union]]. It fires fin-stabilised, rocket-assisted [[high explosive]] (HE) and [[high-explosive anti-tank]] (HEAT) [[shaped charge]] projectiles similar to those fired by the 73&nbsp;mm [[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==
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2014}}
The projectile is launched from the gun by a small charge, which gives it an initial velocity of between {{convert|250|–|400|m/s|ft/s}}. The launch charge also imparts spin to the projectile by a series of offset holes. Once the projectile has traveled approximately {{convert|20|m|ft}} from the launcher, a rocket motor in its base ignites. For the PG-9 projectile, this takes it to a velocity of {{convert|700|m/s|ft/s}} before the motor burns out.

The SPG-9 is heavy, ~{{convert|60|kg|lb}}, and normally transported by vehicle, and carried into position by its two 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 Union|Soviet]] PG-9 HEAT and OG-9 [[Fragmentation (weaponry)|fragmentation]] (FRAG) [[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 missile|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 "[[Technical (vehicle)|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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://otvaga2004.ru/tanki/istoriya-sozdaniya/t-64-tank-ubijca-mirnogo-naseleniya/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624010516/http://otvaga2004.ru/tanki/istoriya-sozdaniya/t-64-tank-ubijca-mirnogo-naseleniya/|url-status=dead|title=Т-64: "танк-гарант мира" или "убийца мирного населения"?|archive-date=June 24, 2018}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kharchencko |first1=Aleksandr |title=Artemovsk: Requiem for Bakhmut |url=https://gofile.io/d/4WzSKd |website=Gofile}}</ref>

In mid October 2023 Israeli forces, during the [[2023 Israel-Hamas 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 (countermeasure)|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".<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 October 2023 |title=Hamas Distributed A Handy Guide To Destroying Israeli Tanks|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/15/hamas-distributed-a-handy-guide-to-destroying-israeli-tanks/?sh=3ff6ef9434e1|author=David Axe|work=Forbes |access-date=2023-11-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Projectiles==
{|class=wikitable style="font-size: 90%;"
!Round<br/>(projectile) || Type || Weight<br/>(kg) || Fuze || Length<br/>(mm) || Explosive<br/>content<br/>(kg) || Muzzle<br/>velocity<br/>(m/s) || Effective<br/>range<br/>(m) || Maximum<br/>range<br/>(m) || Armour<br/>penetration<br/>(mm) || Notes
|-
| PG-9<br/>(PG-9V) || [[High-explosive anti-tank|HEAT-FS]] || 4.39 || VP-9 || 920 || 0.322<br/>([[hexogen]]) || 435 || 800 || 1,300 || 300 || —
|-
| PG-9N || HEAT-FS || || VP-9 || 920 || 0.340<br/>([[OKFOL]]-3.5)<ref>95% HME 5% wax</ref> || 435 || 800 || 1,300 || 400 || —
|-
| PG-9VS || HEAT-FS || 4.4 || ? || 920 || ? || || 1,300 || ? || 400 || -
|-
| PG-9VNT<br/>(PG-9NT) || HEAT-FS || 3.2 || ? || 920 || ? || 400 || 700 || 1,200 || 600 or<br/>450 behind [[Explosive reactive armour|ERA]] || [[Tandem-charge]]
|-
| OG-9V<br/>(OG-9) || [[Fragmentation (weaponry)|FRAG]]-[[High explosive|HE]] || 5.35 || GO-2 or<br/>O-4M || 1062 || 0.735<br/>(TNT) || 316 || – || – || n/a || Cast iron casing
|-
| OG-9VM<br/>(OG-9M) || FRAG-HE || 5.35 || GO-2 or<br/>O-4M || 1062 || 0.655<br/>(TD-50)<ref>TNT/dinitronaphthalene</ref> || 316 || – || – || n/a || —
|-
| OG-9VM1<br/>(OG-9V) || FRAG-HE || 5.35 || GO-2 or<br/>O-4M || 1062 || ? || 316 || – || 4,500 || n/a || —
|-
| OG-9BG<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://universal-dsg.com/product/rounds-og-9vg-with-he-fragmentation-grenade-og-9g-og-9g1/ |title=Rounds Og-9Vg with He-Fragmentation Grenade Og-9G & Og-9G1 |access-date=2017-07-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813063522/http://universal-dsg.com/product/rounds-og-9vg-with-he-fragmentation-grenade-og-9g-og-9g1/ |archive-date=2016-08-13}}</ref><br/>(OG-9G) || FRAG-HE || 6.9 || O-4M || 1030 || 0.750 || 316 || – || 7,500 || n/a || Bulgarian made
|-
| OG-9BG1<br/>(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|thumb|Map with SPG-9 users in blue]]<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->

[[File:Batalionul 191 infanterie 10.jpg|thumb|right|Romanian soldiers with an AG-9 (license built SPG-9) in traveling position.]]
[[File:Afghan spg 9 1.jpg|thumb|right|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.]]
{{multiple image
|direction = vertical
|width = 200
|image1 = Velayat 94 Military exercise 06 by Mbazri.jpg
|image2 = Velayat 94 Military exercise 01 by Mbazri.jpg
|footer = [[Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Marine Command|Marines]] of the [[Iranian Navy]] using SPG-9. [[Velayat 94]] military exercise
}}
* {{flag|Afghanistan}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society|first1=Michael Vinai|last1=Bhatia|first2=Mark|last2=Sedra|publisher=[[Routledge]]|editor=Small Arms Survey|editor-link=Small Arms Survey|isbn=978-0-415-45308-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P4N9AgAAQBAJ|pages=48, 66, 165|date=May 2008|access-date=2018-09-01|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901145604/https://books.google.fr/books?id=P4N9AgAAQBAJ|archive-date=2018-09-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hennessey |first=Patrick |date=2009 |title=The Junior Officers' Reading Club |publisher=Penguin Publications |page=272}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kemp |first1=Richard (Colonel) |last2=Hughes |first2=Chris |date=2010 |title=Attack State RED |publisher=Penguin Books |place=London |pages=325–334}}</ref>
* {{BUL}} : manufactured locally as ''Arsenal ATGL''<ref name="SAS SPG-9">{{cite journal|title=SPG-9 (& close derivatives)|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/Weapons_and_Markets/Tools/Weapons_ID_DB/SAS_weapons-recoilless-guns-SPG9.pdf|journal=Weapons Identification Sheet|publisher=Small Arms Survey|access-date=2019-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324060442/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/Weapons_and_Markets/Tools/Weapons_ID_DB/SAS_weapons-recoilless-guns-SPG9.pdf|archive-date=2015-03-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{CAF}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Letter dated 26 June 2014 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2127 (2013) addressed to the President of the Security Council|url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/N1441518.pdf|page=81|date=1 July 2014|access-date=30 January 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329063501/https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/N1441518.pdf|archive-date=29 March 2017}}</ref>
* {{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}<ref name=IISS>{{cite book |last=International Institute for Strategic Studies|date=2021|title=The Military Balance|page=461|isbn=9781032012278}}</ref>
* {{flag|Georgia}}<ref name='SAS 2003'>{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2003.html|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2003/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2003-Chapter-06-EN.pdf|chapter=Dangerous Supply: Small Arms and Conflict in the Republic of Georgia|title=Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2003|author=Small Arms Survey|author-link=Small Arms Survey|access-date=2018-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175229/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2003.html|archive-date=2018-08-29|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Iran}}: ''AMIG SPG-9''<ref name="SAS SPG-9"/>
* {{flag|Iraq}}<ref name="gulf">{{cite book|title=Armies of the Gulf War|url=https://archive.org/details/armiesgulfwar00rott|url-access=limited|series=Elite 45 |first=Gordon L.|last=Rottman|date=1993|isbn=978-1-85532-277-6|publisher=Osprey Publishing|page=[https://archive.org/details/armiesgulfwar00rott/page/n48 49]}}</ref>
*{{KGZ}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=187}}
* {{flag|Libya}}<ref name="Neville 2018 12,35"/>
* {{flag|Mali}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Enduring engagement yes, episodic engagement no: lessons for SOF from Mali|hdl=10945/38996|last=Powelson|first=Simon J.|publisher=Naval postgraduate school|place=Monterey, California|date=December 2013|page=24|url=http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a620360.pdf}}</ref>
* {{flag|Moldova}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=188}}
* {{flag|Poland}}
* {{flag|Romania}}: ''RomArm AG-9''<ref name="SAS SPG-9"/>
* {{flag|Russia}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=190}}
* {{flag|Rwanda}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=190}}
* {{flag|Sudan}}<ref name="SAS Kordofan"/>
* {{flag|South Sudan}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=469}}
* {{flag|Syria}}
* {{flag|Ukraine}},{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=206}} also used by [[Separatist forces of the war in Donbass|separatist forces]]{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=491}}
* {{flag|Vietnam}}<ref name="NVA">{{cite book|title=North Vietnamese Army Soldier 1958–75|series=Warrior 135|first=Gordon L. |last=Rottman|date=10 Feb 2009|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]|isbn=978-1-84603-371-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iC21CwAAQBAJ|page=32}}</ref> SPG-9T2
* {{Flag|Turkmenistan}}

===Non-state actors===
* {{flag|Artsakh}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=181}}
* {{flagdeco|Kurdistan}} [[Iraqi Kurdistan]]{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=491}}
* {{Flagdeco|Islamic State}} [[Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]]{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=492}}
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Lord's Resistance Army.svg}} [[Lord's Resistance Army]]<ref name='SAS 2006 11'>{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2006.html|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2006/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2006-Chapter-11-EN.pdf|chapter=Fuelling Fear: The Lord's Resistance Army and Small Arms|title=Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2006|author=Small Arms Survey|author-link=Small Arms Survey|page=283|isbn=978-0-19-929848-8|access-date=2018-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830005010/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2006.html|archive-date=2018-08-30|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers' Party.svg}} [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK6e_rw85So |title=YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2016-11-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529133814/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK6e_rw85So |archive-date=2016-05-29}}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|South Sudan}} [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition]]{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=492}}
* {{flagicon image|Flag of SPLM-N.svg}} [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North]]<ref name="SAS Kordofan">{{cite journal|url=http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/facts-figures/arms-ammunition-tracing-desk/HSBA-Tracing-Desk-SPLA-N-SK-Feb-2013.pdf|journal=HSBA Arms and Ammunition Tracing Desk|title=SPLA-N weapons and equipment, South Kordofan, December 2012|publisher=Small Arms Survey|date=February 2013|page=9|access-date=2019-01-02|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322044524/http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/facts-figures/arms-ammunition-tracing-desk/HSBA-Tracing-Desk-SPLA-N-SK-Feb-2013.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-22}}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|Syrian Opposition}} [[Free Syrian Army]]<ref>{{cite news|title=I Learned to Fight Like an American at the FSA Training Camp in Jordan: America's Role in the Syrian Revolution|first=Sara Elizabeth|last=Williams|date=3 April 2014|url=https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/wd4xe4/syria-deraa-USA-Jordan-FSA-regime-CIA|newspaper=[[Vice News]]|access-date=25 October 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026064547/https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/wd4xe4/syria-deraa-USA-Jordan-FSA-regime-CIA|archive-date=26 October 2018}}</ref>
*{{Flag|Transnistria}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=The Struggle For Relevance: Transnistria’s Fighting Vehicles |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/11/the-struggle-for-relevance.html |website=Oryx}}</ref>
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Hamas.svg}} [[Hamas]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 October 2023 |title=Hamas Distributed A Handy Guide To Destroying Israeli Tanks|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/15/hamas-distributed-a-handy-guide-to-destroying-israeli-tanks/?sh=3ff6ef9434e1|author=David Axe|work=Forbes |access-date=2023-11-12 |language= en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[SPG-82]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book|title=The Military Balance 2016|date=February 2016|volume=116|isbn=9781857438352 |publisher=Routlegde|ref={{harvid|Military Balance 2016}}|author=International Institute for Strategic Studies|author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies}}

==External links==
* {{Commons-inline|SPG-9}}

{{Soviet and Russian artillery after WW2}}

[[Category:Recoilless rifles of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Weapons of Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Weapons of Romania]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1960s]]