Name: 73 mm ammunition for SPG-9 recoilless gun
Availability: InStock

Item Type

Item State

Type

Action

Guidance

Caliber

HEAT-FS

OG-9V

OG-9

Weight, round 5.35 kg

Length, round 1.062 m

Muzzle velocity 316 m/s

Southern Asia

Iran

Eastern Europe

Bulgaria

Romania

<h2>Armament</h2><p>73 mm SPG-9 and SPG-9M Kopye recoilless guns.</p><h2>Development</h2><p>The 73 mm SPG-9 Kopye (Spear) recoilless gun was developed as a light and highly mobile anti-tank gun for use by airborne and special forces although it is now more likely to be deployed as a general purpose fire support weapon. It is still widely deployed throughout Eastern Bloc and other armed forces and is still in production in several nations. The ammunition was used as the basis for the rounds fired by the 2A28 gun (see previous entry) and in many instances the projectiles and warheads involved are identical between the two guns; only the propelling system differs.</p><h2>Description</h2><p>The base round fired from the 73 mm SPG-9 gun is the HEAT-FS PG-9V or PG-9VN with, respectively, the HEAT-FS PG-9 or PG-9N rocket projectile. The projectiles differ in the warhead explosive employed. The PG-9 has a Hexogen A-IX-1 (RDX:Wax) shaped charge weighing 332 g while the PG-9N has 340 g of the more powerful OKFOL-3.5 (95 per cent HME: 5 per cent Wax). The 4BN27 propellant charge, employed on both projectiles, is the PG-9PR secured to the tail of the projectile just behind the six forward-folding fins which spring out once the projectile has left the muzzle . On target, the shaped warhead is initiated by a VP-9 piezoelectric point impact fuze via an igniter in the base of the shaped charge. The PG-9 warhead can penetrate 300 mm of armour while the PG-9N can penetrate 400 mm. Maximum range of both projectiles is 1,300 m while the direct fire range at a target 2 m high is 800 m. Muzzle velocity in both cases is 435 m/s. The latest round is the PG-9VS for which the maximum direct fire range is increased to 1,300 m. No armour penetration figures have been released regarding this round although the shaped charge can penetrate at least 1.5 m of brick and 1 m of reinforced concrete. Also available is the 73 mm HEAT-FS PG-9VNT with the PG-9NT rocket projectile. This round is effective against Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) as it has tandem warheads actuated by a VP-9 piezoelectric point impact fuze. Warhead performance is stated to be 550 mm of RHA with behind-armour effects; 400 mm of armour behind ERA; 1 m of reinforced concrete or brick; and 1.8 m of logs and earth. Maximum effective range is 700 m while maximum range is 1,200 m; initial velocity is 400 m/s. A complete round weighs 3.2 kg and overall length is 920 mm. The span of the fully opened guidance fins is 190 mm. By contrast, the basic 73 mm FRAG-HE rounds, a later development, do not have a rocket motor. There are two basic types of FRAG-HE round, the OG-9V and OG-9VM, differing only in the weight and type of explosive in the 309 mm long cast-iron warhead on the projectile. The OG-9 FRAG-HE projectile warhead used with the OG-9V round contains 753 g of TNT while the OG-9M projectile used with the OG-9VM round contains 655 g of TD-50 (TNT/dinitronaphthalene). In both cases the explosive is ignited by a nose-mounted GO-2 or O-4M point detonating fuze. Flight stabilisation is provided by six fixed fins on the end of a perforated steel tailboom which also contains a tracer element. The propellant employed is 4BN40 . The latest FRAG-HE round is the OG-9VM1 with a total weight of 5.35 kg. Two further 73 mm FRAG-HE rounds are Bulgarian developments, the OG-9BG and OG-9BG1, with OG-9G and OG-9G1 projectiles respectively. The usual streamlined outline of the 750 g explosive warhead is replaced by a cylinder with serrated wire rings around the explosive to enhance fragmentation, although late production variants do have a more pointed nose profile and fragmentation is augmented by the inclusion of 1,200 2 g metal pellets. The point detonating fuze employed is the O-4M in both cases. The OG-9BG (weight 6.9 kg) has a muzzle velocity of 250 m/s and a maximum range of 7,500 m. The OG-15BG1 round (weight 4.48 kg) has a muzzle velocity of 316 m/s and a maximum range of 4,200 m. The direct fire ranges are 400 and 350 m respectively.</p><h2>Authorised fuzes</h2><p>HEAT-FS - PIBD VP-9 FRAG-HE - PD GO-2 or OM-4M Equivalent rounds BULGARIA</p><p>BULGARIA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Arsenal</p><p>Type: 73 mm HEAT-FS, FRAG-HE</p><p>Description: Standard specifications, see text</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Vazov Engineering Plants</p><p>Type: HEAT-FS PG-15V, PG-15VN, PG-15NT; FRAG-HE OG-15V, OG-15VM, OG-15BG, OG-15BG1</p><p>Description: See text</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Vazovski Machinostroitelni Zavodi</p><p>Type: HEAT-FS PG-9, PG-9N; FRAG-HE OG-9, OG-9M</p><p>Description: Standard specifications, see text</p><p>IRAN</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Defence Industries Organisation</p><p>Type: 73 mm PG-9</p><p>Description: Standard specification, see text</p><p>ROMANIA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>SA ROMARM SN</p><p>Type: 73 mm HEAT-FS, FRAG-HE</p><p>Description: May no longer be in series production. One version of the two types of FRAG-HE utilises a</p><p>cast mortar bomb body design for the warhead</p>

The base round fired from the 73 mm SPG-9 gun is the HEAT-FS PG-9V or PG-9VN with, respectively, the HEAT-FS PG-9 or PG-9N rocket projectile. The projectiles differ in the warhead explosive employed. The PG-9 has a Hexogen A-IX-1 (RDX:Wax) shaped charge weighing 332 g while the PG-9N has 340 g of the more powerful OKFOL-3.5 (95 per cent HME: 5 per cent Wax). The 4BN27 propellant charge, employed on both projectiles, is the PG-9PR secured to the tail of the projectile just behind the six forward-folding fins which spring out once the projectile has left the muzzle. On target, the shaped warhead is initiated by a VP-9 piezoelectric point impact fuze via an igniter in the base of the shaped charge. The PG-9 warhead can penetrate 300 mm of armour while the PG-9N can penetrate 400 mm. Maximum range of both projectiles is 1,300 m while the direct fire range at a target 2 m high is 800 m. Muzzle velocity in both cases is 435 m/s. The latest round is the PG-9VS for which the maximum direct fire range is increased to 1,300 m.

A complete round weighs 3.2 kg and overall length is 920 mm. The span of the fully opened guidance fins is 190 mm. By contrast, the basic 73 mm FRAG-HE rounds, a later development, do not have a rocket motor. There are two basic types of FRAG-HE round, the OG-9V and OG-9VM, differing only in the weight and type of explosive in the 309 mm long cast-iron warhead on the projectile. The OG-9 FRAG-HE projectile warhead used with the OG-9V round contains 753 g of TNT while the OG-9M projectile used with the OG-9VM round contains 655 g of TD-50 (TNT/dinitronaphthalene). In both cases the explosive is ignited by a nose-mounted GO-2 or O-4M point detonating fuze. Flight stabilisation is provided by six fixed fins on the end of a perforated steel tailboom which also contains a tracer element. The propellant employed is 4BN40. The latest FRAG-HE round is the OG-9VM1 with a total weight of 5.35 kg. Two further 73 mm FRAG-HE rounds are Bulgarian developments, the OG-9BG and OG-9BG1, with OG-9G and OG-9G1 projectiles respectively.

Arsenal

73 mm ammunition for SPG-9 recoilless gun

73 mm ammunition for SPG-9 recoilless gun

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