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SPP-1 underwater pistol

{{Short description|Soviet four-barreled underwater dart pistol }}

{{Infobox weapon

|name=SPP-1

| image= Подводный пистолет СПП-1М - ЦНИИТОЧМАШ 01.jpg

| image_size = 300

|caption= SPP-1M

|origin= Soviet Union

|type= Underwater pistol

|is_ranged=yes

|service= 1975–present

|used_by=Russia

|wars=

|designer= Vladimir Simonov at
TsNIITochMash - ЦНИИТочмаш
(Central Scientific Institute for Precision Machine Building)

|design_date= 1960s (Late)

|manufacturer= TOZ (Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod)
(Тульский Оружейный Завод)
Tula Arms Plant

|production_date=1971–present{{Cite web|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2021/0514/141562746/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / / Ростех завершил поставки подводного оружия инозаказчику}}

|number=

|variants= SPP-1M

|weight={{convert|950|g}} empty,
{{convert|1030|g}} loaded

|length={{convert|244|mm}}

|part_length=

|width={{convert|37|mm}}

|height={{convert|136|mm}}

|crew=

|cartridge=4.5×40mmR

|caliber= {{convert|4.5|mm}}

|action= double action

|rate=

|velocity= {{convert|240|to|250|m/s}} in air

|range= in air, {{convert|15|to|20|m}};

in water,

{{convert|17|m}} at depth of {{convert|5|m}};

{{convert|11|m}} at depth of {{convert|20|m}};

{{convert|6|m}} at depth of {{convert|40|m}}

|max_range=

|feed= 4 barrels with a cartridge in each

|sights=

}}

The SPP-1 underwater pistol was made in the Soviet Union for use by Soviet frogmen as an underwater firearm.Popenker, Max R. "[http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg140-e.htm SPP-1 underwater pistol ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041209011410/http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg140-e.htm |date=2004-12-09 }}", world.guns.ru, Retrieved 2010-04-05 It was developed in the late 1960s and accepted for use in 1975.{{Cite web|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/russia_upgrades_amphibious_rifles_for_commando_swimmers.html|title = Russia upgrades amphibious rifles for commando swimmers | weapons defence industry military technology UK | analysis focus army defence military industry army| date=24 January 2020 }} Under water, standard bullets are inaccurate and have very short range. This pistol instead fires a round-based {{convert|4.5|mm}} caliber steel dart about {{convert|115|mm}} long, weighing {{convert|12.8|g}}, which has longer range and more penetrating power than a speargun. The complete cartridge is {{convert|145|mm}} long and weighs {{convert|17.5|g}}.“[http://www.tsniitochmash.ru/paten.htm 4.5-mm SPS underwater fire cartridge ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617191816/http://www.tsniitochmash.ru/paten.htm |date=2008-06-17 }}”, Tsniitochmash, Retrieved 2010-04-05

Design

The SPP-1 has four barrels, each containing one cartridge. Its ammunition comes as a magazine of four cartridges which is inserted into the pistol's breech.

Its barrel is not rifled; the fired projectile is kept in line by hydrodynamic effects. As a result, it is somewhat inaccurate when fired out of water.”[http://www.cruffler.com/trivia-November01.html Firearms Technical Trivia ]”, cruffler.com, November 2001, Retrieved 2010-04-05

A double-action firing mechanism fires one cartridge sequentially for each pull of the trigger. When all four cartridges are spent, the gun can be reloaded above or below water.

The SPP-1M pistol is essentially the same as the SPP-1, with the following differences:“[http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2100/2153.htm SPP-1 and SPP-1M underwater pistol 4.5mm ]”, www.securityarms.com, Retrieved 2010-04-05

  • It has an extra spring above the sear to improve the trigger pull.
  • Its trigger guard is larger to accommodate diving gloves.

The weapon was designed by Vladimir Simonov, the cartridge by Pyotr Sazonov and Oleg Kravchenko. Simonov also designed the APS amphibious rifle.Popenker, Max R. "[http://world.guns.ru/assault/as69-e.htm APS underwater assault rifle (5.6x39 mm MPS) ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025183045/http://world.guns.ru/assault/as69-e.htm |date=2004-10-25 }}", world.guns.ru, Retrieved 2010-04-05

Performance

Depth reduces range because the higher pressure closes the cavity sooner. Once the projectile is no longer supercavitating, hydrodynamic drag increases greatly, and the projectile becomes unstable.

Lethal range is defined as the range from which it can easily penetrate a padded underwater suit or a {{convert|5|mm}} thick glass faceplate.“[http://www.tsniitochmash.ru/wen.htm 4.5-mm SPP-1M Underwater Pistol ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617195618/http://www.tsniitochmash.ru/wen.htm |date=2008-06-17 }}”, TsNIITochMash, Retrieved 2010-04-05

It is manufactured by TOZ (Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod/ Тульский Оружейный Завод) Tula Arms Plant,“[http://www.tulatoz.ru/en/milspp.html Special Submarine Pistol SPP-1M ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129154026/http://www.tulatoz.ru/en/milspp.html |date=2010-01-29 }}”, Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod(TOZ), Tula Arms Plant, Retrieved 2010-04-05 and exported by Rosoboronexport, the state agency for Russia's export and import of defense-related products.

Users

  • {{flag|Georgia}} - In limited use with special operations forces.{{fact|date=October 2022}}
  • {{flag|Kazakhstan}}{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830000609/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2012|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2012/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2012-Chapter-04-EN.pdf|chapter=Blue Skies and Dark Clouds: Kazakhstan and Small Arms|title=Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2012|author=Small Arms Survey|author-link=Small Arms Survey|page=133|isbn= 978-0-521-19714-4}}
  • {{flag|Russia}}«В ходе учебного боя было проведено практическое метание ручных противодиверсионных гранат, отработаны приемы подводного боя с применением специальных подводных пистолетов СПП-1, подводных автоматов АПС»
    [https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12556887@egNews На Балтийском флоте прошло учение по противодействию подводным диверсантам условного противника] // официальный интернет-сайт министерства обороны РФ от 31 марта 2025
  • {{flag|Soviet Union}}
  • {{flag|Ukraine}}
  • {{flag|Serbia}}

Variants

The SPP-1M has been copied by Iran.{{cite web |last1=Sutton |first1=HI |title=Iran Copies' Russian SPP-1M Underwater Pistol |url=http://www.hisutton.com/Iran-SPP-1M-Underwater-Pistol.html |website=www.hisutton.com |publisher=HI Sutton |access-date=8 June 2021}}

See also

References

;Notes

{{Reflist|30em}}

;Sources

  • Cutshaw, Charlie, “The New World of Russian Small Arms & Ammo”, 1998, (Paladin Press, Boulder, Colorado) {{ISBN|0-87364-993-1}}

External links

{{Commons category|SPP-1M}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20041209011410/http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg140-e.htm Picture and information]
  • [http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2100/2153.htm Technical specification]
  • [http://www.cruffler.com/trivia-November01.html Description, image of firearm and darts, and specifications]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070403035536/http://www.kgb-militaryschool.com/view/spp-1m Image of firearm, breech opened, and specifications]

{{Multiple Barrel Firearms}}

{{Underwater diving|prodiv}}

Category:Multiple-barrel firearms

Category:Underwater pistols

Category:Pistols of the Soviet Union

Category:Cold War firearms of the Soviet Union

Category:Tula Arms Plant products

Category:TsNIITochMash products

Category:Flechette firearms

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s