SPG-82
The or the SPG-82 ( Russian СПГ-82 ) is a recoilless gun used in the Soviet Union from 1950 . The weapon combines the properties of a grenade launcher and an anti-tank weapon and was used in motorized rifle and airborne units to combat armored vehicles, field fortifications and permanent combat systems, to hold down and destroy troops inside and outside cover and to create lanes in wire obstacles. Although now mostly replaced by more modern weapon systems in regular armed forces, it can still be found in the arming of various armies and irregular forces.
The abbreviation SPG ( Russian СПГ ) stands for stankowy protiwotankowy granatomjot ( Russian станковый противотанковый гранатомёт ) and means grenade launcher for anti-tank guns . With the SG-82 version , fragmentation grenades could also be fired to combat soft targets, the abbreviation SG ( Russian СГ ) stands for stankowy granatomjot ( Russian станковый гранатомёт ) and means grenade launcher on a mount . The weapon’s GAU index is 56-G-661 ( Russian 56-Г-661 ). The GAU index 56-G-662 ( Russian 56-Г-662 ) was assigned to the SG-82 . In the GDR, the SPG-82 was known as the SG 82 projectile grenade launcher or the SPG-82 heavy anti- tank rifle .
development
The development of the weapon began in 1942 in the special design office 36 ( Russian специальное-конструкторское бюро 36 (СКБ-36) ) of the Ministry of petroleum industry under the leadership of AP Ostrovsky ( Russian А. П. Островский ) and NG Grigoryan ( Russian Н. Г. Григорян ). The ammunition was developed in the Scientific Research Institute No. 6 (NII No. 6) ( Russian: НИИ № 6 ). The grenade was initially twist-stabilized. The factory tests showed unsatisfactory results. Due to the rotation of the grenade, the shaped charge beam defocused , which led to poor penetration rates. Since the problems that had arisen could not be solved, a new wing-stabilized shaped charge grenade was developed from 1944 onwards. The firing time of the rocket motor has been shortened. In order to achieve the required ballistic performance, its load had to be increased. This in turn led to a reinforcement of the launch tube and to an increase in the total weight of the weapon. After completion of the tests, the weapon was adopted into the armament of the Soviet Army in 1950 .
construction
The weapon is a smooth-barreled cannon that fires wing-stabilized ammunition.
pipe
The tube with the caliber of 82 mm consists of two parts, the mouth and the closure part, which are connected to each other by a sleeve. The cocking and trigger mechanism, the sighting device and the shoulder rest are attached to the tube. A collapsible protective shield with two large viewing windows is also attached to the pipe. The protective shield protects the crew from the projectile's exhaust gas jet, as the rocket motor continues to work after it has left the tube. The protective shield does not offer protection against infantry projectiles and splinters. The weapon is loaded from behind via the breech. The shoulder rest is on the left, the spade handle with trigger on the left of the pipe.
Visor
A mechanical sight with a rear sight and front sight is used as a sight. The SG-82 has two sights that take into account the different ballistic characteristics of the grenades.
Mount
The single-axle wheel chassis already used in the heavy MG Gorjunow SG-43 is used as a carriage . The mount is primarily used for easier transport of the weapon under combat conditions. At the front part of the barrel there is a foldable handle with which the weapon can be drawn. The weapon is loaded onto a transport vehicle for transport over longer distances. The weapon can also be carried by three soldiers by the access and by the handle welded to the rear barrel. The weapon is usually fired from the wheeled chassis. The weapon can also be fired from the shoulder - without a chassis - but because of its weight it has to be carried and balanced by two soldiers.
ammunition
The PG-82 shaped charge grenade ( Russian: ПГ-82 ) is fired . The reactive grenade consists of the warhead, the rocket motor, the tail with six fixed stabilizing fins, which are surrounded by a ring, the ignition charge and the detonator for the warhead. The funnel-shaped insert of the shaped charge warhead is made of steel. In the rocket motor, nitroglycerin is used in powder form. The rocket motor continues to work for a short time after the grenade has left the barrel of the weapon. The maximum sight range is 300 m, the direct shot is 200 m. At this distance, 175 mm of armor steel can be penetrated.
The frag grenade OG-82 ( Russian ОГ-82 ) is still available for the SG-82 . With the exception of the warhead, the grenade is constructed in the same way as the PG-82. The sight range is 700 m.
| Types of ammunition | ||||||||
| Type | designation | Initial speed | Penetration performance | Range of direct shot | Sight range | Weight, total | Weight of the grenade | caliber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frag grenade | OG-82 | 160 m / s | - | 200 m | 700 m | 4.95 kg | 82 mm | |
| Shaped charge grenade | PG-82 | 160 m / s | 175 mm | 200 m | 300 m | 4.54 kg | 82 mm | |
Technical specifications
| heavy anti-tank rifle SPG-82 | |
| General properties | |
| classification | |
| Chief designer | |
| Name of the manufacturer | SPG-82 / SG-82 |
| Manufacturer | Tula machine building plant |
| Length with limber | 2060 mm |
| width | 1000 mm |
| height | 570 mm |
| Weight in firing position | 38 kg |
| team | 3 men |
| Years of construction | 1950 - |
| number of pieces | |
| pipe | |
| caliber | 82 mm |
| Pipe length | 2000 mm |
| Height of the line of fire | |
| Fire dates | |
| Elevation range | |
| Side straightening area | |
| Distance of the direct shot | 200 m |
| Muzzle velocity | 160 m / s |
| fire rate | 6 rounds / min |
commitment
In the Soviet Army, the SPG-82 was used in the anti-tank platoons of the motorized rifle battalions. There, however, it was replaced by the recoilless 82 mm B-10 gun from 1954 .
Use in the armed organs of the GDR
For the units of the barracked people's police , the equipment with SPG-82 was intended. In fact, appropriate weapons must have been used, as the photos show. However, there is currently no information on quantities and structures.
literature
- А. А. Лови, В. В. Кореньков, В. М. Базилевич, В. В. Кораблин: Отечественные противотанковые гранатометные комплексы. Техника молодежи
, 2001.
- Wilfried Copenhagen : The land forces of the NVA. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-613-02297-4 .
- В. Н. Шунков: Оружие Красной Армии. Мн .: Харвест, 1999. ISBN 985-433-469-4 .
Web links
- 82 мм станковый противотанковый гранатомёт СПГ-82 ( memorial from September 7, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (Russian)
- PG-82 / OG-82 ( Memento from February 9, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (English)