Sprut anti-tank gun
| 2A45 Sprut-A | |
|---|---|
|
Sprut anti-tank gun | |
| Type | Anti-tank gun |
| Place of origin |
 Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1989–present |
| Used by | See operators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Petrov Design Bureau |
| Designed | late 1980s |
| Manufacturer | Artillery Plant Number 9 |
| Produced | 1989–present |
| Variants | See models |
| Specifications | |
| Weight |
Transport: 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) Self-propelled: 6,800 kg (15,000 lb) Firing: 6,575 kg (14,495 lb) |
| Length |
Transport: 7.12 m (23 ft 4 in) Self-propelled: 6.79 m (22 ft 3 in) |
| Barrel length |
Bore: 51 calibres Bore axis: 0.925 m (3 ft 0.4 in) |
| Width | 2.66 m (8 ft 9 in) |
| Height |
Transport: 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) Self-propelled: 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in) |
| Crew | 7 |
|
| |
| Caliber | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Recoil | hydropneumatic |
| Carriage | tripod |
| Elevation | -6° to 25° |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Rate of fire | 6-8 rpm |
| Effective firing range |
2,000 m (2,200 yd) (APFSDS) 5,000 m (5,500 yd) (9M119 Svir ATGM) 12,200 m (13,300 yd) (HE) |
|
| |
Operational range | 50 km (55,000 yd) (in APU mode) |
| Speed | 14 km/h (8.7 mph) (in APU mode) |
2A45 Sprut-A, 2A45M Sprut-B and 2S25 Sprut-SD (Russian for Octopus or Kraken[1]) are the designations of the Soviet smoothbore 125 mm anti-tank gun.
Development
The 2A45M was created in the late 1980s at the Petrov Design Bureau at Artillery Plant Number 9 also responsible for the 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30).
Description (Sprut-B)
The most distinctive feature of the Sprut-B is its integrated engine, which can propel the gun on relatively flat surfaces (up to 15 degrees slope) and at 14 km/h on roads. This gives the gun a measure of mobility on the battle field. It takes 2 minutes to go from firing position to travelling position and 1.5 minutes to go from travelling position to firing position. Such guns are known in Russian as "self-moving" (самодвижущиеся) as opposed to self-propelled (самоходные), and outside of battle it is towed by an MT-LB.
The gun features a crew of seven. During the day the OP4M-48A direct fire sight is used, at night the 1PN53-1 night vision sight is used. For indirect fire the 2Ts33 iron sights are used, along with the PG-1m panoramic sight. The gun can reliably engage targets 2 metres high at a distance of 2000 metres.[2]
The barrel features a thermal sleeve to prevent temperature changes affecting the accuracy. The gun uses the same split ammunition as the T-64, T-72, T-80 and T-90 tanks.
With an additional piece of equipment of the 9S53, laser guided projectiles like the 9M119 Svir or 9K120 Refleks can be fired.
Ammunition
The gun uses the same ammunition as the D-81 series of guns used on the T-64, T-72, T-80 and T-90 tanks.
Models
- Sprut-A 2A45 Pure towed gun.
- Sprut-B 2A45M Self-propelled towed gun.
- Sprut-SD 2S25 A self-propelled gun mounted on the BMD-3 chassis with a turret mounting the stabilised 2A75 125 mm smoothbore gun [3]
Operators
Former operators
- Soviet Union passed construction license to successor states
-
Belarus
See also
- 125 mm smoothbore ammunition
- 2A46 - Soviet/Russian tank-mounted 125mm cannon
- List of Soviet tanks
References
- Hull, A.W., Markov, D.R., Zaloga, S.J. (1999). Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. Darlington Productions. ISBN 1-892848-01-5.
- Military Parade
- Enemy Forces
- 2A45M on manufacturer site
- Jane's Armour and Artillery 2002-2003
