Sprut anti-tank gun

125 mm Sprut antitank gun.

2A45 Sprut-A, 2A45M Sprut-B and 2S25 Sprut-SD (Russian for Octopus or Kraken) 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 Auxiliary Power Unit, 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—although it takes 2 minutes to go from firing position to travelling position and 1.5 minutes to go from travelling position to firing position.

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.

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.

General characteristics (Sprut-B)

• Calibre: 125 mm, 51 calibre
• Muzzle brake: double `T' type
• Breech mechanism: semi-automatic, vertical wedge
• Shield: yes
• Weight:
  • (towing) 6,500 kg (14,300 lb)
  • (self-propelled) 6,800 kg (15,000 lb)
  • (firing) 6,575 kg (14,495 lb)
• Length:
  • (towing) 7.120 m (23.35 ft)
  • (self-propelled) 6.790 m (22.27 ft)
• Height:
  • (towing) 2.09 m (6.85 ft)
  • (self-propelled) 2.35 m (7.70 ft)
• Width:
  • (towing) 2.66 m (8.72 ft)
  • (self-propelled) 2.66 m (8.72 ft)
• Axis of bore: 0.925 m (3 ft)
• Track: 2.20 m (7.21 ft)
• Ground clearance: 0.36 m (1.18 ft)
• Elevation/depression: +25°/−6°
• Traverse: 360°
• Range:
  • (APFSDS) 2,000 m (2,200 yd)
  • (missile) 5,000 m (5,500 yd)
  • (HE) 12,200 m (13,300 yd)
• Rate of fire: 6–8 rds/min
• Fording: 0.9 m (3 ft)
• Speed:
  • (in APU mode) 14 km/h (9 mph)
• Range:
  • (in APU mode) 50 km (30 mi)
• Crew: 7
• Towing vehicle: Ural-4320 (6 × 6) truck, MT-LB multipurpose tracked vehicle
• Towing speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)

Ammunition

Main article: 125 mm smoothbore 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

Users

• China developed their own indigenous version of this anti-tank gun.
• Hungary.
• Iran manufactured by reverse engineering.
• India.
• Russia
• Ukraine made under license, by KMDB, in the city of Kharkiv.

Former users

• Soviet Union passed construction license to successor states
  • Russia
  • Belarus
  • Ukraine

• Yugoslavia passed construction license to successor states

See also

• 125 mm rounds
• 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
• Jane's Armour and Artillery 2002-2003

External links

• Image