Sprut anti-tank gun
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 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.[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.
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
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]
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
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
