SPP-1
TsNIITochMash · Pistol · In Production · 1971
Also known as: SPP-1M, Spetsialnyy Podvodnyy Pistolet, Special Underwater Pistol
Overview
The SPP-1 is a Soviet four-barreled underwater pistol developed for combat divers and naval special forces. Designed by Vladimir Simonov at TsNIITochMash and introduced in 1971, it fires a long, smoothbore 4.5x40mmR SPS steel dart that is stabilized hydrodynamically rather than by rifling. The four barrels are hinged to the frame like a break-open shotgun and are loaded together from a four-round clip; a rotating striker indexes each barrel in turn under a double-action-only trigger. The darts retain lethal effect underwater out to roughly 17 metres at shallow depth, far exceeding a speargun, though their range and accuracy fall off in deeper water and in air.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 950 g (33.5 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 1020 g (36.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 244 mm (9.61") |
| Barrel Length | 203 mm (7.99") |
| Height | 138 mm (5.43") |
| Width | 25 mm (0.98") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action Only |
| Magazine Capacity | 4 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 250 m/s (820 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 400 J (295 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 17 m (19 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 20 m (22 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 4.5x40mmR SPS · primary — also known as 4.5x40R, 4.5x39R, SPS
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Four Round Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Three Position Safety Reloading Lever
- Features: Four Barrel Cluster, Break Open Action, Rotating Striker, Smoothbore Barrels, Hydrodynamically Stabilized Dart, Four Round Clip Loading
Variants
- SPP-1M — Improved
Service history
Operators
- Soviet Navy · adopted 1971
- Russian Navy · as SPP-1M
Production
Production years: 1971-present
Produced for Soviet and later Russian naval special forces; marketed internationally via Rosoboronexport
Origin
Country of origin: Russia
Designer: Vladimir Simonov
Notes
The smoothbore barrels and drag-stabilized dart make the SPP-1 effective underwater but inaccurate and short-ranged when fired in air. The improved SPP-1M added a stronger trigger spring and a guard to ease use with thick diving gloves.
Background
Developed at the height of the Cold War to give Soviet combat frogmen a firearm that worked where conventional bullets stall almost instantly, the SPP-1 replaced the diver's knife and speargun as a defensive weapon against enemy divers and marine threats.