SPP-1 underwater pistol

SPP-1
SPP-1M
TypeUnderwater pistol
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1975–present
Used byRussia
Production history
DesignerVladimir Simonov at
TsNIITochMash - ЦНИИТочмаш
(Central Scientific Institute for Precision Machine Building)
Designed1960s (Late)
ManufacturerTOZ (Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod)
(Тульский Оружейный Завод)
Tula Arms Plant
Produced1971–present
VariantsSPP-1M
Specifications
Mass950 grams (34 oz) empty,
1,030 grams (36 oz) loaded
Length244 millimetres (9.6 in)
Width37 millimetres (1.5 in)
Height136 millimetres (5.4 in)

Cartridge4.5×40mmR
Caliber4.5 millimetres (0.18 in)
Actiondouble action
Muzzle velocity240 to 250 metres per second (790 to 820 ft/s) in air
Effective firing rangein air, 15 to 20 metres (49 to 66 ft);

in water,
17 metres (56 ft) at depth of 5 metres (16 ft);
11 metres (36 ft) at depth of 20 metres (66 ft);

6 metres (20 ft) at depth of 40 metres (130 ft)
Feed system4 barrels with a cartridge in each

The SPP-1 underwater pistol was made in the Soviet Union for use by Soviet frogmen as an underwater firearm. It was developed in the late 1960s and accepted for use in 1975. Under water, standard bullets are inaccurate and have very short range. This pistol instead fires a round-based 4.5 millimetres (0.18 in) caliber steel dart about 115 millimetres (4.5 in) long, weighing 12.8 grams (0.45 oz), which has longer range and more penetrating power than a speargun. The complete cartridge is 145 millimetres (5.7 in) long and weighs 17.5 grams (0.62 oz).