PTO 2A45M Sprut-B

Designation: 2A45M Sprut-B
Type: Smooth-bore AT Gun
Weight, tons: 6.6
Number of guns/calibre, mm: 1/125

In the present time, the Sprut-B is probably the most powerful anti-tank gun in the world. The specifications for development of such an anti-tank gun with the ballistic characteristics of the 125 mm smooth-bore tank gun D-81 were set in January 1968. The Sprut-B gun was made by mounting a D-81 tank gun on the gun-carriage of a 122 mm D-30 howitzer allowing all-round firing.

The gun barrel has a 51 calibre length and consists of the tube with muzzle brake connected with a jacket in its chamber part and a breech. The barrel does not have rifling which allows higher powder gas pressure in the barrel tube and imparts rather high initial speed to its round. To suppress rather significant recoil forces, the recoil length is increased from 340 mm (D-81) to 970 mm. Sprut-B is fitted with various sighting devices for accurate fire control.

The gun is transformed from travelling position into combat with the help of a mechanised system. The gun can be towed by "Ural4320" army trucks or by MTLB. The "Sprut-B" fires discarding cartridge rounds of the D-81 tank gun. Admissible continuous fire mode - 100 rounds per hour.