| 2A45 Sprut-A | |
| Origin: | Soviet Union/Russia |
| Is Artillery: | yes |
| Is Vehicle: | yes |
| Service: | 1989–present |
| Used By: | See operators |
| Designer: | Petrov Design Bureau |
| Design Date: | late 1980s |
| Manufacturer: | Artillery Plant Number 9 |
| Production Date: | 1989–present |
| Variants: | See models |
| Weight: | Transport: 6500kg (14,300lb) Self-propelled: 6800kg (15,000lb) Firing: 6575kg (14,495lb) |
| Length: | Transport: 7.12m (23.36feet) Self-propelled: 6.79m (22.28feet) |
| Part Length: | Bore: 51 calibres Bore axis: 0.925m (03.035feet) |
| Width: | 2.66m (08.73feet) |
| Height: | Transport: 2.09m (06.86feet) Self-propelled: 2.35m (07.71feet) |
| Crew: | 7 |
| Caliber: | 125mm |
| Rate: | 6-8 rpm |
| Range: | 2000m (7,000feet) (APFSDS) 5000m (16,000feet) (9M119 Svir ATGM) 12000m (39,000feet) (HE) |
| Carriage: | tripod |
| Elevation: | -6° to 25° |
| Traverse: | 360° |
| Vehicle Range: | 50km (30miles) (in APU mode) |
| Speed: | 14km/h (in APU mode) |
2A45 and 2A45M are the respective GRAU designations of the Sprut-A and Sprut-B (Russian for octopus or kraken[1]) Soviet smoothbore 125 mm anti-tank guns.
The 2A45M was created in the late 1980s by the Petrov Design Bureau at Artillery Plant Number 9 (OKB-9), which was also responsible for the 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30).
A feature of the Sprut-B is its integrated engine, which can propel the gun on relatively flat surfaces (up to 15 degrees of slope) and at 14 km/h on roads. This gives the gun a measure of mobility on the battlefield. Changing gun position from travelling to firing takes 90 seconds; the reverse takes two minutes. Such guns are known in Russian as "self-moving" (самодвижущиеся) in contrast to self-propelled (самоходные), and outside of battle it is towed by an MT-LB.
The gun has a crew of seven. An OP4M-48A direct fire sight is used in daylight, and a 1PN53-1 night-vision sight is used at night. For indirect fire, 2Ts33 iron sights are used, with a PG-1m panoramic sight. The gun can reliably engage targets two metres high at a distance of 2,000 metres.[2]
The barrel features a thermal sleeve to prevent temperature changes affecting the accuracy. The gun uses the same semi-fixed ammunition as the T-64, T-72, T-80, and T-90 tanks.
With the addition of the 9S53 laser fire-control system, the gun can fire laser guided projectiles such as the 9M119 Svir or 9K120 Refleks.
See 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.
Stationary towed gun variant.
Self-propelled towed gun variant that can move under its own power with the addition of wheels and a power unit.
