List of equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces

This list shows equipment of Soviet Ground Forces in 1991.

Equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces
Emblem of the Soviet Army
Founded	23 February 1946
Disbanded	26 December 1991

Infantry equipment

Helmets

Name	Type	Photo	Notes
SSh-40	Helmet		Still used during the Soviet-Afghan war. [1]
SSh-60	Helmet		Still used during the Soviet-Afghan war. [1]
SSh-68 [2]	Helmet		Main service helmet.

Body armor

Name	Type	Photo	Notes
6B2 (Zh-RI)	Flak jacket		Issued in 1980, it provided inadequate protection in Afghanistan and subsequently phased out. [3] : 41
6B3	Flak jacket		Replaced the Zh-RI in 1983, it provided better protection, but it was heavier and uncomfortable to wear in the mountains of Afghanistan or in hot days. [3] : 41−42
YaB4	Flak jacket		Replaced the Zh-RI in 1984, it provided better protection, but it was heavier and uncomfortable to wear in the mountains of Afghanistan or in hot days. [3] : 41−42
6B4 (Zh-85)	Ballistic vest		Issued between 1985 and 1986, the Zh-85t and Zh-85k provided chest protection against bullets in the front and spinal protection against fragments in the back. [3] : 42
6B5 "Ulej" (Zh-86)	Ballistic vest		Issued in 1988, it replaced the Zh-85t and Zh-85k vests. The Zh-86 covers a larger body area, and its construction uses titanium alloy, ceramics, and special steel. [3] : 42

Small arms

Pistols and revolvers

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
Makarov PM	Semi-automatic pistol	9×18mm Makarov		Main service pistol [4] : 57
PB Besshumnyy	Integrallly suppressed semi-automatic pistol			Silenced pistol issued to special forces [5]
Stechkin APS	Machine pistol			[4] : 774
PSM	Semi-automatic pistol	5.45×18mm		Standard sidearm of civil and military security forces [4] : 56
PSS silent pistol	Semi-automatic pistol	7.62×41mm SP-4		Used by Spetsnaz. [6] : 57
Tokarev TT-33 [4] : 774	Semi-automatic pistol	7.62×25mm Tokarev		Limited use. [6] : 47
Nagant M1895	Revolver	7.62×38mmR		Limited use. [6] : 47

Semi-automatic and bolt-action rifles

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
Simonov SKS	Semi-automatic rifle	7.62×39mm		Ceremonial use [4] : 194

Assault rifles and other automatic rifles

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
AK-74	Assault rifle	5.45×39mm		Main service rifle [4] : 201
AKS-74	Assault rifle			AK-74 variant with a folding stock [4] : 200
AKS-74U	Assault Carbine			AKS-74 variant with a shortened barrel [4] : 108
AKM	Assault rifle	7.62×39mm		In service since 1959 [4] : 198
AKMS [4] : 198	Assault rifle			AKM variant with a folding stock [4] : 196

Designated marksman and sniper rifles

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
SVD	Designated marksman rifle	7.62×54mmR		Main service designated marksman rifle [4] : 199
VSS Vintorez	Designated marksman rifle	9×39mm		Suppressed sniper rifle used by special forces like Spetsnaz [7]

Light and heavy machine guns

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
RPK-74	Light machine gun	5.45×39mm		Main service light machine gun [4] : 774
RPK	Light machine gun	7.62×39mm		[4] : 318
PKM	General-purpose machine gun	7.62×54mmR		Main service general-purpose machine gun [4] : 319
NSV "Utyos"	Heavy machine gun	12.7×108mm		Main service heavy machine gun [4] : 323
DShKM	Heavy machine gun			Being replaced by the NSV machine gun. [4] : 323
KPV-14.5	Heavy machine gun	14.5×114mm		Base for anti-aircraft guns [4] : 323–324

Flares and Smokes

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
SPSh-44	Flare gun	26 mm
RSP-30	Warning Flare
RDG-2	Smoke grenade			[4] : 571

Launchers

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
GP-25 Kostyor	Grenade launcher	40 mm caseless grenade		[1] [8] : 52
AGS-17 Plamya	Automatic grenade launcher	30x29 mm		[4] : 247–248

Rocket-propelled grenade launchers

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
RPG-29 Vampir	Reusable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade	105mm		[9]
RPG-27 Tavolga	Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade	105mm		[10]
RPG-26 Aglen	Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade	72.5mm		[11] : 34
RPG-22 Netto	Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade	72.5mm		Seen in use during the Soviet-Afghan war. [4] : 404
RPG-18 Mukha	Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade	64mm		[4] : 403–404
RPG-16	Rocket-propelled grenade	58.3mm		Used by paratroopers and Spetsnaz. [11] : 33–35
RPG-7	Rocket-propelled grenade	40mm		Reusable launcher with various types of anti-personnel and anti-tank munitions. [4] : 401–402

Recoilless Rifles

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
SPG-9 Kopyo	Recoilless rifle	73 mm		[4] : 405
B-10	Recoilless rifle	82 mm		Limited use by paratroopers. [4] : 405

Man-portable air-defense systems

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
9K32 Strela-2	Infrared homing	72 mm		NATO reporting name: SA-7 Grail. Being replaced by the Strela-3 and Igla systems [12]
9K34 Strela-3	Infrared homing			NATO reporting name: SA-14 Gremlin [12]
9K310 Igla-1	Infrared homing			NATO Reporting name: SA-16 [12]
9K38 Igla	Infrared homing			NATO reporting name: SA-18. Replacing the Strela-2 and Strela-3 systems. [13]

Anti-tank guided missiles

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
9M17 Fleyta	MCLOS	148 mm		NATO reporting name: AT-2 Swatter [4] : 407
9M14 Malyutka	MCLOS	125 mm		NATO reporting name: AT-3 Sagger [4] : 407–408
9K111 Fagot	SACLOS	120 mm		NATO reporting name: AT-4 Spigot [4] : 408
9M113 Konkurs	SACLOS	135 mm		NATO reporting name: AT-5 Spandrel [12]
9K114 Shturm	SACLOS			NATO reporting name: AT-6 Spiral [12]
9K115 Metis	SACLOS	94 mm		NATO reporting name: AT-7 Saxhorn [12]
9K112 Kobra	SACLOS	125 mm		NATO reporting name: AT-8 Songster. [14] : II-22–II-23
9M117 Bastion	Laser beam-riding	100 mm		NATO reporting name: AT-10 Stabber. [14] : II-24–II-25
9M119 Svir/Refleks	Laser beam-riding	120 mm		NATO reporting name: AT-11 Sniper. [14] : II-26

Land mines

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
MON-50	Anti-personnel	700 g RDX		Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war. [3] : 252
MON-90	Anti-personnel	6.2 kg RDX
MON-100 [15]	Anti-personnel	2 kg TNT		[16] : 83
MON-200 [15]	Anti-personnel	12 kg TNT		[16] : 83
OZM-72 [15]	Anti-personnel	660 g TNT		Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war. [3] : 252
PFM-1	Anti-personnel	37 g		[15]
PMD-6 mine	Anti-personnel	200 g		PMD-7, and PMD-7ts variants also used. [15]
POMZ-2M [15]	Anti-personnel	75 g TNT		[16] : 69–70
PMN mine [15]	Anti-personnel	240 g TNT		Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war. [3] : 252

Anti-tank mines

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
TMD-44	Anti-tank mine	9.7 kg Amatol		[16] : 37–38
TM-46 [15]	Anti-tank mine	5.7 kg TNT		[16] : 15–16
TM-57 [15]	Anti-tank mine	6.34 kg TNT		[16] : 15–16
TM-62	Anti-tank mine	7.5 kg TNT		[15]
TM-72	Anti-tank mine	2.5 kg HEAT
PDM-1	Amphibious anti-tank	10 kg TNT		[16] : 91–92
TM-83	Off-route mine	6.6 kg TNT

Flamethrower

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
LPO-50	Flamethrower	986 mm		[4] : 249–250
RPO Rys	Flamethrower	122 mm		[1]
RPO-A Shmel	Flamethrower	93 mm		[1]

Mortars

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
82-BM-37	Light	82mm		M-37M [4] : 474
2B14 Podnos	Light			Used by paratroopers. [8] : 50
120-PM-38	Heavy	120 mm		[13]
120-PM-43	Heavy			[4] : 476
2B11	Heavy			[14] : V-33
2S12 Sani	Heavy			1,387 units in 1991 [13]
M-160	Heavy	160mm		[4] : 477
M-240	Heavy	240 mm		[13]

Hand grenades

Name	Type	Photo	Caliber	Notes
F1	Anti-personnel		55 mm	[4] : 567
RGD-5	Anti-personnel		58 mm	[4] : 567
RGN	Anti-personnel		60 mm	Offensive type hand grenade. [4] : 568
RGO	Anti-personnel			Defensive type hand grenade. [4] : 568
RKG-3	Anti-tank grenade		362 mm	[4] : 570
RPG-6	Anti-tank grenade		103 mm	Still used for training purposes. [4] : 569
RPG-43	Anti-tank grenade		95 mm	Still used for training purposes. [4] : 569
VOG-25	Launcher grenade		40 mm	Used on the GP-25. [17]

Vehicles

Tanks

The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated that the Soviet Union had around 16,000 tanks of unknown types in storage east of the Urals in 1991. ^[13]

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Notes
T-80	Main battle tank	5,400 [13]		T-80U/T-80BV
T-72	Main battle tank	9,000 [13]		T-72B
T-64	Main battle tank	4,900 [13]		T-64BV
T-62	Main battle tank	8,500 [13]		T-62MV-1
T-55	Main battle tank	10,600 [13]		T-55AMV-1
T-10	Heavy tank	~350 [12]		T-10M
PT-76	Light tank	1,000 [13]		PT-76B

Infantry fighting vehicles

The Soviet Union had about 28,000 Infantry fighting vehicles in 1991 ^[13]

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Notes
BMP-1 [13]	Infantry fighting vehicle	N/A		Between 1972 and 1988 Czechoslovakia delivered 5,100 BVP-1s to the Soviet Union [18]
BMP-2	Infantry fighting vehicle	N/A		[13]
BMP-3	Infantry fighting vehicle	~700 [13]
BMD-1	Infantry fighting vehicle	~3,000 [13]		Used by airborne troops.
BMD-2	Infantry fighting vehicle			Used by airborne troops.
BMD-3	Infantry fighting vehicle			Only used by airborne troops.

Self-propelled guns

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Notes
ASU-57 [12]	Assault gun			Only used by airborne troops.
ASU-85 [12]	Assault gun			Only used by airborne troops.
2S1 Gvozdika	Self-propelled artillery	2,331 [13]
2S3 Akatsiya	Self-propelled artillery	2,044 [13]
2S4 Tyulpan	Self-propelled mortar	54 [13]
2S5 Giatsint-S	Self-propelled artillery	494 [13]
2S7 Pion	Self-propelled artillery	304 [13]
2S9 Nona	Self-propelled artillery	442 [13]		Only used by airborne troops.
2S19 Msta	Self-propelled howitzer	13 [13]
152 mm SpGH DANA [13]	Self-propelled artillery			150 delivered by Czechoslovakia between 1986 and 1990. [18]

Towed mortars and anti-tank guns

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Caliber	Notes
2B9 Vasilek	Gun howitzer			82 mm	Used by motor rifle and airborne units. [4] : 475
D-44	Anti-tank gun			85 mm	[4] : 404
BS-3	Anti-tank gun			100 mm	[13]
T-12	Anti-tank gun				[12]
2B16 Nona-K	Gun howitzer	37 [13]		120 mm
2A45 Sprut-A	Anti-tank gun			125 mm	[19]

Towed Artillery

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Caliber	Notes
2A18 D-30	Field Gun	2,044 [13]		122 mm
D-74	Field Gun				[12]
KS-30	Field Gun	12 [13]		130 mm
D-20	Field Gun	767 [13]		152 mm
2A36 Giatsint-B	Field Gun	574 [13]
2A65 Msta-B	Field Gun	400 [13]
S-23	Field Gun	~180 [12]		180 mm

Anti-aircraft tanks and missile systems

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Notes
ZSU-57-2	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	750 [20] : 84–85		In reserve. [20] : 84–85
ZSU-23-4 Shilka	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	N/A		[12]
2K11 Krug	Transportable SAM system	1,350 [13]		NATO reporting name: SA-4 Ganef. Being replaced by the Buk and S-300 systems [12]
2K12 Kub	Transportable SAM system	850 [13]		NATO reporting name: SA-6 Gainful [12]
2K22 Tunguska	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	130 [13]		NATO reporting name: SA-19 Grison [13]
9K31 Strela-1	Transportable SAM system	430 [13]		NATO reporting name: SA-9 Gaskin. Being replaced by the Strela-10 system [12]
9K33 Osa	Transportable SAM system	950 [13]		NATO reporting name: SA-8 Gecko [12]
9K35 Strela-10	Transportable SAM system	860 [13]		NATO reporting name: SA-13 Gopher [12]
9K37 Buk	Transportable SAM system	300 [13]		NATO reporting name: SA-11 Gadfly [12]
9K330 Tor	Transportable SAM system	20 [13]		NATO reporting name: SA-15 Gauntlet. Replacing the Kub and Osa systems [13]
S-300	Transportable SAM system	70+ [13]		NATO Reporting name: SA-12A Gladiator [12]

Anti-aircraft guns

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Caliber	Notes
AZP S-60	Autocannon			57 mm	[12]
ZU-23-2	Autocannon			23x152 mmB	[12]
ZPU-2	Anti-aircraft gun			14.5x114 mm	In reserve. [20] : 210–212
KS-30 [12]	Anti-aircraft gun			130x845 mmR	In reserve. [20] : 202
KS-19	Anti-aircraft gun			100x695 mm	[12]

Rocket artillery

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Notes
BM-14	Multiple rocket launcher			[12]
BM-21 Grad	Multiple rocket launcher	1,550 [13]
BM-24	Multiple rocket launcher			[12]
BM-27 Uragan	Multiple rocket launcher	554 [13]
9K58 BM-30 Smerch	Multiple rocket launcher	158 [13]
TOS-1	Multiple rocket launcher			First used in 1987 during the Soviet-Afghan war. [21]

Tactical ballistic missiles

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Notes
9K52 Luna-M	Tactical ballistic missile	500 [13]
9K79 OTR-21 Tochka	Tactical ballistic missile	300 [13]
RT-17 Scud	Tactical ballistic missile	550 [13]		Scud-B and Scud-C variants

Armored personnel carriers

By 1991 the Soviet army had over 50,000 armored personnel carriers in service. ^[13]

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Notes
BTR-80	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A		[12]
BTR-70	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A		[12]
BTR-60	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A		BTR-60P [12]
BTR-50	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A		BTR-50P [12]
BTR-152 [13]	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A		Some vehicles were kept by 1980s as ambulances, command, radio, and engineering vehicles. [14] : III-5
BTR-D	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A		Used by airborne units. [14] : IV-10−IV-11
MT-LB	Tracked Armoured personnel carrier	4,500 [13]
PTS-2	Amphibious armoured personnel carrier
PTS-M	Amphibious armoured personnel carrier

Reconnaissance vehicles

Soviet army had about 8,000 reconnaissance vehicles in service in 1991. ^[13]

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Notes
BRDM-2	Amphibious armoured scout car	3,500 [13]
BRM-1K	Reconnaissance tank			[14] : III-40
IRM Zhuk	Engineer reconnaissance tank			[14] : III-42

Engineering vehicles

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Notes
BAT-2	Military engineering vehicle	N/A		[3] : 248
BTM-3	Trencher	N/A		[3] : 250
IMR-2	Military engineering vehicle	N/A		[3] : 248
MDK-3	Trencher	N/A		[3] : 250
MTU-20	Bridgelayer	N/A		[3] : 248
TMK-2	Trencher	N/A		[3] : 250
TMM	Bridgelayer	N/A		[3] : 248
PMP Floating Bridge	Pontoon bridge	N/A		[3] : 247

Unarmored trucks and utility vehicles

Name	Type	Quantity	Photo	Notes
UAZ-469	Light utility vehicle	N/A		[22]
Lada Niva Legende	Light utility vehicle	N/A
GAZ-69	Light utility vehicle	N/A
UAZ-452	Light truck	N/A		Used mostly as ambulances or special operation vehicles. [23] : 115
GAZ-53	Medium truck	N/A		Used by engineering units in Afghanistan. [3] : 248
GAZ-66	Medium truck	N/A		The GAZ-66B variant was used by Airborne troops. [23] : 35–36
ZIL-131	Medium truck	N/A		Some had ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns mounted in Afghanistan. [22]

References

1. Galeotti, Mark (6 December 2012). Afghanistan: The Soviet Union's Last War. Routledge. pp. 192–193. ISBN   978-1-136-29943-8.
2. Greentree, David (16 February 2023). Soviet Naval Infantry 1917–91. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4728-5163-5 . Retrieved 23 July 2023.
3. Russian General Staff (2002). Grau, Lester W.; Gress, Michael A. (eds.). The Soviet-Afghan War: How a Superpower Fought and Lost. University Press of Kansas. ISBN   978-0-7006-1185-0.
4. V. Hogg, Ian, ed. (1988). Jane's infantry weapons 1988-89 (14th ed.). London: Jane's Pub. Co. ISBN   978-0710608574.
5. Popenker, Maxim (13 December 2008). "GUNS OF THE SPETSNAZ: 9MM PB SILENCED PISTOL - Small Arms Review". Small Arms Review. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
6. Thompson, Leroy (27 October 2022). Soviet Pistols: Tokarev, Makarov, Stechkin and others. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4728-5349-3 . Retrieved 23 July 2023.
7. "The VSS Vintorez: Whisper Of Spetsnaz". SOFREP. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
8. Campbell, David (20 February 2020). Soviet Airborne Forces 1930–91. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4728-3959-6 . Retrieved 26 July 2023.
9. Rottman, Gordon L. (20 October 2013). The Big Book of Gun Trivia: Everything you want to know, don't want to know, and don't know you need to know. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1-78200-950-4 . Retrieved 21 July 2023.
10. "Ukrainian positions in Donbas shelled by deadly Russian RPG-27 Tavolga". www.unian.info. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
11. Rottman, Gordon L. (15 March 2011). The Rocket Propelled Grenade. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1-84908-154-2.
12. Institute for Strategic Studies (1989). The military balance, 1989-1990. London: Brassey's. p. 34. ISBN   978-0080375694.
13. International Institute for Strategic Studies (1991). The military balance. 1991-1992. London: Brassey's. p. 37. ISBN   978-0080413259.
14. Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945-1995. Marine Corps Intelligence Activity. 1995. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
15. Soviet Engineers: Organization, Doctrine, and Equipment. Field Engineering Branch, Department of Military Engineering, U.S. Army Engineer School. 1986. pp. 11–15. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
16. United States Army, Europe, Headquarters (30 July 1975). USAREUR Pam 30-60-1 1975 Identification guide, part three, weapons and equipment, East European Communist armies, volume ii, mine warfare and demolition equipment. New York. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
17. Rottman, Gordon L. (1 April 2011). The AK-47: Kalashnikov-series assault rifles. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 28. ISBN   978-1-84908-462-8 . Retrieved 26 July 2023.
18. "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
19. Trevithick, Joseph (9 June 2020). "Watch Russian Troops Snuff Out An Oil Well Blaze With An Anti-Tank Gun". The Drive. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
20. Cullen, Tony; Foss, Christopher F., eds. (1 March 1992). Jane's Land-based Air Defence 1992-93. Jane's Information Group. ISBN   978-0710609793.
21. Newdick, Thomas (28 February 2022). "The Truth About Russia's Terrifying TOS-1A Thermobaric Rocket Launchers Now In Ukraine". The Drive. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
22. Galeotti, Mark (28 May 2020). Combat Vehicles of Russia's Special Forces: Spetsnaz, airborne, Arctic and interior troops. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4728-4184-1 . Retrieved 20 July 2023.
23. United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army, Headquarters (15 February 1974). Identification guide, part two, weapons and equipment, East European Communist armies, volume ii, Soviet trucks and trailers. New York. Retrieved 20 July 2023.