List of equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces

This list shows equipment of Soviet Ground Forces in 1991.

Infantry equipment Helmets Abbreviation Type Photo NotesSSh-40HelmetStill used during the Soviet-Afghan war.SSh-60Helmet Still used during the Soviet-Afghan war.SSh-68HelmetMain service helmet.

Body armor Name Type Photo Notes6B2 (Zh-RI)Flak jacketIssued in 1980, it provided inadequate protection in Afghanistan and subsequently phased out.6B3Flak jacketReplaced 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.YaB4Flak jacketReplaced 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.6B4 (Zh-85)Ballistic vestIssued 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.6B5 "Ulej" (Zh-86)Ballistic vestIssued 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.

Small arms Pistols and revolvers Name Type Caliber Photo NotesPMSemi-automatic pistol9×18mm MakarovMain service pistolPBIntegrallly suppressed semi-automatic pistolSilenced pistol issued to special forcesAPSMachine pistolPSMSemi-automatic pistol5.45×18mmStandard sidearm of civil and military security forcesPSSSemi-automatic pistol7.62×41mm SP-4Used by Spetsnaz.Tokarev TT-33 Semi-automatic pistol7.62×25mm TokarevLimited use.Nagant M1895Revolver7.62×38mmRLimited use.

Semi-automatic and bolt-action rifles NameTypeCaliberPhotoNotesSKSSemi-automatic rifle7.62×39mmCeremonial use

The SKS carbine remained in the Soviet Army until the very end and is still used by the post-Soviet countries today.

Assault rifles and other automatic rifles Name Type Caliber Photo NotesAK-74Assault rifle5.45×39mmMain service rifleAKS-74Assault rifleAK-74 variant with a folding stockAKS-74UAssault CarbineAKS-74 variant with a shortened barrelAKMAssault rifle7.62×39mmIn service since 1959AKMSAssault rifleAKM variant with a folding stock

Designated marksman and sniper rifles Name Type Caliber Photo NotesSVDDesignated marksman rifle7.62×54mmRMain service designated marksman rifleVSS VintorezDesignated marksman rifle9×39mmSuppressed sniper rifle used by special forces like Spetsnaz

Light and heavy machine guns Name Type Caliber Photo NotesRPDLight machine gun7.62×39mmWas succeeded in Soviet service by the RPK.RPKLight machine gun7.62×39mm RPK-74Light machine gun5.45×39mmMain service light machine gunPKMGeneral-purpose machine gun7.62×54mmRMain service general-purpose machine gunNSV "Utyos"Heavy machine gun12.7×108mmMain service heavy machine gunDShKMHeavy machine gunBeing replaced by the NSV machine gun.KPV-14.5Heavy machine gun14.5×114mmBase for anti-aircraft guns.

Flares and smokes NameTypeCaliberPhotoNotesSPSh-44Flare gun26 mmRSP-30Warning flare RDG-2Smoke grenade

Launchers NameTypeCaliberPhotoNotesGP-25 KostyorGrenade launcher40 mm caseless grenadeAGS-17 PlamyaAutomatic grenade launcher30x29 mm

Rocket-propelled grenade launchers Name Type Caliber Photo NotesRPG-29 VampirReusable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade105mmRPG-27 TavolgaDisposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade105mmRPG-26 AglenDisposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade72.5mmRPG-22 NettoDisposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade72.5mmSeen in use during the Soviet-Afghan war.RPG-18 MukhaDisposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade64mmRPG-16Rocket-propelled grenade58.3mm Used by paratroopers and Spetsnaz.RPG-7Rocket-propelled grenade40mmReusable launcher with various types of anti-personnel and anti-tank munitions.

Recoilless rifles NameTypeCaliberPhotoNotesSPG-9 KopyoRecoilless rifle73 mmB-10Recoilless rifle82 mmLimited use by paratroopers.

Man-portable air-defense systems NameTypeCaliberPhotoNotes9K32 Strela-2Infrared homing72 mmNATO reporting name: SA-7 Grail. Being replaced by the Strela-3 and Igla systems9K34 Strela-3Infrared homingNATO reporting name: SA-14 Gremlin9K310 Igla-1Infrared homingNATO Reporting name: SA-169K38 IglaInfrared homingNATO reporting name: SA-18. Replacing the Strela-2 and Strela-3 systems.

Anti-tank guided missiles NameTypeCaliberPhotoNotes9M17 FleytaMCLOS148 mmNATO reporting name: AT-2 Swatter9M14 MalyutkaMCLOS125 mmNATO reporting name: AT-3 Sagger9K111 FagotSACLOS120 mmNATO reporting name: AT-4 Spigot9M113 KonkursSACLOS135 mmNATO reporting name: AT-5 Spandrel9K114 ShturmSACLOSNATO reporting name: AT-6 Spiral9K115 MetisSACLOS94 mmNATO reporting name: AT-7 Saxhorn 9K112 KobraSACLOS125 mmNATO reporting name: AT-8 Songster.9M117 BastionLaser beam-riding100 mmNATO reporting name: AT-10 Stabber.9M119 Svir/RefleksLaser beam-riding120 mmNATO reporting name: AT-11 Sniper.

Land mines NameTypeCaliberPhotoNotesMON-50Anti-personnel700 g RDXWidely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.MON-90Anti-personnel6.2 kg RDXMON-100Anti-personnel2 kg TNTMON-200Anti-personnel12 kg TNTOZM-72Anti-personnel660 g TNTWidely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.PFM-1Anti-personnel37 gPMD-6 mineAnti-personnel200 gPMD-7, and PMD-7ts variants also used.POMZ-2MAnti-personnel75 g TNTPMN mineAnti-personnel240 g TNTWidely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.

Anti-tank mines NameTypeCaliberPhotoNotesTMD-44Anti-tank mine9.7 kg AmatolTM-46Anti-tank mine5.7 kg TNTTM-57Anti-tank mine6.34 kg TNTTM-62Anti-tank mine7.5 kg TNTTM-72Anti-tank mine2.5 kg HEATPDM-1Amphibious anti-tank10 kg TNTTM-83Off-route mine6.6 kg TNT

Flamethrower NameTypeCaliberPhotoNotesLPO-50Flamethrower986 mmRPO RysFlamethrower122 mmRPO-A ShmelFlamethrower93 mm

Mortars NameTypeCaliberPhotoNotes82-BM-37Light 82mmM-37M2B14 PodnosLightUsed by paratroopers.120-PM-38Heavy120 mm120-PM-43Heavy2B11Heavy2S12 SaniHeavy1,387 units in 1991M-160Heavy160mmM-240Heavy240 mm

Hand grenades Name Type Photo CaliberNotesF1Anti-personnel55 mmRGD-5Anti-personnel58 mmRGNAnti-personnel60 mmOffensive type hand grenade.RGOAnti-personnelDefensive type hand grenade.RKG-3Anti-tank grenade362 mmRPG-6Anti-tank grenade103 mmStill used for training purposes.RPG-43Anti-tank grenade95 mmStill used for training purposes.VOG-25Launcher grenade40 mmUsed on the GP-25.

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.

Name Type Quantity Photo NotesT-80Main battle tank5,400T-80U/T-80BVT-72Main battle tank9,000T-72BT-64Main battle tank4,900T-64BVT-62Main battle tank8,500T-62MV-1T-55Main battle tank10,600T-55AMV-1T-10Heavy tank~350T-10MPT-76Light tank1,000PT-76B

Infantry fighting vehicles The Soviet Union had about 28,000 Infantry fighting vehicles in 1991 Name Type Quantity Photo NotesBMP-1Infantry fighting vehicleN/ABetween 1972 and 1988 Czechoslovakia delivered 5,100 BVP-1s to the Soviet UnionBMP-2Infantry fighting vehicleN/ABMP-3Infantry fighting vehicle~700BMD-1Infantry fighting vehicle ~3,000Used by airborne troops.BMD-2Infantry fighting vehicleUsed by airborne troops.BMD-3Infantry fighting vehicleOnly used by airborne troops.

Self-propelled guns NameTypeQuantityPhotoNotesASU-57Assault gunOnly used by airborne troops.ASU-85Assault gunOnly used by airborne troops.2S1 GvozdikaSelf-propelled artillery2,3312S3 AkatsiyaSelf-propelled artillery2,0442S4 TyulpanSelf-propelled mortar542S5 Giatsint-SSelf-propelled artillery4942S7 PionSelf-propelled artillery3042S9 NonaSelf-propelled artillery442Only used by airborne troops.2S19 MstaSelf-propelled howitzer13152 mm SpGH DANASelf-propelled artillery150 delivered by Czechoslovakia between 1986 and 1990.

Towed mortars and anti-tank guns NameTypeQuantityPhotoCaliberNotes2B9 VasilekGun howitzer82 mmUsed by motor rifle and airborne units.D-44Anti-tank gun 85 mmBS-3Anti-tank gun100 mmT-12Anti-tank gun 2B16 Nona-KGun howitzer 37120 mm2A45 Sprut-AAnti-tank gun125 mm

Towed artillery NameTypeQuantityPhotoCaliberNotes2A18 D-30Field gun 2,044122 mmD-74Field gun KS-30Field gun 12130 mmD-20Field gun 767152 mm2A36 Giatsint-BField gun 5742A65 Msta-BField gun400 S-23Field gun ~180180 mm

Anti-aircraft tanks and missile systems NameTypeQuantityPhotoNotesZSU-57-2Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun750In reserve.ZSU-23-4 ShilkaSelf-propelled anti-aircraft gunN/A2K11 KrugTransportable SAM system1,350NATO reporting name: SA-4 Ganef. Being replaced by the Buk and S-300 systems2K12 KubTransportable SAM system850NATO reporting name: SA-6 Gainful2K22 TunguskaSelf-propelled anti-aircraft gun130NATO reporting name: SA-19 Grison9K31 Strela-1Transportable SAM system430NATO reporting name: SA-9 Gaskin. Being replaced by the Strela-10 system9K33 OsaTransportable SAM system950NATO reporting name: SA-8 Gecko9K35 Strela-10Transportable SAM system860NATO reporting name: SA-13 Gopher9K37 BukTransportable SAM system300NATO reporting name: SA-11 Gadfly9K330 TorTransportable SAM system20NATO reporting name: SA-15 Gauntlet. Replacing the Kub and Osa systemsS-300Transportable SAM system70+NATO Reporting name: SA-12A Gladiator

Anti-aircraft guns NameTypeQuantityPhotoCaliberNotesAZP S-60Autocannon57 mmZU-23-2Autocannon23x152 mmBZPU-2Anti-aircraft gun14.5x114 mmIn reserve.KS-30Anti-aircraft gun130x845 mmRIn reserve.KS-19Anti-aircraft gun100x695 mm

Rocket artillery NameTypeQuantityPhotoNotesBM-14Multiple rocket launcherBM-21 GradMultiple rocket launcher1,550BM-24Multiple rocket launcherBM-27 UraganMultiple rocket launcher5549K58 BM-30 SmerchMultiple rocket launcher158TOS-1Multiple rocket launcherFirst used in 1987 during the Soviet-Afghan war.

Tactical ballistic missiles NameTypeQuantityPhotoNotes9K52 Luna-MTactical ballistic missile5009K79 OTR-21 TochkaTactical ballistic missile300RT-17 ScudTactical ballistic missile550Scud-B and Scud-C variants

Armored personnel carriers By 1991 the Soviet army had over 50,000 armored personnel carriers in service. Name Type Quantity Photo NotesBTR-80Armoured personnel carrierN/ABTR-70Armoured personnel carrierN/ABTR-60Armoured personnel carrierN/ABTR-60PBTR-50Armoured personnel carrierN/ABTR-50PBTR-152Armoured personnel carrierN/ASome vehicles were kept by 1980s as ambulances, command, radio, and engineering vehicles. BTR-DArmoured personnel carrierN/AUsed by airborne units.MT-LBTracked Armoured personnel carrier4,500PTS-2Amphibious armoured personnel carrierPTS-MAmphibious armoured personnel carrier

Reconnaissance vehicles Soviet army had about 8,000 reconnaissance vehicles in service in 1991. Name Type Quantity Photo NotesBRDM-2Amphibious armoured scout car3,500BRM-1KReconnaissance tankIRM ZhukEngineer reconnaissance tank

Engineering vehicles Name Type Quantity Photo NotesBAT-2Military engineering vehicleN/ABTM-3TrencherN/AIMR-2Military engineering vehicleN/AMDK-3TrencherN/AMTU-20BridgelayerN/ATMK-2TrencherN/ATMM BridgelayerN/APMP Floating BridgePontoon bridgeN/A

Unarmored trucks and utility vehicles Name Type Quantity Photo NotesUAZ-469Light utility vehicleN/ALada Niva LegendeLight utility vehicleN/AGAZ-67Light utility vehicleN/AGAZ-69Light utility vehicleN/AUAZ-452Light truckN/AUsed mostly as ambulances or special operation vehicles.GAZ-53Medium truckN/AUsed by engineering units in Afghanistan.GAZ-66Medium truckN/AThe GAZ-66B variant was used by Airborne troops.ZIL-131Medium truckN/ASome had ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns mounted in Afghanistan.

References