China has been developing underwater guns!
Updated: January 9th, 2013
Unbeknown to me, China has been developing a line of underwater guns. Their designs are based on Russia’s underwater guns but are chambered in a new cartridge that appears to use 5.8x42mm (Chinese DBP87) brass.
The Chinese version of the Russian SPP-1 three barrels in a triangular configuration, rather than the SPP’s four barrel setup.
SPP-1 (top), Chinese variant (bottom)
![The Chinese version of the [Russian APS] rifle(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APS_underwater_assault_rifle) being fired.](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2024/05/15/14035777/china-has-been-developing-underwater-guns.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
The Chinese version of the [Russian APS] rifle(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APS_underwater_assault_rifle) being fired.
More info at China Defense.
[ Many thanks to Sven ( Defense and Freedom) for emailing me the the info. ]
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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Lance: Ok, but have you seen anyone fire a pistol underwater while fully submerged (ie not just their forearm)?
Consider that 9mm Parabellum has been shown to impart hydrostatic shock in humans (ie hemmoraging in other parts of the body than where the bullet hits), it doesn't sound like anything I'd like to try.
The primary purpose of these underwater rifles is not actually enemy divers... one of the biggest threats to a diver is a creature far more at home underwater than humans...
Both the US and the Soviets trained dolphins for perimeter searches and even fitted them with weapons to kill enemy divers in harbours.
A little four or three shot pistol simply doesn't cut it when there is half a ton of dolphin barrelling at you at high speed with razor sharp blades fitted to its nose that is trained to rip you to bits if it makes it to you.