Thread by @JakOSpades

Wanted to do a follow-up on the SPO Varna 'flamethrower' as there isn't much written about in either English or Russian. Introduced circa 2005, it was designed to compliment the RPO Schmel' and RPO PDM-A Priz line of launchers. Its RKhBZ code is MO.1.09.00

The launcher is the same as the RPO-A (marked with a red cross on the end caps), but inside, they are very different. The RPO fires a fin stabilised projectile filled with thermobaric, incendiary or smoke producing mixtures. The SPO houses a canister with a fixed launch motor.

The actual 'projectile' is a sausage like mesh 'bag' containing an incendiary mixture. In this case, 2.5 kg of OM-12 pyrogel, the same as used in the RPO-Z. The rear of the mesh container is fitted with some kind of igniter compound, which is itself ignited at launch.

The canister with attached launch motor are fired out of the muzzle of the launch tube, and falls to the ground, a few meters away. This canister does not appear to serve the function of a 'barrel extension' like on the RPO PDM-A.

You can see on this photo that the 'sausage' has already cleared the muzzle whilst the front end of the canister is only just protruding out. A note on those filaments of gel like matter we can see. Not 100% sure on the purpose, but it could be a gel sealant to help

protect the OM-12 from humidity, as pyrogels can auto-ignite on contact with water. Or its pyrogel leaking out of the mesh container and this thing is very unsafe ! In the video below, the shooter actually burns his hand with the first shot.

The payload with the burning ignition compound is projected towards the target, and when it comes into contact with a solid object, the mesh ruptures and the pyrogel ignites over a small area. Pyrogels typically burn for a few minutes at temps between 1.4k to 1.6k °C.

Now it may not look as impressive as the blast of an RPO-A, or the big goutes of flame produced by something like an LPO-50, but remember this is meant to be fired into confined spaces, inside rooms or caves, bunkers.... The very high local temps generated are intended to ignite

Most flammable materials (furniture, fabrics etc...) in its radius, and of course exposure to such high temperatures would be very detrimental to human physiology. In many ways, the SPO is closer to a traditional flamethrower than its predecessors.

For those with an interest in such things ! @AbraxasSpa @historicfirearm @CalibreObscura @AsiriFernandoLK @SenftPatrick @KampfmitKette @Stu_Lyle @Sam_Cranny @war_noir @Oded121351 @Osinttechnical