APS underwater rifle

The APS underwater assault rifle (Russian: Автомат Подводный Специальный, romanized: Avtomat Podvodny Spetsialnyy, lit.

Made by the Tula Arms Plant (Тульский Оружейный Завод, Tul'skiy Oruzheynyy Zavod) in Russia, it is exported by Rosoboronexport.

This is useful in such situations such as shooting an opposing diver through a reinforced dry suit, a protective helmet (whether air-holding or not), thick tough parts of breathing sets and their harnesses, and the plastic casings and transparent covers of some small underwater vehicles.

The APS is more powerful than a pistol, but is bulkier, heavier and takes longer to aim, particularly swinging its long barrel and large flat magazine sideways through water.

The rising threat of attacks by frogmen in naval bases caused various anti-frogman techniques to be developed.

The rifle was carried in a waterproof case and could be used only on the surface, so the only effective underwater weapon against enemy frogmen was the knife.

Another cartridge version was designed that contained a miniature rocket, which when fired makes a visible streak in the water.

Special Operations Forces operator with an APS rifle
Users of the APS underwater assault rifle