The weapons of survival of the astronauts SONS (Small Arms Carry Emergency supplies) is known under the index of the TP-82 or TOZ-82.
The original idea of such weapons, intended for the survival of cosmonauts in case of landing in the wilderness outside the specified area, appeared in the cosmonaut Alexei Leonov. In 1965, together with Belyaev Leonov made an emergency landing aboard the descent module of Vostok-2, and held in anticipation of a search and rescue party over two days in the winter taiga. Before the astronauts Makarov pistol ill suited for protection from wild animals and even worse – for the production of food by the method of hunting.
In the late seventies, Leonov already being a Deputy.the chief of the Cosmonaut Training Center, officially put forward the idea of specialized weapons for the survival of astronauts and pilots of distant aircraft after a crash landing in the wilderness. In 1981, the idea received official support, and in 1982 to supply the Soviet space mission was officially adopted gun TP-82, developed at the Tula arms Factory. Ammunition for TP-82 were developed in Klimovsk TSNIITOCHMASH.
The gun TP – 82 non-automatic, triple. Two upper horizontal smooth barrel 32 caliber hunting located underneath rifled barrel has a caliber of 5.45 mm. used For shooting specially designed cartridges SP – P (bullet), SP – D (roll No. 3), SP – C (signal).
Side butt while shooting is a machete, which is part of the complex Sonata. The handle of the machete has grooves to attach to the handle of the gun. All is fixed with a latch located on the handle of the machete. The machete blade is worn cover and a plastic back plate, which rests against the shooter’s shoulder. The sight of the TP – 82 is not adjustable. The fore-end, handle pistol and machete made of plastic.
The first spacecraft, CALLED (Emergency Reserve) which included the gun TP-82 was the Soyuz T-6 launched in the summer of 1982 with the Soviet-French crew on Board. In 1986, the gun TP-82 was also adopted by the Soviet air force as a weapon of survival of pilots of distant aircraft in case of an emergency landing. In the 1987 release of guns of the TP-82 was discontinued as it was felt that they produced enough.
According to available information, the TP-82 guns were in CALLED Soviet and later Russian space vehicles until 2007, when I finished the warranty storage life produced in the Soviet Union ammunition for this weapon.
