SPAS-15

The Franchi SPAS-15 is a 12 gauge combat shotgun manufactured by the Italian company Luigi Franchi S.P.A., and is based on the SPAS-12 model.

The design incorporates dual pump-action and semi-automatic firing modes. Semi-automatic operation is achieved via a gas piston driving a bolt carrier and rotating bolt assembly. For pump-action operation, the same components are moved by sliding the fore-end, a feature noted as being necessary for reliable feeding of low-pressure ammunition, such as less-lethal bean bags or tear gas rounds. Mode switching is performed using a button located above the foregrip, combined with a slight movement of the foregrip. The barrel is chrome lined and incorporates screw-in choke tubes. Unlike its predecessor, the SPAS-15 utilizes detachable box magazines for feeding. It was produced with either a fixed black wooden stock or a side-folding metal stock. Both stock variants incorporated a pistol grip safety.

A semi-auto only version, designated SPAS-16, was manufactured in small numbers.

Among Italian troops, the weapon is informally referred to as "La Chiave dell'Incursore," translating to "the key of the commando," due to its application in breaching door locks. The Federal Police in Brazil acquired a small number in 2002 but later retired them due to reliability issues.

Users of the SPAS-15 include:

• Grupo Alacrán in Argentina

• BOPE

• BFEsp

• Federal Highway Police

• Military Police GRT units in Brazil.

Other users are the National Security Guard in India; the Italian Army (2,000 acquired in 1999) and Carabinieri in Italy; Israeli special forces; the Malaysian armed forces; and the Portuguese Army.