100 mm anti-tank gun T-12

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2A19 (T-12) 100 mm anti-tank gun
100-мм противотанковая пушка Т-12 Рапира (2).jpg
T-12 displayed in the Artillery Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
TypeAnti-tank gun
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1961–present
Used bySee Operators
WarsSoviet-Afghan War[1]
Gulf War
War of Dagestan
Russo-Georgian War[2]
Syrian Civil War
War in Donbass
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Specifications
Mass2,750 kg (6,060 lb)
Length9.16 m (30 ft 1 in)[3]
Barrel length6.3 m (20 ft 8 in) 63 calibers[3]
Width1.795 m (5 ft 11 in)
Height1.565 m (5 ft 2 in)
Crew6[3]
ShellFixed QF 100 × 910 mmR
(R/147mm)
Caliber100 millimetres (3.9 in)
CarriageTransport: Ural-375D (6x6)
On road: 60 km/h (37 mph)
Off road: 15 km/h (9 mph)
Elevation−10° to +20°[3]
Traverse27° left or right
Rate of fire14 rpm (max possible)
10 rpm (max likely)
4 to 6 rpm (typical)
Muzzle velocitySee Ammunition
Maximum firing rangeSee Ammunition
Closeup of the T-12 aiming mechanism, with blueprints showing its proper lubrication in the background.
T-12, rear view.

2A19 or T-12 is a Soviet smoothbore 100-mm anti-tank gun, which served as the primary towed anti-tank artillery in the Soviet and Bulgarian armies from the early 1960s to the late 1980s.

History[]

The T-12 entered service in 1961,[4] replacing the BS-3 100 mm field gun. It was typically deployed in the anti-tank units of armoured and motor rifle regiments to protect flanks against counter-attacks during rapid advances.

In 1970, it was replaced in production by the T-12A or MT-12 "Rapira", which features a new smoothbore gun, the 100 mm 2A29 gun, as well as a redesigned carriage and gun shield to protect the crew from machine gun fire and shell splinters. Thanks to the redesigned carriage, which has a bigger wheel base, the MT-12 can be towed by the MT-LB, at speeds up to 60 km/h on road or 25 km/h cross-country.

The 2A29R "Ruta" or MT-12R is a version with a RLPK-1 radar for engaging targets in a poor visibility environment (smoke/fog). From 1981, the gun could fire laser beam-riding guided missiles 9M117 Kastet (weapon system 9K116) and carried the new designator 2A29K "Kastet" or MT-12K.

The weapon was planned to be superseded by the 2A45 Sprut-B 125 mm smooth bore anti-tank gun. Modern western tanks' frontal armour protection is in excess of what can be penetrated by a 100 mm gun from anything but point-blank range – even using the most modern APFSDS round. For a tank that can manoeuvre to take advantage of the enemy's weaknesses this is less of a problem – but for a weapon that is primarily defensive, this is a serious problem. Today, the T-12 is applied mostly in the role of ordinary artillery, using FRAG-HE shells.

In 2017, the Algerian military displayed a locally developed variant mounted on a Mercedes-Benz Zetros truck. It includes four stabilization legs to absorb firing impacts.[5]

Description[]

The gun requires a crew of six: commander, driver of the towing vehicle, gun layer, loader, and two ammunition crewmen. When the MT-LB is used as the transporter, 20 rounds are typically carried (10 APFSDS, 4 HE-Frag, 6 HEAT). Since the weapon is a smoothbore, all the ammunition is finned for accuracy during flight.

The standard equipment consists of the panoramic PG-1M sight for indirect fire, and an OP4M-40U telescope for direct fire. The APN-5-40 or APN-6-40 are used for direct fire by night.

The gun can be fitted with the LO-7 ski gear for travel across snow or swampy ground.

Ammunition[]

Note: penetration numbers for RHA at 90 degrees.

APFSDS[]

BM-2 APFSDS projectile.
3BM-2

APFSDS-T Tungsten

  • Round weight: 19.34 kg (42.6 lb)
  • Projectile weight: 5.65 kg (12.5 lb)
  • Muzzle velocity: 1,575 m/s (5,170 ft/s)
  • Maximum range: 3,000 m (3,300 yd)
  • Penetration:
    • 230 mm at 500 m (9 in at 550 yd)
    • 180 mm at 2,000 m (7 in at 2,200 yd)
    • 140 mm at 3,000 m (5.5 in at 3,300 yd)
3BM23/3UBM10

APFSDS

  • Round weight: 19.9 kg (44 lb)
  • Projectile weight: 4.55 kg (10.0 lb)
  • Muzzle velocity: 1,548 m/s (5,080 ft/s)
  • Maximum range: 3,000 m (3,300 yd)
  • Penetration: 225 mm at 1000 m (8.8 in at 1100 yd)[6]

HEAT[]

3BK16M/3UBK8
  • Round weight: 23.1 kg (51 lb)
  • Projectile weight: 9.5 kg (21 lb)
  • Muzzle velocity: 975 m/s (3,200 ft/s)
  • Maximum range: 1,000 m (1,100 yd)
  • Penetration: 400 mm (16 in) [6]

HE-FRAG[]

3OF12/3OF35
  • Round weight: 28.9 kg (64 lb)
  • Projectile weight: 16.7 kg (37 lb)
  • Muzzle velocity: 700 m/s (2,300 ft/s)
  • Maximum range (indirect): 8,200 m (9,000 yd)

Guided projectile[]

9K117 Kastet 3UBK10/3UBK10M
Main article: 9M117 Bastion

Beam riding laser guided projectile.

  • Round weight: 24.5 kg (54 lb)
  • Projectile weight: 17.6 kg (39 lb)
  • Average speed: 300 m/s (980 ft/s)
  • Range: 100–5,000 m (110–5,470 yd)
  • Penetration: 550–600 mm (22–24 in)

Operators[]

Map of T-12 operators in blue with former operators in red
Armenian Army T-12 in Yerevan

Former operators[]

Variants[]

Romania[]

  • A407 - This artillery system was designed by Arsenal-Resita and is very similar to the MT-12. It can fire the same range of ammunition as the T-54/55 tank and has a maximum range of 2,200 m (HEAT) or 4,000 m (APC-T). Subversions are the A407M1 and the A407M2. In Romanian Army service, the A407 is known as the 100 mm anti-tank gun M1977 (Romanian: Tun antitanc calibrul 100-mm Model 1977) and is normally towed by the DAC 887R truck.[17] It can also be towed with the DAC 665T truck. The Model 2002 is an improved version, fitted with the automatic fire control system TAT-100.[18]

People's Republic of China[]

  • Type 73 - This appears to be a copy of the Soviet T-12.[17]
  • Type 86 - This is a 100mm smoothbore anti-tank gun that has some similarities with the 85mm Type 56 (D-44). It fires ammunition of the fixed type, including the Type 73 HE, Type 73 HEAT, Type 73 APFSDS and Type 86 APFSDS to a maximum range of 1,800 m.[17]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Zaloga, Steven; Luczak, Wojciech; Beldam, Barry (1992). Armor of the Afghanistan War. Armor 2009. Concord Publications. p. 67. ISBN 978-9623619097.
  2. ^ Mantoux, Stéphane (December 2012). "Jours de tonnerre : L'Armée russe au combat en Ossétie du Sud et en Géorgie" [Days of thunder: The Russian Army in combat in South Ossetia and Georgia]. Batailles et Blindés (in French). No. 52. Caraktère. pp. 68–82. ISSN 1765-0828.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Foss, Christopher (1977). Jane's pocket book of towed artillery. New York: Collier. p. 55. ISBN 0020806000. OCLC 911907988.
  4. ^ Широкорад А. Б. Гладкоствольные противотанковые пушки («Спрут» и «Рапира») // Техни��а и вооружение вчера, сегодня, завтра…: Журнал. — Москва: РОО «Техинформ», 1997. — № 10
  5. ^ Binnie, Jeremy (4 July 2017). "Algeria displays locally developed self-propelled artillery". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "T-12 100-mm anti-tank gun MT-12 100-mm anti-tank gun 2A19 100-mm anti-tank gun 2A29 100-mm anti-tank gun". Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). The Military Balance. 120. Routledge. pp. 257–504. ISBN 978-0-367-46639-8.
  8. ^ Nerguizian, Aram; Cordesman, Anthony (2009). The North African Military Balance: Force Developments in the Maghreb. Washington DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies Press. pp. 44–46. ISBN 978-089206-552-3.
  9. ^ SIPRI Trade Registers, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, retrieved 27 June 2011
  10. ^ Gribincea, Mihai (2001). The Russian policy on military bases: Georgia and Moldova. Oradea: Editura Cogito. p. 223. ISBN 978-9738032200.
  11. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2001). "NATO and non‐NATO Europe". The Military Balance. 101 (1): 80. doi:10.1080/04597220108460153. S2CID 219623417.
  12. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2013). "Chapter Four: Europe". The Military Balance. 113 (1): 117. doi:10.1080/04597222.2013.756999. S2CID 219627496.
  13. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2006). "Caribbean and Latin America". The Military Balance. 106 (1): 323. doi:10.1080/04597220600782895. S2CID 219623774.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  15. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2004). "NATO Europe". The Military Balance. 104 (1): 55. doi:10.1080/725292366. S2CID 219627820.
  16. ^ "Lectures and General Exercises of the General Staff Academy of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (PDF). Langley: Central Intelligence Agency. 28 August 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c Jane's Armour and Artillery 2003-2004
  18. ^ http://www.arsenal.ro/Arsenal/[permanent dead link]

External links[]

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