T-12 antitank gun

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T-12 displayed in the Artillery Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

T-12, rear view.

2A19 or T-12 is a Soviet smoothbore 100 mm anti-tank gun. It entered service in 1955 replacing the M-1944 BS-3 (D-10) 100 mm field gun. In 1970 it was replaced in production by the 2A29/MT-12 Rapira which features a new gun, the 100 mm smoothbore 2A29, as well as a redesigned carriage and gun-shield to protect the crew.

1 History
2 Description
3 T-12 general characteristics
4 Ammunition
5 Models
6 Users
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

[edit] History

The gun was typically deployed in anti-tank units of armoured and motor rifle regiments to protect flanks against counter-attacks during rapid advances.

The weapon has been superseded by the 2A45 Sprut-B 125 mm smoothbore anti-tank gun. Modern western tanks' frontal armour protection is far in excess of what can be penetrated by a 100 mm gun — even using the most modern APFSDS round. For a tank that can maneouvre 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.

[edit] 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 (as with the T-12A and MT-12) twenty 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 gun can be fitted with the LO-7 ski for travel across snow or swampy ground.

A new version, the MT-12R, has become available which has a radar sight for engaging targets in poor visibility.

[edit] T-12 general characteristics

Length: 9,480 mm
Width: 1,795 mm
Height: 1,565 mm
Combat weight: 2,750 kg
Towing vehicle: Ural-375D (6x6)
Road towing speed: 60 km/h
Cross-country towing speed: 15 km/h
Traverse: 27° left or right
Elevation: -6°/+20°
Gun: 2A19 Smoothbore 100 mm
Rate of fire: 14 rounds per minute (maximum possible), 10 rounds per minute (maximum likely in the field), 4 to 6 rounds per minute (typical aimed fire)

[edit] Ammunition

Note: penetration numbers for RHA at 90 degrees.

[edit] APFSDS

BM-2 APFSDS projectile.

3BM-2

APFSDS-T Tungsten

Round weight: 19.34 kg
Projectile weight: 5.65 kg
Muzzle velocity: 1,575 m/s
Maximum range: 3,000 m
Penetration: 230 mm at 500 m, 180 mm at 2000m, 140 mm at 3,000 m

3BM23/3UBM10

APFSDS

Round weight: 19.9 kg
Projectile weight: 4.55 kg
Muzzle velocity: 1,548 m/s

[edit] HEAT

3BK16M/3UBK8

HEAT

Round weight: 23.1 kg
Projectile weight: 9.5 kg
Muzzle velocity: 975 m/s
Penetration: 350 mm

[edit] HE-FRAG

3OF12/3OF35

Round weight: 28.9 kg
Projectile weight: 16.7 kg
Muzzle velocity: 700 m/s
Maximum range (indirect): 8,200 m

[edit] Guided projectile

3UBK-12 Kastet 9K117/3UBK10M: Main article: 9M117 Bastion

Beam riding laser guided projectile.

Round weight: 24.5 kg
Projectile weight: 18.4 kg
Average speed: 300 m/s
Range: 100 to 5,000 m
Penetration: 550 - 600 mm

[edit] Models

T-12 - Original version with 2A19 gun.
T-12A - Improved version - Towing vehicle changed to the MT-LBu. Road tow speed: 60 km/h, cross country: 25 km/h. Entered service in 1972.
MT-12 Rapira - Features a shield for protecting the crew from machine gun fire and shell splinters. Gun changed to the 2A29 100 mm smoothbore gun. Entered service in 1970.
MT-12R - Radar sight for engaging targets in a poor visibility environment (smoke/fog).