T-12 antitank gun

2A19 (T-12) 100mm anti-tank gun

T-12 displayed in the Artillery Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Type Anti-tank gun
Place of origin  Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1955-present
Used by See Operators
Wars Gulf War

Invasion of Dagestan

Specifications
Weight 2,750 kg (6,100 lb)
Length 9.48 m (31 ft 1 in)
Width 1.795 m (5 ft 11 in)
Height 1.565 m (5 ft 2 in)

Shell See Ammunition
Caliber 100 millimetres (3.9 in)
Barrels 2A19 Smoothbore
Carriage Transport: Ural-375D (6x6)
On road: 60 km/h (37 mph)
Off road: 15 km/h (9 mph)
Elevation −6° to +20°
Traverse 27° left or right
Rate of fire 14 rpm (max possible)
10 rpm (max likely)
4 to 6 rpm (typical)
Muzzle velocity See Ammunition
Maximum range See Ammunition

2A19 or T-12 is a Soviet smoothbore 100-mm anti-tank gun, which served as the main Eastern Bloc towed anti-tank gun from 1955 until the late 1980s.

Contents

History

The T-12 entered service in 1955, replacing the BS-3 100 mm field gun. It was typically deployed in 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 with 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 misiles 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The weapon was planned to be superseded by the 2A45 Sprut-B 125 mm smoothbore anti-tank gun.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 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.

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, 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 standard equipment consists of the panoramic sight PG-1M 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 for travel across snow or swampy ground.

Operators

According to Jane's Armour and Artillery[1], the following countries have or had the T-12 and/or MT-12 in service:

Former operators

Ammunition

Note: penetration numbers for RHA at 90 degrees.

APFSDS

3BM-2

APFSDS-T Tungsten

3BM23/3UBM10

APFSDS

HEAT

3BK16M/3UBK8

HE-FRAG

3OF12/3OF35

Guided projectile

3UBK-12 Kastet 9K117/3UBK10M

Beam riding laser guided projectile.

Variants

Romania

People's Republic of China

See also

References

  1. ^ Jane's Armour and Artillery, 2003-2004
  2. ^ Janes Armour and Artillery 2003-2004
  3. ^ http://www.arsenal.ro/Arsenal/
  4. ^ Jane's Armour and Artillery 2003-2004
  5. ^ Janes Armour and Artillery 2003-2004

External links