| 2A19 (T-12) 100mm anti-tank gun | |
|---|---|
T-12 displayed in the Artillery Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. |
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| Type | Anti-tank gun |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1955-present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | Gulf War |
| 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) |
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| 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 |
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The weapon was planned to be superseded by the 2A45 Sprut-B 125 mm smoothbore anti-tank gun.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.
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.
According to Jane's Armour and Artillery[1], the following countries have or had the T-12 and/or MT-12 in service:
Note: penetration numbers for RHA at 90 degrees.
APFSDS-T Tungsten
APFSDS
Beam riding laser guided projectile.