T-12 antitank gun
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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.
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[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The weapon has been superseded by the 2A45 Sprut-B 125 mm smoothbore anti-tank gun.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.
[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
[edit] 3BM-2
APFSDS-T Tungsten
- Round weight: 19.5 kg
- Projectile weight: 5.65 kg
- Muzzle velocity: 1,575 m/s
- Maximum range: 3,000 m
- Penetration: 230 mm at 500 m, 140 mm at 3,000 m
[edit] 3BM23/3UBM10
APFSDS
- Round weight: 19.9 kg
- Projectile weight: 4.55 kg
- Muzzle velocity: 1,548 m/s
[edit] HEAT
[edit] 3BK16M/3UBK8
HEAT
- Round weight: 23.1 kg
- Projectile weight: 9.5 kg
- Muzzle velocity: 1,075 m/s
[edit] HE-FRAG
[edit] 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
[edit] 3UBK-12 Kastet 9K117/3UBK10M
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
[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).
[edit] Users
Russia, Croatia, Hungary, Yugoslavia
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Hull, A.W. , Markov, D.R. , Zaloga, S.J. (1999). Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. Darlington Productions. ISBN 1-892848-01-5.
- Foss, F. , Christopher, Artillery of the World
- USA Today article - http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-25-war-zone_x.htm
- 100 mm Ammunition http://www.milparade.com/catalog/pdf/698.pdf
- 100 mm Ammunition http://www.milparade.com/catalog/pdf/697.pdf
- 100 mm Ammunition http://www.milparade.com/catalog/pdf/696.pdf
- MT-12 http://www.milparade.com/catalog/pdf/99.pdf
