Equipment for the firing position of the MT 12 rapier gun. Cannon "Rapier": technical characteristics, modifications and photos. Applications and disadvantages
100 mm anti-tank gun T-12
Years of production: 1961-1970
The world's first particularly powerful anti-tank gun T-12 (2A19) was created in the design bureau of the Yurga Machine-Building Plant No. 75 under the leadership of V.Ya. Afanasiev and L.V. Korneev. In 1961, the gun was put into service and launched in mass production.
The double-mounted carriage and gun barrel were taken from the 85-mm D-48 anti-tank rifled gun. The T-12 barrel differed from the D-48 only in a 100-mm smooth-walled monoblock tube with a muzzle brake. The gun channel consisted of a chamber and a cylindrical smooth-walled guide part. The chamber is formed by two long and one short cones.
Despite the fact that the T-12 cannon is designed primarily for direct fire (it has an OP4M-40 day sight and an APN-5-40 night sight), it is equipped with an additional S71-40 mechanical sight with a PG-1M panorama and can be used in as an ordinary field gun for firing high-explosive ammunition from closed positions.
The ammunition load of the T-12 includes several types of sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells. The first two can hit tanks like M60 and Leopard-1. To combat armored targets, an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile is used, capable of penetrating armor 215 mm thick at a distance of 1,000 meters. Also, from the T-12 cannon, you can fire 9M117 "Kastet" projectiles, guided by a laser beam and penetrating armor for dynamic protection up to 660 mm thick.
As a result of the operation, the need to introduce small changes in the carriage design. In this regard, in 1970, an improved modification of the MT-12 ("Rapier") appeared. The main difference between the upgraded MT-12 model is that it was equipped with a torsion bar suspension, which was blocked during firing to ensure stability.
During the modernization, the wheels were replaced, the length of the suspension stroke was increased, for which, for the first time in artillery, hydraulic brakes had to be introduced. Also, during the modernization, they returned to the spring balancing mechanism, since the hydraulic balancing mechanism requires constant adjustment of the compensator at various elevation angles.
Transportation of T-12 and MT-12 guns is carried out by a regular tractor MT-L or MT-LB. For driving on snow, the LO-7 ski mount was used, which made it possible to fire from skis at elevation angles up to + 16 ° with a turning angle up to 54 °.
Performance characteristics
| Combat weight | 2.75 t |
| combat crew | 7 people |
| Dimensions | 9500x1800x1600-2600 mm |
| barrel length | 6300 mm |
| Caliber | 100 mm |
|
Projectile weight: - sub-caliber - cumulative |
5.65 kg 4.69 kg |
|
Initial projectile speed: - sub-caliber - cumulative |
1575 m/s 975 m/s |
| rate of fire | 6-14 shots/min |
| Maximum range shooting | 8.2 km |
| Time to transfer the gun from traveling to combat position | about 1 min |
| Maximum highway transport speed | 60 km/h |
Unlike, for example, aircraft, they rarely assign names, being content with an alphanumeric index. The exception is a few samples, among which is the MT-12 anti-tank gun. "Rapier" - so it is respectfully called in the army. It really is somewhat reminiscent of this piercing melee weapon. long barrel, an elegant protective shield cover, reminiscent of a guard (small, but very rational), the accuracy of "touch" - all these qualities would have been quite to the liking of duelists of past centuries. Today's gunners are preparing for duels of a different kind. The gun, despite its age, calculated in decades, is still in service. It is not outdated.
Class of anti-tank guns
Until the thirties of the last century, special guns for combating armored vehicles were not created. There was no point in this: the tanks of the first two decades of the 20th century were either clumsy heavy colossus or lightly armored semi-tractor semi-cars. They could most often be taken out of action without any problems with the help of conventional means close fire combat. The war in Spain (1936) became that temporary frontier, after which theorists and practitioners of tactical science began to realize the importance of tank formations in modern armed conflicts. As is always the case, ideas arose on how to neutralize the threat to the defense from a maneuverable armored force. Flanking encirclement could occur in unpredictable directions of land theaters of operations, and therefore, the requirements for a new class of guns were maximum mobility and compactness. The famous front-line "forty-five" quite coped with all types German tanks start of the war. During the fighting, the armor of enemy vehicles grew. To break through it, 45 mm was no longer enough, first 75 caliber shells were required, and then 85 millimeters. By the end of the 60s, this figure had grown to 100 mm. The Rapira anti-tank gun was designed to fight the West German Leopards and the American M-60s.
Competition of guns and ATGMs
By the end of the sixth decade ground troops industrialized countries received at their disposal a new anti-tank weapon - ATGMs. In essence, guided missiles were missiles with controls in the form of rotary wings. Their guidance is carried out either via a radio channel, or (to avoid interference) along a long thin cable that unwinds from the coil and drags behind. It seemed that now the artillery once again lost ground in the face of the inexorably advancing scientific and technological progress. However, military budgets are also not bottomless, and ATGMs are not cheap. Then the military experts again turned to the good old guns and, to their displeasure, found a clear contradiction. The necessary accuracy was provided by rifled barrels, but, alas, they had limitations in caliber. And suddenly, unexpectedly, this problem was solved as a result of the revolutionary approach of the creators of the MT-12 "Rapier" gun.
Projectile with stabilizers
The idea was to give the projectile stability in flight exclusively in a "rocket" way. Stabilizers were included in its design, opening after exiting the muzzle of the barrel. Thus, non-rotating artillery shell could provide hit accuracy no worse than that fired from a rifled channel. The advantages of the new ammunition were not exhausted by this: the power of the cumulative effect increased. In addition, at the Yurga Machine-Building Plant they did not begin to oppose different methods of destroying armored vehicles. The Rapira anti-tank gun can also fire barrel-launched missiles, which is easy to install in the field.
Mobility and maneuver
The designers tried to solve the problems of the rapid delivery of anti-tank artillery to a sector of the front that is under the threat of a breakthrough. different ways, up to installation on a carriage of a motorcycle engine.
The 100-mm anti-tank gun T-12, created by the Design Bureau of the Yurga Machine Plant under the leadership of L. V. Korneev and V. Ya. Afanasyev, is mounted on a single-axle trolley with wheels from the ZIL-150, the carriage has an increased spring suspension travel. The simplified design did without hydraulics, the MT-12 "Rapier" gun in the transport position turned out to be resistant to vibration and shaking.
An MT-L tractor or an armored MT-LB tractor is attached to the gun, inside which a crew consisting of at least four (maximum six) people is relatively safely accommodated. Towing can be carried out at speeds up to 60 km/h with a power reserve of 500 km. On the march, the guidance mechanisms, in order to avoid contamination, are wrapped in a canvas cover.
At the firing position
One of the main requirements for anti-tank weapons- maneuverability - was observed. The weight of the gun is approximately three tons, which is quite within the standards of suitability for airmobile delivery. The silhouette turned out to be squat, which makes it difficult for the enemy to visually detect the firing point.
The barrel of the MT-12 "Rapier" (long, 61 caliber) in conjunction with the breech, clip and makes up a single unit. The simplicity of the design guarantees a quick transfer to the combat position after uncoupling from the tractor, for this it is enough to spread the bed, lower the lower flap of the armored shield and install the sight. Shells are fed manually, they are heavy (about 80 kg). Before opening fire, the shutter is opened manually, then, after the ejection of the first cartridge case, this operation takes place automatically.
The descent is made either by pressing the handle, or by means of a cable attached to it.
sights
The kit includes a full-time panoramic OP4M-40U. An anti-reflective light filter is used to fire against the sun. APN-6-40 night vision can be used as additional guidance means, and when firing in extremely difficult meteorological conditions (fog, heavy snow, rain) and in the absence of direct visibility, a radar device is installed on a special bracket. In addition, it is possible to correct fire at hidden targets, according to the information coming from outside. The Rapira anti-tank gun can also fire missiles (after installing special laser beam guidance equipment on it).
shells
Depending on the nature of the target, three main types of ammunition are used. Sub-caliber samples are used to fight tanks. If the target has elevated level protection, it makes sense to fire with cumulative fragmentation ammunition, characterized by the greatest armor-piercing. designed to combat manpower and suppress engineering firing points. For artillery ammunition effective direct fire range is 1880 meters. The maximum range of the projectile is over 8 km.
Guided missiles, which can also be fired by the MT-12 Rapira anti-tank guns, accurately hit targets four kilometers away.
Applications and disadvantages
Not a single model of weapons is without flaws. The gun is characterized a high degree versatility of application. This is facilitated by the high starting speed projectile (more than one and a half kilometers per second), a large mass of ammunition, a possible elevation angle of 20 degrees, a rate of fire (shot every 10 seconds) and many other advantages. Currently, a dozen and a half states are armed with MT-12 "Rapier" guns. A photo of the weapon's characteristic silhouette accompanies reports from conflict zones, both remote from Russian borders and very close. However, some operators have already managed to abandon its use. The reason for this was both physical wear and tear without the possibility of full recovery, and design flaw a very successful muzzle brake in many respects. The fact is that when fired, it significantly compensates for the recoil, but at the same time it unmasks the position with a bright flash of hot powder gases escaping from the holes at the end of the barrel. The Russian Army is armed with more than two and a half thousand guns MT-12 "Rapier", most of of which are preserved.
T-12 (2A19) - the world's first powerful smoothbore anti-tank gun. The gun was created in the design bureau of the Yurga Machine-Building Plant No. 75 under the direction of V.Ya. Afanasiev and L.V. Korneev. It was put into service in 1961.
The barrel of the gun consisted of a 100-mm smooth-walled monoblock tube with a muzzle brake and a breech and a clip. From the D-48 barrel, the T-12 barrel differed only in the pipe. The gun channel consisted of a chamber and a cylindrical smooth-walled guide part. The chamber is formed by two long and one short (between them) cones. The transition from the chamber to the cylindrical section is a conical slope. The shutter is vertical wedge with spring semi-automatic. Charging is unitary. The carriage for the T-12 was taken from the 85 mm D-48 anti-tank rifled gun.
For direct fire, the T-12 gun has an OP4M-40 day sight and a night APN-5-40 sight. For shooting from closed positions, there is a S71-40 mechanical sight with a PG-1M panorama. Although the T-12/MT-12 guns are designed primarily for direct fire, they are equipped with an additional panoramic sight and can be used as an ordinary field gun for firing high-explosive ammunition from indirect positions.
The decision to make smoothbore gun at first glance it may seem rather strange, the time of such guns ended almost a hundred years ago. But the creators of the T-12 did not think so and were guided by the following arguments.
In a smooth channel, it is possible to make the gas pressure much higher than in a rifled one, and accordingly increase the initial velocity of the projectile.
In a rifled barrel, the rotation of the projectile reduces the armor-piercing effect of the jet of gases and metal during the explosion of a cumulative projectile.
A smooth-bore gun significantly increases the survivability of the barrel - you can not be afraid of the so-called "washing out" of the rifling fields.
A smooth barrel is much more convenient for firing guided projectiles, although in 1961 this was most likely not thought about yet. To combat armored targets, an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile with a swept warhead with a high kinetic energy, capable of penetrating armor 215 mm thick at a distance of 1000 meters. Such ammunition is usually associated with tank guns, but the T-12 and MT-12 use unitary loading projectiles that are different from the ammunition of the 100 mm D-10 tank gun mounted on tanks of the T-54/T-55 family. Also from the T-12 / MT-12 cannon you can fire cumulative anti-tank shells and ATGMs 9M117 "Kastet", induced by a laser beam.
In the 60s, a more convenient carriage was designed for the T-12 gun. New system received the index MT-12 (2A29), and in some sources it is called the "Rapier". The mass production of the MT-12 went into 1970. Guns T-12 and MT-12 have the same warhead- a long thin barrel with a length of 60 calibers with a muzzle brake - "salt shaker". Sliding beds are equipped with an additional retractable wheel installed at the coulters. The main difference of the modernized MT-12 model is that it is equipped with a torsion bar suspension, which is blocked during firing to ensure stability.
Carriage MT-12 - a classic two-bed carriage of anti-tank guns firing from wheels like the ZIS-2, BS-3 and D-48. The lifting mechanism is sector type, and rotary - screw. Both of them are located on the left, and on the right there is a pull-type spring balancing mechanism. Suspension MT-12 torsion bar with hydraulic shock absorber. Wheels from a ZIL-150 car with GK tires are used. When rolling the gun manually under the trunk part of the frame, a roller is substituted, which is fastened with a stopper on the left frame. Transportation of T-12 and MT-12 guns is carried out by a regular tractor MT-L or MT-LB. For driving on snow, the LO-7 ski mount was used, which made it possible to fire from skis at elevation angles up to + 16 ° with a rotation angle of up to 54 °, and at an elevation angle of 20 ° with a rotation angle of up to 40 °. When a special guidance device is installed on the gun, shots with the Kastet anti-tank missile can be used. The missile is controlled semi-automatically by a laser beam, the firing range is from 100 to 4000 m. The missile penetrates armor behind dynamic protection ("reactive armor") up to 660 mm thick.
TTX guns :
table 2
| T-12 | MT-12 | |
| Calculation | 6-7 people | 6-7 people |
| Gun length in stowed position | 9480 / 9500 mm | 9650 mm |
| barrel length | 6126 mm (61 calibers) | 6126 mm (61 calibers) |
| Width of the gun in the stowed position | 1800 mm | 2310 mm |
| Track width | 1479 mm | 1920 mm |
| Vertical pointing angles | from -6 to +20 degrees | from -6 to +20 degrees |
| Horizontal pointing angles | sector 54 deg | sector 54 deg |
| Mass maximum in combat position | 2700 / 2750 kg | 3050 / 3100 kg |
| Shot weight | 19.9 kg (BP ZUBM10) 23.1 kg (KS ZUBK8) 28.9 kg (OF ZUOF12) | |
| Projectile weight | 5.65 kg (sub-caliber) 4.69 kg (cumulative) | 4.55 kg (BPS ZBM24) 9.5 kg (KS ZBK16M) 16.7 kg (OFS ZOF35K) |
| Shot range maximum | 8200 m | 3000 m (BPS) 5955 m (CS) 8200 m (OFS) |
| aiming range | 1880-2130 m (BPS) 1020-1150 m (CS) | |
| Projectile initial speed | 1575 m/s (sub-caliber) 975 m/s (cumulative) | 1548 m/s (BPS ZBM24) 1075 m/s (KS ZBK16M) 905 m/s (OFS) |
| rate of fire | 6-14 rds / min | 6-14 rds / min |
| Highway speed | 60 km/h | 60 km/h |
Ammunition: unitary projectiles are used
- shot ZUBM-10 with armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile(BPS) ZBM24 with a swept warhead, designed to destroy tanks of the M60 and Leopard-1 types.
Shot length - 1140 mm
Armor penetration - 215 mm at a distance of 1000 m
The ZUBK8 shot with the ZBK16M HEAT projectile is designed to destroy tanks of the M60 and Leopard-1 types. A feature of the projectile is equipment by pressing into the body.
Shot length - 1284 mm
Operating temperature - from -40 to +50 degrees C
Shot ZUOF12 s high-explosive fragmentation projectile(OFS) ZOF35K. Distinctive feature projectile - equipment by batch pressing into the body.
Shot length - 1284 mm
Operating temperature - from -40 to +50 degrees C
Portable ammunition of the MT-12 gun - 20 rounds, incl. 10 BPS, 6 CS and 4 OFS.
Bibliography
1. 100-mm anti-tank guns T-12 and MT-12 "Rapier". Site http://gods-of-war.pp.ua/, 2012
2. 100 mm gun T-12 / MT-12 Rapier. Sitehttp://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-676.html, 2013
3. 57-mm anti-tank gun model 1941 (ZIS-2). Site https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/57-mm_anti-tank_gun_model_1941_year_(ZIS-2), 2016
4. Great Soviet encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978. Site http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/bse/124527
5. Main Artillery Directorate Red Army . 57 mm anti-tank gun mod. 1941 Brief Service Manual. - M .: Military Publishing House of NKO, 1942.
6. O "Malley T.J. Modern artillery: guns, MLRS, mortars. M., EKSMO-Press, 2000
7. Anti-tank gun. Site https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-tank_gun, 2013
8. Svirin M. N. Self-propelled guns of Stalin. Story Soviet self-propelled guns 1919-1945. - M.: Yauza, Eksmo, 2008.
9. Shirokorad A. B. Encyclopedia domestic artillery. - Minsk: Harvest, 2000. - 1156 p.
100 mm anti-tank gun
MT-12/2A29 "Rapier" developed by the Design Bureau of the Yurga Machine-Building Plant No. 75 (Yurga) under the direction of V.Ya. Afanasiev and L.V. Korneev. The first serial version of the T-12 gun was produced from 1955.
Later, after changes were made to the carriage design in 1971, a modernized version of the MT-12 "Rapier" gun was adopted. Serial production of the MT-12 gun began in 1970. The gun was massively in service with the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries.
In 1981, the MT-12R / 2A29R "Rapier" gun with an aiming system with a 1A31 "Ruta" radar was adopted by the Soviet Army.
Guns MT-12 "Rapier" was supplied to almost all countries of the Warsaw Pact, Libya, Syria, Algeria, Yugoslavia and Iraq.
Gun MT-12 "Rapier"(from the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)
Guns MT-12 "Rapier" in the Russian Armed Forces
As of 2016, at least 526 MT-12 Rapira cannons are in service units of the Russian Armed Forces. At least 2,000 more T-12 and MT-12 guns are in storage.
Gun design
The smoothbore artillery part is the same for all modifications of the gun. Modifications of the gun differ in carriage. The barrel is long and thin - a monoblock pipe - with a muzzle brake, breech and clip. The barrel differs from the barrel of the D-48 gun only in a pipe. Carriage with sliding beds, on one of the beds there is a retractable wheel - the carriage is also taken almost unchanged from anti-tank gun D-48.
The MT-12 model is distinguished by a torsion bar suspension of the carriage, which is blocked when firing. The lifting mechanism is sector type, and rotary - screw. Both mechanisms are located on the left, and on the right there is a pull-type spring balancing mechanism. Suspension MT-12 torsion bar with hydraulic shock absorber. Wheels from a ZIL-150 car with GK tires are used. When rolling the gun manually under the trunk part of the frame, a roller is substituted, which is fastened with a stopper on the left frame.
Transportation of T-12 and MT-12 guns is carried out by a regular tractor MT-L or MT-LB.
Gun calculation- 6-7 people The length of the gun in the stowed position- 9650 mm barrel length- 6126 mm (61 caliber) Width of the gun in the stowed position- 2310 mm Track width- 1920 mm Vertical pointing angles- from -6 to +20 degrees Horizontal pointing angles- sector 54 degrees Mass maximum in combat position- 3100 kg Shot weight:- 19.9 kg (armor-piercing sub-caliber ZUBM10) - 23.1 kg (cumulative ZUBK8) - 28.9 kg (high-explosive fragmentation ZUOF12) Projectile weight:- 4.55 kg (armor-piercing projectile ZBM24) - 9.5 kg (cumulative projectile ZBK16M) - 16.7 kg (high-explosive fragmentation projectile ZOF35K) Shot range maximum:- 3000 m (armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile) - 5955 m (cumulative projectile) - 8200 m (high-explosive fragmentation projectile) Aiming range:- 1880-2130 m (armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile) - 1020-1150 m (cumulative projectile) Projectile initial speed:- 1548 m / s (armor-piercing projectile ZBM24) - 1075 m / s (cumulative projectile ZBK16M) - 905 m / s (high-explosive fragmentation projectile) rate of fire- 6-14 rds / min Highway speed- 60 km/hTTX gun MT-12 "Rapier"
- Shot ZUBM-10 with an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile (BPS) ZBM24 with a swept warhead; - Shot ZUBK8 with a cumulative projectile (KS) ZBK16M; - Shot ZUOF12 with a high-explosive fragmentation projectile (OFS) ZOF35K; - Shot ZUBK10-1 ATGM 9K116 "Kastet" with ATGM 9M117 - anti-tank missile system with semi-automatic laser beam guidance for use with the MT-12 gun; Portable ammunition of the MT-12 gun - 20 rounds, incl. 10 BPS, 6 CS and 4 OFS.Cannon ammunition
The main ammunition of the gun MT-12 "Rapier"
For direct fire, the MT-12 gun is equipped with an OP4M-40U day sight and an APN-6-40 night sight. For shooting from closed positions, there is a S71-40 sight with a PG-1M panorama. With a panoramic sight, it can be used as field gun from closed positions. There is a modification of the gun with a mounted guidance radar ..Equipment
Modifications:
T-12/2A19- 100 mm anti-tank gun, the basic version of the mid-1950s.
MT-12/2A29 "Rapier"- 100-mm anti-tank gun, a modernized version of the 1971 model
MT-12R / 2A29R "Rapier"- 100-mm anti-tank gun with an aiming system with radar 1A31 "Ruta". The modification was adopted in 1981.
The appearance of hand grenade launchers, and then guided anti-tank missiles, marked the beginning of a new era in the epic confrontation between infantry and armored vehicles. The soldier on the battlefield finally got a light and inexpensive weapon with which he could single-handedly hit an enemy tank. It would seem that time anti-tank artillery gone forever and the only suitable place for anti-tank guns is a museum exposition or, in extreme cases, a conservation warehouse. But as you know, every rule has its exceptions.
The Soviet MT-12 100 mm anti-tank gun was developed back in the late 60s, and despite this, it is in service Russian army still. The Rapira is a modernization of the earlier Soviet T-12 anti-tank gun, which consisted of placing the gun on a new carriage. This weapon is used not only by the RF Armed Forces, it is currently in operation in almost all armies of the former republics Soviet Union. And we are talking not about single copies: at the beginning of 2016, the Russian army was armed with 526 MT-12 anti-tank guns, and more than 2 thousand guns were in storage.
Serial production of "Rapier" was established at the Yurga Machine Plant, it began in 1970.
The main task of the MT-12 is the fight against enemy armored vehicles, therefore main way the use of this gun direct fire. However, it is possible to fire from the "Rapier" from closed positions, for this the gun is equipped with special sights. The gun can fire sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, as well as use guided anti-tank missiles for firing.
Based on the MT-12, the Kastet and Ruta complexes were developed. There is also a Yugoslav modification of the gun, main feature which is the use of a gun carriage from the D-30 howitzer.
For many decades, the MT-12 was actively exported. This gun was in service with almost all countries participating in the Warsaw Pact, as well as the armies of states that were considered allies of the USSR. "Rapier" was used Soviet troops during the war in Afghanistan, outposts and roadblocks were usually armed with these guns. After the collapse of the USSR, the MT-12 was actively used in numerous conflicts (Transnistria, Chechnya, Karabakh) that arose on its territory.
The history of the creation of the anti-tank gun "Rapier"
As mentioned above, the appearance of rocket-propelled grenade launchers and guided missile systems has radically changed the tactics of fighting armored vehicles on the battlefield. The first anti-tank guns appeared already at the end of the First World War. In the interwar period, this type of artillery was actively developed, and its " finest hour» became the second World War. Before the war itself, the armies of the leading countries of the world received a new generation of tanks: the Soviet KV and T-34, the English Matilda, the French S-35, Char B1. These combat vehicles had a powerful power plant and anti-ballistic armor, which the first generation anti-tank guns could not handle.
The struggle between armor and projectile began. Developers artillery weapons went in two ways: they increased the caliber of the guns or increased the initial speed of the projectile. Using such approaches, it was quite quickly possible to significantly increase the armor penetration of anti-tank guns by several times (5-10 times), but the reckoning was a serious increase in the mass of anti-tank guns and their cost.
Already in 1942, into service american army The first hand-held rocket-propelled grenade launcher "Bazooka" was adopted, which turned out to be a very effective means of combating enemy armored vehicles. The Germans got acquainted with this type of weapon during the fighting in North Africa and already in 1943 they launched mass production of their own analogues. By the end of World War II, grenade launchers became one of the main enemies of tankers. And after its completion, anti-tank weapons began to enter service with the armies of the world. missile systems(ATGM), capable of hitting armored vehicles at considerable distances with great accuracy.
Despite all of the above, in the USSR, the development of new anti-tank guns was not stopped even after the end of the war. Caliber Soviet guns PTO at that time reached 85 mm, all guns had rifled barrels.
It is not known how the fate of domestic anti-tank artillery developed in the future, if the designers had not proposed one interesting innovation - the use of a smooth-bore gun. In 1961, into service Soviet army received a T-12 gun of 100 mm caliber, it had no rifling in the barrel. The stabilization of the projectile in flight was carried out due to the stabilizers, which were opened immediately after the barrel was cut.
The fact is that the muzzle velocity of the projectile of smooth-bore guns is much higher than that of rifled ones. In addition, a projectile that does not rotate in flight is much better suited for a shaped charge. You can also add that the resource of such a barrel is higher than that of a rifled one.
T-12 was developed by specialists from the design bureau of the Yurga Machine Plant. The gun turned out to be very successful with excellent performance characteristics. At the end of the 60s, they decided to modernize the gun, equipping it with a new, improved gun carriage. The reason was that at that time the troops were switching to a new artillery tractor, which had great speed. It can also be added that a smoothbore gun is much more suitable for firing guided munitions, although, probably, in the 60s, the designers did not think too much about this issue. The gun with a new carriage was designated MT-12, and its serial production began in 1970.
For many decades, the MT-12 "Rapier" was the main anti-tank gun Soviet army.
In the mid-70s, on the basis of the MT-12, specialists from the Tula Instrument Design Bureau developed anti-tank complex"Brass knuckles". Its members included guided projectile as part of a unitary shot, as well as guidance and aiming equipment. The projectile was controlled by a laser beam. The brass knuckles were put into service in 1981.
In the same year, a modification of the MT-12R was created, equipped with radar station"Ruta". Production of the radar sight continued until 1990.
During the Transnistrian conflict, the MT-12 was used as an anti-tank gun, with the help of these guns several T-64 tanks were destroyed. Rapira is currently used by both sides of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Description of the design of the MT-12
The MT-12 is a 100 mm smoothbore gun mounted on a classic two-bed carriage. The barrel consists of a smooth-walled tube with a muzzle brake. characteristic form("salt shaker"), clip and breech.
The gun carriage with sliding beds has a torsion bar suspension, which is blocked during firing. MT-12 for the first time in the history of artillery received hydraulic brakes. For the gun, wheels from a ZIS-150 vehicle are used, transportation is usually carried out by MT-LB tracked tractors or Ural-375D and Ural-4320 vehicles. During the march, the gun is covered with a canvas cover to protect it from dirt, dust, moisture and snow.
As mentioned above, the MT-12 can fire both from closed positions and direct fire. In the latter case, the OP4MU-40U sight is used, which stands on the gun almost constantly and is removed only before heavy marches or long-term storage. For shooting from closed positions, the S71-40 sight with a panorama and a collimator is used. Also, several types of night sights can be installed on the gun, which allows you to use it in the dark.
The preparation time of the Rapier for firing is only one minute. The calculation includes three people: commander, gunner and loader. The shot can be fired by pressing the trigger or remotely. The gun has a semi-automatic wedge-type breech. To prepare the cannon for firing, the loader only needs to send a projectile into the chamber. The cartridge case is ejected automatically.
The composition of the ammunition "Rapier" includes several types of shells. To combat enemy armored vehicles, sub-caliber and cumulative shells are used. High-explosive fragmentation ammunition is used to defeat manpower, firing points, engineering structures.
Advantages and disadvantages of "Rapier"
The MT-12 gun took part in many armed conflicts and has established itself as a reliable and effective weapon. Among the undoubted advantages of this weapon is its versatility: it can be used to destroy armored vehicles, manpower and fortifications of the enemy, to fire both direct fire and shoot from closed positions. "Rapier" has a very high rate of fire (10 rounds per minute), which is very important for an anti-tank gun. It is very easy to operate and does not require particularly high qualifications from gunners. Another undoubted advantage of the gun is the relatively low cost of the ammunition it uses.
The main drawback of the MT-12 gun is the complete impossibility of fulfilling its main function - its fire is practically useless against modern main tanks. True, it is able to quite effectively deal with infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled guns and other types of armored vehicles with weak armor, which today are represented on the battlefield even more than tanks. In general, "Rapier", of course, is morally obsolete. Any ATGM surpasses it in accuracy, range, armor penetration and mobility. Compared to third-generation ATGMs, which operate on a “fire and forget” basis, any anti-tank gun seems like a real anachronism.