Shells mt 12. Military-technical cooperation “Bastion. Further development of the project
Once appeared on the battlefield, the tank became an infantryman's nightmare for a long time. The first of these machines were practically invulnerable, and fought them only by digging anti-tank ditches and creating barrage gouges.
Then came the power of which, by today's standards, is simply ridiculous. Even at that time, tanks, having again increased their armor, could no longer be afraid of most of these weapons. And then anti-tank guns entered the scene. They were imperfect and clumsy, but the tankers immediately began to respect them.
Are anti-tank guns needed today?
Many inhabitants believe that this “archaic” weapon no longer has a place on the modern battlefield: they say that the armor of modern tanks is far from always breaking through even with cumulative ammunition, what can we expect from some guns there! But this point of view is not entirely correct. There are such samples of them that are capable of delivering a lot of problems even to very “fancy” machines. For example, the Rapira anti-tank gun is still Soviet-made.
The weapon is so interesting that it should be discussed separately. What are we going to do now.
Background of creation
Around the middle of the 50s of the last century, it became clear that the main anti-tank weapons needed an urgent increase in combat power. The reason was that the Americans had their own projects. heavy tanks. At that time, the SA was armed with the D-10T and BS-3 guns (both 100 mm). Technicians rightly assumed that their technical characteristics might not be enough.
The easiest way was to increase the caliber ... but this path led to the creation of huge, heavy and clumsy guns. And then Soviet engineers decided to return to smooth-bore artillery, which had not been used in Russia since 1860! What made them make such a decision?
And it's all about the tremendous speed to which it must accelerate armor-piercing projectile in the stem. Any error in the manufacture of the latter leads not only to a catastrophic drop in accuracy, but also to an increased risk of destruction of the entire weapon. With a smooth trunk, the situation is completely opposite. Its main advantage is uniform wear.
Difficulties of choice
But what kind of replacement to find rifling? After all, it is at their expense that the projectile saves exchange rate stability, allowing you to fire effectively over long distances! And again, the solution was found in the archives of the gunners. It turned out that feathered shells could be used for smoothbore artillery. Modern (at that time) technologies made it possible to make it not only caliber (coinciding with the inner diameter of the gun), but also drop-down. Simply put, the projectile opened the blades after leaving the barrel (like the RPG-7 grenade launcher).
First experiments and first sample
The very first experiments showed that a minimum of a 105-mm gun would be required to confidently knock out promising enemy tanks. At the same time, intelligence received a report that the British were designing a gun of a similar caliber with hitherto unseen characteristics. The chief designer of the project - V. Ya. Afanasyev - was obliged to "catch up and overtake" competitors in as soon as possible. The most talented designer not only met the time allotted for this, but also provided for the possibility of installing a new gun in domestic tanks. To do this, he slightly sacrificed ballistics, shortening the projectile to exactly 1000 mm.
Thus was born the "Rapier" - an anti-tank gun, the photo of which is repeatedly given in this article.
What was used to create it?
To speed up the work, they took a carriage from the D-48 gun, slightly changing its design. But field tests immediately showed that he was too flimsy for the new gun. I had to redo this part literally from scratch. The gun passed the new tests with honor and was put into service. It is known as the 105 mm T-12 gun. The "rapier" of the modern model is largely different from it.
The barrel of the new gun was made according to a monoblock scheme. Length - 6510 mm. The designers preferred to use an active-reactive version of the muzzle brake. The breech is equipped with a vertical wedge gate. Shooting was carried out directly from the wheels, additional fixation (by blocking the suspension) was not required.
In order for you to better imagine what the Rapier cannon is capable of, the characteristics of which we briefly described, we suggest taking a look at the table.
Note that this is not a modern Rapier cannon. The characteristics of its latest modifications are much more serious.
Characteristics of ammunition
For an anti-tank gun, ammunition is the first thing. Even a phenomenally long-range and reliable weapon turns into a "pumpkin" if outdated, low-quality shells are used for it. And the "Rapier" cannon, the performance characteristics of which are given by us above - the best of that the confirmation.
Ammunition for the new weapons also caused a lot of trouble, as they had to be developed from scratch. The main type is sub-caliber and cumulative. To defeat enemy manpower, a standard high-explosive fragmentation type of shot is used. Calculation studies are carried out using training ones. The plumage of the latter caused a lot of problems, since there was simply no experience in creating something like that, and the smooth-bore 100-mm gun itself had not yet been properly mastered by the domestic industry.
The difficulty was that the projectile with unopened blades had to fit securely enough to the barrel channel without forming backlash. Dozens of concepts were accepted and immediately discarded, but none of them met all the requirements of the designers. Oddly enough, but the solution turned out to be working, which was proposed at the very beginning and rejected “because of primitiveness”. This once again confirmed that the simplest is often the most reliable.
New Solution
The core in this case was proposed to be made of high-quality maraging steel. The projectile splitter tip is made of the most ordinary stamped sheet steel, from which some parts of the tail stabilizer were made. The plumage of the “arrow” was cast from a special aluminum alloy, and it later turned out that aluminum needed to be additionally anodized. The tracer is pressed into the tail and additionally fixed to the threaded connection and core.
A lot of work was done with the leading belt of the projectile: in the end, they settled on a triple version, the elements of which were connected by an obturating copper ring. As soon as the projectile leaves the barrel channel, aerodynamic forces simply break this belt, and the “arrow”, which opened the plumage, rushes to the tanks. At a distance of up to 750 meters, the deviation is no more than 2.5 degrees along the horizontal line of sight.
Features of other types of shots
Cumulative and standard high-explosive fragmentation shots had a similar design. In their case, the body of the projectile was also rigidly connected to the tail sleeve, on which the plumage was attached. The difference was the absence of an obturating belt and a diameter that coincided with that of the barrel. For a bushing with five plumage blades was used, and in the case of a high-explosive fragmentation shot - with six.
Cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shots did not impose such high requirements on the sleeve, and therefore it was made of ordinary (varnished) steel. Projectiles of the sub-caliber type were equipped exclusively in a high-quality brass sleeve, which did not wear out the weapon so much. "Rapier" - the gun at that time was very expensive, and therefore the experts were looking for any ways to increase its operational life.
Improvement of shells
But with acceptance various types shots, the problems had just begun, since they all required serious improvement. In particular, sub-caliber shells perfectly penetrated vertical layers of armor, but they did not cope so convincingly with inclined ones. The projectile either entered the armor at some unthinkable angle, or simply ricocheted. Dozens of decommissioned tanks were smashed at the test sites, while experts found a solution that suited everyone.
New elements in the design
It was necessary simply to add an additional core made of a particularly strong alloy to the design of the “arrow”. As soon as this part was introduced (weighing only 800 g), made from shooting, they immediately showed fantastic results: the penetration of sloping armor improved immediately by 60%!
Soon all these characteristics were tested in practice. Cannon "Rapier", combat use which began during the incident on the Golan Heights, showed excellent penetration results.
Further development of the project
Very soon, attention was paid to the new gun and soviet tanks sta. They were impressed by the power and low recoil of the smoothbore gun and its light weight. The first samples were hastily assembled, which immediately made an indelible impression on the military.
Being installed on the chassis of the T-54 tank, the new 100-mm Rapira cannon pierced training targets (decommissioned hulls of the same T-54s) right through, and from prohibitive distances. From the sheep, which played the role of the crew, there was practically nothing left.
In 1960, the Rapira gun, modified to the required state, began to be mounted on experimental chassis (based on the T-55 tank). Shortly thereafter, all tests of the D54 were fully completed, as the new smoothbore gun showed its absolute superiority. The difference from the "infantry" modification is that the tank gun of this series does not have a muzzle brake. Just six months later, the tank gun "Rapier" (the photo of which can be seen in this material) was put into service under the symbol 2A20 "Stiletto".
The fact is that with a caliber of 100 mm, it was not particularly needed. Considering the fact that Soviet tanks never differed in transcendental dimensions and weight, but greatly increases the return, its installation in domestic tank building was practiced only in those cases when all other methods of extinguishing had already been tried and did not give the desired result.
New modifications
In the early 1970s, the Rapier gun was modified again. The result of the work of scientists and engineers was the T-12A (2A29) gun. Metallurgists and chemists have found a way to make more durable barrels, which automatically gave the groundwork for testing new, reinforced ammunition.
Once again, the carriage was completely redesigned, as a result of which it was possible to almost completely get rid of vibration during firing, the practical rate of fire increased by almost one and a half times. A sight for night shooting was developed and put into service, as well as a radar complex designed for both night and daytime, subject to poor visibility ( dust storms, for example). Outwardly, this modification is very easy to distinguish, since the muzzle brake of the gun looks a lot like a salt shaker.
Simultaneously with the modification of 2A29, a completely new sub-caliber projectile with working part made from whole piece tungsten alloy. The mass of ammunition has increased slightly, but the firing range has increased by approximately 30%. Next came a new edition of the instructions for the gun. It said that firing improved ammunition from the old Rapier 2A19 was strictly prohibited, since the barrel could burst.
Starting in 1971, the updated tank "Rapier" under the T-12A index - 2A20M1 "Stiletto" went into production.
Conclusion
To date, this weapon is significantly outdated. It is believed that the "Rapier" cannon can no longer guarantee a confident penetration of armor, but under certain conditions it does its job quite well.
So, during the Yugoslav conflict, it was used by all parties with very good results. Experts note that this weapon is ideal for combating enemy light armored vehicles (which are twice as heavy as domestic infantry fighting vehicles). In addition, the Rapier cannon (photo above) can almost certainly hit most NATO tanks in the side and stern. This gives reason to assume that the "old woman" is still too early to retire.
The artillery of Russia and the world, along with other states, has introduced the most significant innovations - the transformation of a smooth-bore gun loaded from the muzzle into a rifled one loaded from the breech (lock). The use of streamlined projectiles and various types of fuses with an adjustable setting for the response time; more powerful gunpowders, such as cordite, which appeared in Britain before the First World War; the development of rolling systems, which made it possible to increase the rate of fire and relieved the gun crew from the hard work of rolling into the firing position after each shot; connection in one assembly of the projectile, propellant charge and fuse; the use of shrapnel shells, after the explosion, scattering small steel particles in all directions.
Russian artillery, capable of firing large projectiles, sharply highlighted the problem of weapon durability. In 1854, during the Crimean War, Sir William Armstrong, a British hydraulic engineer, proposed the wrought iron gun barrel method of first twisting iron bars and then welding them together by forging. The gun barrel was additionally strengthened with wrought iron rings. Armstrong set up a business that made guns of several sizes. One of the most famous was his 12-pounder rifled gun with a 7.6 cm (3 in) bore and a screw lock mechanism.
Artillery of the Second World War (WWII), in particular Soviet Union, probably had the largest potential among European armies. At the same time, the Red Army experienced the purges of Commander-in-Chief Joseph Stalin and endured the difficult Winter War with Finland at the end of the decade. During this period, Soviet design bureaus took a conservative approach to technology.
The first modernization effort came with the improvement of the 76.2 mm M00/02 field gun in 1930, which included improved ammunition and the replacement of barrels for parts of the gun fleet, new version the guns were named M02/30. Six years later, a 76.2 mm field gun M1936, with gun carriage from 107mm.
Heavy artilleryof all armies, and rather rare materials from the time of Hitler's blitzkrieg, whose army smoothly and without delay crossed the Polish border. The German army was the most modern and best equipped army in the world. Wehrmacht artillery acted in close cooperation with infantry and aviation, trying to quickly occupy the territory and deprive the Polish army of communication lines. The world shuddered upon learning of a new armed conflict in Europe.
Artillery of the USSR in positional warfare on Western front in the last war and the horror in the trenches, the military leaders of some countries created new priorities in the tactics of using artillery. They believed that in the second global conflict of the 20th century, mobile firepower and accuracy of fire.
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. Mass production MT-12 guns started 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 the D-48 anti-tank gun.
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 spring-loaded balancing mechanism of the pulling type. 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 Gun length in 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 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 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 of the Soviet Union. And we are talking not about single copies: at the beginning of 2016, the Russian army was armed with 526 anti-tank guns MT-12, 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 combating 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 by stabilizers, which were opened immediately after the barrel was cut.
The fact is that starting speed projectile of smooth-bore guns is much higher than that of rifled guns. 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 weapon of the 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 even more represented on the battlefield 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.
100-MM ANTI-TANK GUN MT-12 (2A29) "RAPIRA-1M"
100-MM ANTI-TANK GUN MT-12 (2A29) "RAPIRA-1M"
29.01.2018
PHOTO REPORT: MT-12 100-MM ANTI-TANK GUN AT THE ARMY-2017 FORUM 
At the Army-2017 International Military-Technical Forum, the Russian Defense Ministry presented a 100-mm MT-12 anti-tank gun.
towed anti-tank gun developed in the late 1960s in the USSR. Production of the MT-12 began in 1970 at the Yurga Machine-Building Plant.
This anti-tank gun is a modernization of the T-12 (ind. GRAU - 2A19). Modernization consisted in placing guns on a new gun carriage.
The MT-12 anti-tank gun is still in service with Russian ground forces, also this weapon is operated in the armies of Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and a number of other countries.
VTS "BASTION", 29.01.2018
100-MM MT-12 ANTI-TANK GUN AT THE ARMY-2017 FORUM
100-MM ANTI-TANK GUN MT-12 (2A29) "RAPIRA" 
100 mm anti-tank gun. The gun was developed by the Design Bureau of the Yurga Machine-Building Plant No. 75 (Yurga) under the leadership of V.Ya. Afanasyev and L.V. Korneev. The T-12 smoothbore anti-tank gun was put into service by Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 749-311 of 07/19/1961.
In the 1960s, a more user-friendly 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.
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.
The following artillery sights are installed on the MT-12:
For direct fire in the daytime (at a visible target) - optical sight OP4MU-40U, which is removed from the gun only before long and difficult marches or during long-term storage;
For shooting from closed positions (at an invisible target) - a mechanical sight C71-40 with a PG-1M panorama and a K-1 collimator;
For night shooting - 1PN35, night sight APN-6-40 "Cowberry" or 1PN53, night sight APN-7.
The MT-12R (2A29-1) gun is equipped with the Ruta radar sighting system. The all-weather radar sighting system 1A31, code "Ruta", installed on the anti-tank vehicle MT-12, was created in 1980 at the Design Bureau of the Research Institute "Strela" (Chief Designer Simachev V.I.). The production of the 1A31 sight was carried out in 1981-1990.
In 1981, for the MT-12 anti-tank gun, a projectile "Kastet" guided by a laser beam in a semi-active mode was developed, hitting small moving and stationary targets, it received the designation MT-12K (2A29K).
The 9K116-2 "Kastet" complex is designed to improve the combat characteristics of the MT-12 (T-12) anti-tank guns and strikes guided missile fired from the barrel of a gun modern tanks equipped with dynamic protection, small targets such as bunkers, bunkers, "tank in a trench" at ranges up to 4000m. The complex does not require modifications of guns and special training them for firing and can be used for any weapon in the firing position. The complex includes: 3UBK10-2 round with 9M117 missile (3UBK10M-2 with 9M117M missile); ground control equipment 9S53.
Currently, the Kovrov Plant them. Degtyarev, together with the KBP, is testing modernized 9M117M anti-tank missiles for 100, 105 and 115 mm guns. Serial production of 9M117M shells with a tandem HEAT warhead has now been mastered at Tulamashzavod.
The towing of the gun is carried out by tractors: MT-L; MT-LB, AT-P, ZIL-131.
One of the modifications of the T-12 was produced in former Yugoslavia: The 100 mm barrel was mounted on the carriage of a 122 mm D-30 howitzer. This modification received the designation "TOPAZ".
CHARACTERISTICS
Condition in production since 1968, in service since 1972
Design Bureau of the Yurga Machine-Building Plant No. 75
Ch. designer Y. Lukyanenko
Manufacturer Yurginsky mashzavod
Caliber, mm 100
Loading type unitary
Shutter type semi-automatic
Firing range, m:
- maximum 8200
- direct shot 1880
Maximum firing range, m:
- armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile 3000
- cumulative projectile 5955
- high-explosive fragmentation projectile. 8200
Fighting. speed, shots/min. 6-14
Beginning projectile speed, m/s:
- sub-caliber 1575
- high-explosive fragmentation 700
Projectile weight, kg 16.74
Pointing angles, degrees:
- in a vertical plane. -6/+21
- in a horizontal plane. 53-54
Barrel length, mm 8484
Rollback length, mm:
- normal 810
Weight, kg:
— guns in combat./fs. pos. 3050-3100
Overall dimensions, mm:
- length in combat position 9640
- width 2310
- height in rex. position 1600
— ground clearance 380
Towing speed, km/h 70
Transit time in battles. floor, min 1
Sight: APN-6-40, OP4M-40U
Combat crew, pers. 6