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	1961 – present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Gulf War Invasion of Dagestan War in Donbass
Specifications
Weight	2,750 kg (6,060 lb)
Length	9.48 m (31 ft 1 in)
Barrel length	63 calibers
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)
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 firing 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 1960s until the late 1980s.

The T-12 entered service in 1961, replacing the BS-3 100 mm field gun. It was typically deployed in the 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 smooth bore 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, which has a 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 missiles 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The weapon was planned to be superseded by the 2A45 Sprut-B 125 mm smooth bore anti-tank gun. Modern western tanks' frontal armour protection is in excess of what can be penetrated by a 100 mm gun from anything but point-blank range – 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, 20 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 PG-1M sight 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.