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MT-12
MT-12 or 2A29 is a Soviet smoothbore 100 mm anti-tank gun, which served as the primary towed anti-tank artillery in the Soviet army from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. It has seen significant use in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
The 100 mm anti-tank gun T-12, which had entered service in 1961, proved very successful. Its shortcomings had to do with its use of the carriage of the 85 mm anti-tank gun D-48. This was so narrow that the T-12 was prone to topple over its side and could only be towed through the terrain at 15 km/h. Also, the equilibrator had to be redesigned, as described below. Together with some lesser considerations, this led to the development of the T-12A, later known as MT-12, GRAU-index 2A29.
The carriage is the main difference between the MT-12 and the T-12. Its track width is 1.91 m instead of only 1.465 m, and it has a more robust suspension. This allows the MT-12 to be also towed by the tracked MT-LB, instead of only by a truck. The conditions in Russia itself, with few roads and a terrain that turns to mud at least once a year, explain how important tracked movement is.
The new carriage also allowed the MT-12 to be towed through the terrain at 25 km/h instead of only 15 km/h. On the left arm of the carriage is a castering wheel which can be unfolded. It allows the 7-men crew to manhandle the 3,000 kg gun over short distances without the use of a towing vehicle.
The equilibrator of the MT-12 differs from that of the T-12. An equilibrator serves to keep the gun in balance, even while the barrel weight on both sides of the trunnion differs. This allows easy elevation of the gun barrel. The MT-12 uses a very prominent coil spring equilibrator. Standing behind the gun, the barrel has a single tube above it in the same position on each side, running almost from the shield to the breech block. These two tubes are part of the recoil system. Above the right tube is another tube at a slightly different horizontal angle, this is the equilibrator. It is a heavy and bulky thing compared to the much smaller pneumatic equilibrator of the T-12, but is also more reliable and user-friendly. On the rear view, the equilibrator has a lid with six bolts at its end. It presence allows easy discrimination between the T-12 and the MT-12.
In order to accommodate the larger weight of the MT-12, its carriage has bigger wheels. These are the same as those of the ZiL-150 truck. The wheels are also helpful to tell T-12 and MT-12 apart. That of the T-12 is secured by six bolts. The wheel of the MT-12 is secured by eight bolts.
The 100 mm caliber gun has a 6,300 mm long barrel. The chamber is 915 mm long. The end of the barrel is strengthened and has 80 holes. It serves as a muzzle brake. The semi-automatic breech block system consists of opening and closing cylinders and a transfer system. The breech block has a safety system that prevents the gun from firing if the breech is not completely closed. Together with cartridge ammunition the semi-automatic loading system results in a high rate of fire of up to 14 rounds per minute.
The MT-12 has multiple sights, which can all be installed at the same time. The gun shield has three panels which can be folded away to allow usage of one of the sights, or remain closed when that sight is not needed. When the enemy is still at distance, the crew might open all three observation panels of the shield to allow use of the panoramic periscope sight of the S71-40 mount. This allows the gunner to scan for targets. While doing so, the gun-shield still protects his body. Only the part of his head protected by his helmet gets exposed.
Hub AI
MT-12 AI simulator
(@MT-12_simulator)
MT-12
MT-12 or 2A29 is a Soviet smoothbore 100 mm anti-tank gun, which served as the primary towed anti-tank artillery in the Soviet army from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. It has seen significant use in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
The 100 mm anti-tank gun T-12, which had entered service in 1961, proved very successful. Its shortcomings had to do with its use of the carriage of the 85 mm anti-tank gun D-48. This was so narrow that the T-12 was prone to topple over its side and could only be towed through the terrain at 15 km/h. Also, the equilibrator had to be redesigned, as described below. Together with some lesser considerations, this led to the development of the T-12A, later known as MT-12, GRAU-index 2A29.
The carriage is the main difference between the MT-12 and the T-12. Its track width is 1.91 m instead of only 1.465 m, and it has a more robust suspension. This allows the MT-12 to be also towed by the tracked MT-LB, instead of only by a truck. The conditions in Russia itself, with few roads and a terrain that turns to mud at least once a year, explain how important tracked movement is.
The new carriage also allowed the MT-12 to be towed through the terrain at 25 km/h instead of only 15 km/h. On the left arm of the carriage is a castering wheel which can be unfolded. It allows the 7-men crew to manhandle the 3,000 kg gun over short distances without the use of a towing vehicle.
The equilibrator of the MT-12 differs from that of the T-12. An equilibrator serves to keep the gun in balance, even while the barrel weight on both sides of the trunnion differs. This allows easy elevation of the gun barrel. The MT-12 uses a very prominent coil spring equilibrator. Standing behind the gun, the barrel has a single tube above it in the same position on each side, running almost from the shield to the breech block. These two tubes are part of the recoil system. Above the right tube is another tube at a slightly different horizontal angle, this is the equilibrator. It is a heavy and bulky thing compared to the much smaller pneumatic equilibrator of the T-12, but is also more reliable and user-friendly. On the rear view, the equilibrator has a lid with six bolts at its end. It presence allows easy discrimination between the T-12 and the MT-12.
In order to accommodate the larger weight of the MT-12, its carriage has bigger wheels. These are the same as those of the ZiL-150 truck. The wheels are also helpful to tell T-12 and MT-12 apart. That of the T-12 is secured by six bolts. The wheel of the MT-12 is secured by eight bolts.
The 100 mm caliber gun has a 6,300 mm long barrel. The chamber is 915 mm long. The end of the barrel is strengthened and has 80 holes. It serves as a muzzle brake. The semi-automatic breech block system consists of opening and closing cylinders and a transfer system. The breech block has a safety system that prevents the gun from firing if the breech is not completely closed. Together with cartridge ammunition the semi-automatic loading system results in a high rate of fire of up to 14 rounds per minute.
The MT-12 has multiple sights, which can all be installed at the same time. The gun shield has three panels which can be folded away to allow usage of one of the sights, or remain closed when that sight is not needed. When the enemy is still at distance, the crew might open all three observation panels of the shield to allow use of the panoramic periscope sight of the S71-40 mount. This allows the gunner to scan for targets. While doing so, the gun-shield still protects his body. Only the part of his head protected by his helmet gets exposed.