SOV - 2A29 Rapira (100mm protitankový kanon MT-12)

100 mm anti-tank cannon 2A29 (MT-12) "Rapira"


Anti-tank cannon 2A29 (MT 12) "Rapira" is another development stage of anti-tank cannon 2A19. 2A29 was developed in the late 60's in the former Soviet Union. It has been in the army's arsenal since 1970. The new anti-tank cannon had the main structural shapes taken from 2A19. The wheels come from the vehicle ZIL-150 and have a torsion hitch, equipped with hydraulic brakes that block the wheels during shooting. This feature increases the stability of the weapon and the accuracy of shooting. Operators 2A29 are covered by a rearward-angled armor shield.
Cannon 2A29 is smooth-walled, firing undivided ammunition. One of the main reasons for this solution is to increase the muzzle velocity of the projectile, lower wear of the barrel and the possibility of firing guided anti-tank missiles. 2A29 "Rapira" can fire all rounds developed for 2A19. With a firing average of 20 rounds, there are 10 anti-tank rounds, 4 explosive and 6 cumulative rounds. 2A29 in version 2A29K allows shooting with 100 mm anti-tank guided missile 9M117 "Kastet" which is fired from the barrel as an ordinary projectile.
The guided missile guidance system is based on guiding to a target by a laser beam. The range of PTRS is 100 - 4,000 meters. PTRS penetrates 660 mm thick tank armor .The theoretical rate of fire is 14 rounds per minute, more or less it is practically possible to achieve a rate of fire of 10 rounds and the average rate of fire is approximately 4-6 rounds per minute. The maximum range of indirect fire is 8200 m with a shatter-burst projectile (HE). The most effective distance for direct shooting with anti-tank ammunition (HEAT) is 1000m and 2000m ammunition with a cumulative projectile. The anti-tank missile (HEAT) penetrates approximately 400 mm of the tank armor.
The standard tractor 2A29 is MT-LB on which the operator and ammunition are transported. Optical devices using infrared radiation are used for shooting in low visibility or at night. Recently, an upgraded version called 2A29R was developed where a radar is used for low visibility or night shooting. Despite modernization, today 2A29 is considered an obsolete weapon and is replaced in anti-tank artillery units by the Russian army 125 mm anti-tank cannon 2A45 "Sprut B". One of the main reasons is the inability of the established 100mm caliber ammunition to pierce the armor of the most modern MBT. An interesting aspect of the deployment of 2A29 in the current conflicts is its more frequent use in indirect fire as a classic anti-tank cannon (Chechnya 2003).
According to some information, an anti-tank unit of the Iraqi army armed with 2A29 in the war in 2003 destroyed 2 US M1A1 "Abrams" and one M2 "Bradley".