“Simplicity, accuracy and reliability in operation”: what is unique about the Russian anti-tank gun “Rapira”

The Russian Ministry of Defense published footage of the combat work of the crew of the 100-mm MT-12 “Rapier” smoothbore anti-tank gun in the Kupyansky direction. Artillerymen from the West group destroyed camouflaged dugouts of Ukrainian militants.

“The detection of enemy units was carried out by military personnel of the reconnaissance unit using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Objective monitoring footage confirmed the accurate hit of all shells on targets,” the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.

It is also noted that the crews of the Rapier cannons consist of mobilized ones who have undergone “a full cycle of practical training and combat coordination at the training grounds of the Western Military District, including in the rear areas of the Northern Military District.”

"Sniper rifle"

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Rapier is widely used in the special operation zone. The gun is used to destroy armored vehicles, defensive structures, strongholds and command and observation posts, fire weapons and ammunition depots of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

MT-12 crews also strike abandoned houses of local residents, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces use as shelters and places where manpower gathers. Thanks to the use of drones, Russian intelligence is able to timely record the movement of infantrymen. Target designation and adjustment of artillery fire are also carried out using UAVs.

• Combat work of the MT-12 "Rapier" crew of the "West" group of forces

The Rapier is designed to engage direct fire at heavy armored vehicles. But if necessary, the 100-mm towed anti-tank gun can also cope with other targets. From closed positions, the firing range increases,” says the website of the Russian military department.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the ammunition load of the MT-12 gun consists of several types of ammunition. Armor-piercing sabot shells are used to destroy tanks, self-propelled artillery units (SPGs) and other military equipment, and cumulative fragmentation ammunition is usually used for direct fire “at targets with powerful armor protection.”

“Manpower, firing points, engineering-type field structures are destroyed using high-explosive fragmentation shells. When a special guidance device is installed on the gun, anti-tank missile shots can be used,” the ministry said.

The advantages of the gun include the Russian military's rate of fire, shooting accuracy, reliability, and comparative cheapness of the shells used. "Rapier" is extremely easy to use. It is brought into combat position in 60 seconds.

As the military department explains, after firing, the gunners quickly roll up the MT-12 “to roll to a new firing point.” In addition, the fighters install a false weapon at the position. After this, the crew waits for Ukrainian militants to start firing at it and thereby unmasking themselves. This tactic allows you to constantly strike new blows at the enemy.

“The enemy, as a rule, responds late and misses. "Rapier" attacks quickly. With well-coordinated crew work, the gun is capable of firing 12 rounds per minute,” says the materials of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The MT-12 “is distinguished by amazing accuracy,” the ministry emphasized. It allows Russian artillerymen to maintain “a noticeable advantage in counter-battery warfare.”

“The combat operation of the MT-12 “Rapier” anti-tank guns is considered highly accurate, and the gun itself is called a “sniper rifle” by artillerymen for its simplicity, accuracy and trouble-free operation... The firing range of more than 7 km with a full charge allows, together with the coordinated actions of the crew, to give a high efficiency,” noted the Russian Ministry of Defense.

• Shooting from the Rapier

• © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The department added that artillerymen call Rapiers one of the most effective weapons. From the MT-12, “it’s almost impossible to miss: the projectile flies exactly where the sight is aimed.”

"Universal weapon"

In a conversation with RT, military observer Alexander Butyrin said that the MT-12 demonstrated outstanding combat capabilities in the Northern Military District zone. Despite its relatively short range, the cannon is successfully used against infantry in shelters, military equipment and in counter-battery warfare.

“The power of 100-mm sub-caliber, cumulative-fragmentation, high-explosive fragmentation ammunition is quite enough to effectively work against all targets on the line of combat contact. In addition, our artillerymen taught Rapiers to fire from closed firing positions, and issues of reconnaissance and fire adjustment are resolved through the use of UAVs,” Butyrin explained.

He named accuracy, structural reliability, ease of operation and quick learning curve as important advantages of the MT-12. Along with this, the Rapier has a low silhouette, which increases its stealth and makes it easier to camouflage on the ground.

“The MT-12 is a towed weapon, but it is very mobile. The gun can be towed by light MT-LB tracked tractors. The crew quickly deploys on the ground and leaves the firing position,” Butyrin said.

Despite its advanced age, the MT-12 is an artillery piece in demand in the Northern Military District zone, he added. After the Cold War, Russia had a huge amount of these guns and ammunition left in its warehouses.

Let us remember that the Rapier was created in the 1960s as a modernized version of the T-12, the first domestic smooth-bore gun. The MT-12 was developed by specialists from the Tula Instrument Design Bureau under the leadership of the famous gunsmith Arkady Shipunov.

The weight of the gun was 3.1 tons, the barrel length was 6.1 m, and the towing speed was up to 60 km/h. In addition to typical artillery shells, the Rapier’s arsenal included the 9K116 Kastet anti-tank guided missile system with a range of 4 km. Subsequently, domestic tanks also received this ammunition.

• Combat work of the MT-12 crew of the Russian Armed Forces in the South Donetsk direction

Serial production of the MT-12 began in 1970. Thanks to its high operational and tactical-technical characteristics, the gun was widely used in the Soviet army and the Warsaw Pact countries.

In a commentary to RT, Candidate of Military Sciences Sergei Suvorov said that “Rapier” has become very popular among the troops because of its “sniper” accuracy and structural reliability. At the same time, the military leadership of the USSR highly valued the weapon for its low cost of production.

“The incredible accuracy is explained by the fact that the smoothbore barrel of the Rapier is capable of providing the projectile with very good stability in flight. In the 1970-1980s, the gun withstood competition with anti-tank missile systems (ATGM) and actually turned into a universal artillery weapon. “Rapier” is simple, trouble-free, has an excellent service life, and is cheap to produce. According to the “efficiency-cost” criterion, the MT-12, I think, has almost no equal,” says Suvorov.

From his point of view, the “Rapier” can be placed on a par with such “masterpieces of Soviet weapons thought” as the ZU-23-2 and S-60 cannons of 23 mm and 57 mm caliber, respectively, which are successfully used in the Northern Military District zone.

“Many Soviet-era weapons perform well in special operations. Yes, there are a lot of them in warehouses, but the point is not only the notorious war economy and the large amount of ammunition for Soviet weapons. The SVO once again proves that the main thing in combat operations is the unpretentiousness, reliability of the weapon and, of course, the professionalism of the military personnel who work with it,” Suvorov emphasized.

In a conversation with RT, military expert, retired colonel Viktor Litovkin also considered the Rapier to be one of the undoubted achievements of the Soviet weapons school. In his opinion, the MT-12 is capable of destroying almost any target, including Western tanks.

“Rapier” ammunition, or “weave”, as it is often called in the army, has a high initial velocity, which provides power and excellent penetration. If we compare the MT-12 with the first and second generations of ATGMs, it does not have a number of disadvantages. In particular, the gun crew does not need to accompany the missile, which, as a rule, flies quite slowly. In my opinion, the combat potential of the Rapier was fully revealed precisely in the Northern Military District,” concluded Litovkin.