2S12 Sani

The 2S12 "Sani" ("sleigh") (GRAU index) is a 120 mm heavy mortar system used by the Russian Army and other former Soviet states.[3] First fielded in 1981, the 2S12 is a continued development on the towed mortars first used in World War II.

2S12 "Sani"
2S12 Sani
TypeHeavy mortar
Place of originSoviet Union / Russia
Service history
In service1981–present
WarsSoviet–Afghan War,[1] First and Second Chechen Wars
Production history
Designed1981
ManufacturerUraltransmash Works (Ekaterinburg, Russia)
Motovilikha Plants Corporation (Perm, Russia)
No. built1,500+ pieces
Specifications
Mass190.5 kg (420 lb) without transport chassis
Crew4 gunners, 1 commander (plus 2 prime mover crew)
Shell120 mm HE mortar bombs
Carriage2F510 2×1 wheeled transport chassis, GAZ-66 4×4 truck (prime mover)
Elevation45°–80°
Traverse±5° from center
Rate of fire12 rds per minute[2]
Effective firing rangeMinimum: 0.5 km (0.31 mi)
Maximum: 7.1 km (4.4 mi)
SightsMPM-44M graduated sight

Design
2S12 and the GAZ transport truck as described, shown in a US Army manual.

2S12 is in fact the designator for the combination of the 2B11 "Sani" heavy mortar with its transport vehicle 2F510, a GAZ-66-15 4×4 truck. The 2B11 weighs nearly 500 lb when fully assembled, and thus must be mounted to the 2×1 wheeled chassis 2L81 and towed to the emplacement site by the truck. The GAZ-66 prime mover also transports the ammo load: 24 70-lb crates of 120mm HE mortar bombs, 2 bombs per crate, for a total of 48 available rounds.[4]

Once on site, it is unloaded from the transport chassis and manually emplaced by the crew of 5. It is the largest caliber indirect artillery employed at the battalion level.

There is also an improved model, the 2B11M, that can fire the laser-guided round "Gran" with a range of 7,500 m.[5] 2S12A and 2S12B improved models are in service now.[6] 2S12A got a new "Ural" family transport vehicle with high power diesel engine and electric hoist for loading the mortar and a new base plate with a hinge that allows for pointing horizontally without turning the heavy support.[7][8][9][10][11]

Variants

Some countries have developed self-propelled versions of the 2B11:

  • SMM 74 B1.10 "Tundzha-Sani" – Bulgarian version on MT-LB.
  • SM120 – Belarusian version on MT-LBu.
  • Aybat – Kazakh version on MT-LB.

Operators
Map with 2S12 operators in blue and former operators in red

Current operators

Former operators

See also

References
  1. Campbell, David (30 Nov 2017). Soviet Paratrooper vs Mujahideen Fighter: Afghanistan 1979–89. Combat 29. Osprey Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 9781472817648.
  2. "120mm 2S12 Sani towed mortar". Archived from the original on 2013-07-06. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  3. Yanko, Eugene (December 2008). Russian Arms 2009 Report Archived 2016-12-22 at the Wayback Machine. Warfare.RU, p. 488. Retrieved on June 7, 2009.
  4. Motovilikha Plants Corporation. "120-mm Trailed Mortar 2S12 'Sanyi' Archived 2009-05-25 at the Wayback Machine". June 6, 2009.
  5. "Masters of Artillery Fire contest to operate Sani modernised mortars". Archived from the original on 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  6. "ABOUT COMPANY". Archived from the original on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
  7. "В войска Центрального военного округа поступают модернизированные минометы". Archived from the original on 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  8. "Модернизированные минометы поступили на вооружение 90-й танковой дивизии". Archived from the original on 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  9. "В войска ЮВО поступили модернизированные минометы "Сани"". Archived from the original on 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  10. "Артиллерийские подразделения морской пехоты Каспийской флотилии ЮВО получили модернизированные минометы "Сани"". Archived from the original on 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  11. "ЦАМТО / Новости / Модернизированные минометы поступили на вооружение артиллерийского соединения ЮВО в Адыгее". armstrade.org.
  12. The Military Balance 2016, p. 182.
  13. The Military Balance 2016, p. 184.
  14. Small Arms Survey (2012). "Blue Skies and Dark Clouds: Kazakhstan and Small Arms". Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets. Cambridge University Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-521-19714-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  15. The Military Balance 2016, p. 187.
  16. The Military Balance 2016, pp. 190&200.
  17. The Military Balance 2016, pp. 205-206.
  18. The Military Balance 2016, p. 208.
  19. The Military Balance 2016, p. 416.

Sources
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