2S12 Sani

The 2S12 "Sani" ("sleigh") (GRAU index 2S12) 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
Type	Heavy mortar
Place of origin	Soviet Union / Russia
Service history
In service	1981–present
Wars	Soviet–Afghan War[1] First Chechen War Second Chechen War War in Donbas
Production history
Designed	1981
Manufacturer	Uraltransmash Works (Ekaterinburg, Russia) Motovilikha Plants Corporation (Perm, Russia)
No. built	2,000+ pieces
Specifications
Mass	190.5 kg (420 lb) without transport chassis
Crew	4 gunners, 1 commander (plus 2 prime mover crew)
Shell	120 mm HE mortar bombs
Shell weight	16 kg (35 lb)
Carriage	2F510 2×1 wheeled transport chassis, GAZ-66 4×4 truck (prime mover)
Elevation	45°–80°
Traverse	±5° from center
Rate of fire	12 rds per minute[2]
Effective firing range	Minimum: 0.5 km (0.31 mi) Maximum: 7.1 km (4.4 mi)
Sights	MPM-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 200 kg (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 32 kg (71 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][failed verification]} 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][12]}

Operators

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

Current operators

•  Algeria^{[citation needed]}
•  Azerbaijan^{[citation needed]}
•  Belarus: 61^[13]
•  Bulgaria^{[citation needed]}
•  Georgia: 14^[14]
•  Kazakhstan^[15]
•  Kyrgyzstan: 6^[16]
•  Russia: more than 1,700 as of 2016^[update], including 1,000 in store.^[17] Production was reportedly doubled in 2023.^[18] More ordered in August 2023.^[19]
•  Tajikistan^{[citation needed]}
•  Ukraine: 214^[20]
•  Uzbekistan: 19^[21]
•  Venezuela: 48^[22]

Former operators

•  Soviet Union

See also

• List of heavy mortars
• M120 120 mm mortar 120 mm mortar
• 2B11 Sani 120 mm mortar
• Cardom 120 mm recoil mortar system
• Soltam K6 120 mm mortar
• Soltam M-65 120 mm mortar
• 120 KRH 92 120 mm mortar
• 120mm M2 raiado 120 mm mortar
• Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1 120 mm mortar