The OTs-12 ''Tiss'' () is a Russian fully automatic compact
assault rifle. It is chambered for the subsonic
9×39mm round.
[https://en.kalashnikov.media/article/weapons/avtomat-tiss-primer-udachnogo-nauchnogo-tyka]
The Tiss is meant to equip OMNO and SOBR units in CQB-based operations.
History
The rifle was developed in the early 1990s in
TsKIB SOO
The Central Design and Research Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Arms, abbreviated TsKIB SOO (russian: ЦКИБ СОО) is a Russian small arms design bureau based in Tula, Russia. It was established in 1946, and it is currently managed as a branch o ...
of Tula designers VN Telesh and Yu.V.Lebedev. It is basically an
AKS-74U
The AK-74 (Russian: , tr. ''Avtomat Kalashnikova obraztsa 1974 goda'', lit. 'Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1974) is an assault rifle designed by small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1974. While primarily associated with the Soviet ...
re-chambered for
9×39mm, it was designed as alternative to the AKS-74U. The TsKIB COO of Tula made several hundred of OTs-12s, which were transferred to the
Interior Ministry security forces.
Despite the good evaluation, the
Tula Arms Plant
Imperial Tula Arms Plant (russian: Императорский Тульский оружейный завод, Imperatorskiy Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod) is a Russian weapons manufacturer founded by Tsar Peter I of Russia in 1712 in Tula, Tula Oblast a ...
did not put the rifle into mass-production. They instead opted for a
bullpup configuration known as
OTs-14 Groza
The OTs-14 Groza () is a Russian selective fire bullpup assault rifle chambered for the 7.62×39 round and the 9×39mm subsonic round. It was developed in the 1990s at the TsKIB SOO (Central Design and Research Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Ar ...
, which became its successor.
In 2018, a replica of the Tiss was reported to be designed by Daniel Fisher of KNS Precision.
[https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/09/17/american-made-replica-of-the-ots-12-9x39mm-ak-based-rifle/]
Design
The main design changes from the AKS-74U are in the
bolt,
barrel,
muzzle-brake
A muzzle brake or recoil compensator is a device connected to, or a feature integral to the construction of, the muzzle or barrel of a firearm or cannon that is intended to redirect a portion of propellant gases to counter recoil and unwanted ...
, and
magazine.
Early versions were made with a long barrel.
The 20-round box magazine was designed so that it would be compatible with standard current-issue ammo pouches, but a larger 25-round magazine was in early production until its cancellation.
The subsonic round showed superior penetration of cover at short and medium ranges (200–300 m) when compared to the
5.45×39mm.
Criticism was placed on the Tiss since a user cannot clean the gas outlet.
See also
*
AK-9
The AK-9 is a Russian 9×39mm compact rifle. Its development began when Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant (IZHMASH), now known as Kalashnikov Concern started working on a new silent, flame-less, compact AK rifle in the early 2000s. When creating ...
*
OTs-14 Groza
The OTs-14 Groza () is a Russian selective fire bullpup assault rifle chambered for the 7.62×39 round and the 9×39mm subsonic round. It was developed in the 1990s at the TsKIB SOO (Central Design and Research Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Ar ...
*
SR-3 Vikhr
The SR-3 Vikhr (''СР-3 Вихрь'', Russian for "whirlwind") is a Russian 9×39mm compact assault rifle. It was developed by A. D. Borisov, V. N. Levchenko and A. Tyshlykov at TsNIITochMash (Central Institute for Precision Machine Building) ...
*
9A-91
The 9A-91 also known as KBP 9A91, is a compact assault rifle currently in use with Russian police forces. It is used as a cheaper and more versatile alternative to the SR-3 "Vikhr".
The 9A-91 is a gas operated, rotating bolt weapon, which utili ...
References
{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017
9×39mm firearms
Assault rifles of Russia
Kalashnikov derivatives
TsKIB SOO products
Military equipment introduced in the 1990s