The Fort-12 (Ukrainian: Форт-12) is a semi-automatic pistol which was designed in the late 1990s by Ukrainian firearms designer RPC Fort.
History
First "Fort-12" pistols were made in 1995, since April 1995 "Fort-12N" became an award of President of Ukraine
In December 1998 "Fort-12" was adopted as a sidearm for Ministry of Internal Affairs and until the end of 1998, the first 50 pistols were obtained by the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the city of Kyiv. Later it was adopted as a sidearm for "K" unit of Security Service of Ukraine and security guards.
In October 2011, it was proposed to equip "Fort-12" pistols with gun-mounted flashlight.
Variants
Fort-12 (Форт-12) – first model, 9×18mm Makarov cartridge
Fort-12-02 (Форт-12-02) – limited edition (chromium-plated Fort-12) Fort-12-03 (Форт-12-03) – limited edition (nickel-plated Fort-12) Fort-12B (Форт-12Б) – a suppressed version of the Fort-12 (with detachable suppressor) Fort-12 CURZ (Форт-12 CURZ) – second model, 9x17mm (.380 ACP) cartridge Fort-12N (Форт-12Н) – an award of President of Ukraine and state award of Ukraine (since 2000), manufactured in presentational grade (with silvered frame, gold inlays and engravings) Sokol (Сокол) – IPSC sport pistol with recoil compensator, 9×18mm Makarov cartridge. Fort-12G (Форт-12Г) – 9mm non-lethal gas pistol. The use of gas pistols in Ukraine is permitted to civil population Fort-12R (Форт-12Р) – 9mm non-lethal gas pistol with the ability to fire ammunition with rubber bullets. 9 mm P.A. cartridge 12 or 13 round box magazine. Fort-12RM (Форт-12РМ) – non-lethal gas pistol with the ability to fire ammunition with rubber bullets. 13 round box magazine. In production since 2011 Fort-12T (Форт-12Т) – non-lethal gas pistol with the ability to fire ammunition with rubber bullets. 12 or 13 round box magazine Fort-12TM (Форт-12ТМ) – non-lethal gas pistol with the ability to fire ammunition with rubber bullets. 10 round box magazine
Accessories
LT-6 (ЛТ-6) – gun-mounted flashlight which can be mounted below the barrel. LT-6A (ЛТ-6А) – gun-mounted flashlight which can be mounted below the barrel. Fort-4 (Форт-4) – detachable suppressor for Fort-12B standard duty holster for uniformed security personnel tactical holster for rapid response units of riot police ("Berkut")
Users
: in April 2009 one Fort-12N pistol was given to S. S. Sidorsky
: after "Orange Revolution" at least two Georgian officials (Mikheil Saakashvili and Vano Merabishvili) received Fort-12N pistols
: Fort-12T, Fort-12TM, Fort-12R and Fort-12RM are allowed for private security guards
: in March 2018 one Fort-12N pistol was given to Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
: in September 2010 one Fort-12N pistol was given to Bronisław Komorowski
: Fort-12T – since 2008 were sold on civilian market as non-lethal self-defence weapon. Since 1 July 2011 import of non-lethal self-defence weapon is prohibited Since August 2014 Ukraine have banned the export of arms and military products to Russia (incl. magazines and other spare parts for previously sold Fort-12T pistols)
: Fort-12 – сurrently, Fort 12 is issued to the National Police of Ukraine and security forces but is only supplementing Makarov PMs in service. Fort-12R – in 2000 Fort-12R was adopted as non-lethal self-defence weapon for customs service. In 2002 Ministry of Internal Affairs adopted Fort-12R as non-lethal self-defence weapon for militsiya. Later Fort-12R was adopted as non-lethal self-defence weapon for State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Also, Fort-12R and Fort-12RM are allowed for private security guards
: in February 1998 one Fort-12N pistol was given to Islam Karimov an agreement was signed in October 2000 on the delivery of a batch of Fort-12 pistols to Uzbekistan
Gallery
References
Literature
Макет масо-габаритного пістолета Форт-12: керівництво з експлуатації. – Вінниця: КНВО "Форт" МВС України, 2007. – 10 с.