 Afgan troops prepare to fire a D-30 howitzer. The D-30 (2A18) 122 mm howitzer is a Russian howitzer that entered service in the late 1960s, replacing the M-30 122 mm howitzer. It's longer barrel gave it greater range than the M-30, and once emplaced it could be traversed 360 degrees. It is no longer in production, but remains in service with more than 60 countries armed services. Loading a WW1 British 15 in (381 mm) howitzer A howitzer or hauwitzer is a type of field artillery. ...
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Description
This is a 122-mm artillery piece developed in the former Soviet Union.It is loosely based on a German design in the Second World War. The most striking feature of this artillery piece is the fact that it is mounted on a tripod, this allows the gun to be swung around in a full 360-degrees. Another interesting feature about this weapon is that it is towed by its barrel. The D-30 strictly speaking is not a howitzer, but in fact a gun-howitzer. It does not use powder charges that are loaded separately but has cased charges which are loaded after the shell. The D-30 is capable of being a deadly anti-tank weapon when used in the defensive role. It has seen service in a number of countries including Egypt, Iraq and Poland. A number have built their own versions of the D-30. This includes a model built by Egypt which is selfpropelled. China has its own version which serves with the Peoples Liberation Army.
How the D-30 is Deployed
When the gun is brought into action a suitable site is picked out. It should preferably be as level as reasonably possible.The tripod legs are deployed and the gun mounted on it. The tripod legs are then hammered into the ground and then it is ready for action.
Specifications - Calibre: 122 mm
- Barrel length: 4.875 m
- Weight: 3,210 kg
- Elevation: +70 to -7 degrees
- Traverse: 360 degrees
- Maximum rate of fire: 7 to 8 rounds per minute.
- Sustained rate of fire (1 hour): 75 rounds.
- Range:
- Normal projectile: 15,400 m
- Rocket assisted projectile: 21,900 m
Ammunition The D-30 fires separate loading projectiles, with variable charges: | Designation | Type | Fuze | Weight | Warhead | Muzzle velocity | Armour penetration | Notes | | OF-462 | FRAG-HE | RGM-2,D-1,D1U
V-90,AR-5 | 21.76 kg | 3.675 kg of TNT | 690 m/s | n/a | | | 3OF56 | FRAG-HE | RGM-2,D-1,D1U
V-90,AR-5 | 21.76 | 4.05 kg of A-IX-2 | 690 m/s | n/a | Improved HE-FRAG | | BK-6M | HEAT-FS | GPV-2 | 17.47 kg | 1.6 kg of A-X-1 | 740 m/s | 460 mm to 580 mm | | | S-463 | Illumination | T-7 | 22.4 kg | 1 kg flare | 690 m/s | n/a | | | D-462 | Smoke | KTM-2 | 22.3 kg | 3.6 kg of WP | 690 m/s | n/a | | | 3OF69M | Laser guided | | 28 kg | 5.5 kg HE-FRAG | ? | ? | | | ? | ICM | Ms-1 | 22.5 kg | 18 M-42 bomblets
or 15 M-42D bomblets | 683 m/s | M42 - 70 mm
M42D - 110 mm | Egyptian made. | | M335 (CL 3153) | ICM | ? | 22.5 kg | 24 M85 bomblets | 698 m/s | 105 mm | Israeli round | | ER 122 HB | FRAG-HE | RGM-2,M72 | 21.56 kg | ? | 692 m/s (735 m/s supercharge) | n/a | RH-Alan Croatian produced | | ERBB 122 HB | FRAG-HE | RGM-2,M72 | 21.86 kg | ? | 692 m/s (735 m/s supercharge) | n/a | RH-Alan Croatian produced | | Norinco ERFB/HB | FRAG-HE | ? | 21.76 kg | ? | 725 m/s | n/a | Chinese produced | | Norinco ERFB/BB | FRAG-HE | ? | 22.25 kg | ? | 730 m/s | n/a | Chinese produced | | Norinco Cargo | ICM | ? | 21.76 kg | 30 Type 81 bomblets | 682 m/s | 80 mm | Chinese produced | | Norinco HE-I | HE-I | ? | 21.76 kg | ? | 690 m/s | n/a | Chinese produced | | Norinco smoke | Smoke | ? | 22.15 kg | 3.2 kg of WP | 690 m/s | n/a | Chinese produced, produces smoke for more than 70 seconds. | | Norinco illumination | Illumination | ? | 21.3 kg | 1.09 kg flare | 683 m/s | n/a | Chinese produced, 600,000 candela flare burns for 50 seconds. |
Variants - D-30
- D-30M - new double baffle muzzle brake, square central base plate, towing lunette assembly.
- D-30A - modifed recoil system. New muzzle brake.
- D-30 - Chinese version.
- D-30-2 - Chinese version - largely as original D-30
- D-30-3 - Chinese version, upgrade of Type 59 85 mm field gun with 122 mm weapon.
- D-30 HR M94 - Croatian built version, new muzzle break, redesigned trail, NATO standard sighting, improved hydraulic brake.
- D-30 - Egyptian version.
- "Saddam" - Iraqi version
- Shafie D-301 - Iranian version
- D-30J - Serbia and Montenegro
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