Land Systems / Battlefield

D-30 / 2A18 (Model 1963)

122mm Towed Field Howitzer [ 1963 ]

Despite its 1960s origins, the Soviet-era 122mm D-30 gun can still provide potent battlefield artillery support at range.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/11/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The D-30 122mm howitzer became the standard Soviet artillery battlefield system in 1963, replacing the aging World War 2-era 122mm M-30 model of 1938. The original system was developed to serve in support of motorized rifle elements equipped with the BTR series of wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs). On the whole, the D-30 became a largely conventional artillery piece, reliable and robust under battlefield conditions, making it a favorite of Soviet allied nations and states during the Cold War decades. It still serves in surprising numbers on today's battlefields (2015).

The D-30 is cleared to fire standard FRAG-HE (FRAGmentation, High-Explosive) and HEAT-FS (High-Explosive, Anti-Tank, Fin-Stabilized) rounds. It is also capable of launching chemical rounds including TNT-detonated Sarin gas types. Rocket-Assisted Projectiles (RAP) extend the range of the weapon to that of 21,900 meters (13.6 miles). Sustained fire by a capably trained and well experienced gunnery crew can reach 4-8 rounds per minute. The gun has an elevation / depression limit of +70/-7 degrees and indirect fire and direct fire is possible. The gun mounting hardware sits atop a tripod base which also serves as the two-wheeled tow unit. Traversal is a full 360-degrees from centerline. Recoil is handled through a hydopneumatic system.

As with other artillery pieces, the D-30 is towed into action. For Russian (and related forces), the primary mover vehicle has been the tracked MT-LB or Ural-375 wheeled vehicle though many other haulers are possible replacement candidates. Design of the weapon system has been attributed to F.F. Petrov with manufacture through the Motovilikha Plant.

Several variants have been manufactured beyond the original D-30 - which also carried the designator of "2A18". The weapon has been produced locally by China, Croatia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Yugoslavia (Serbia), and Sudan resulting in various localized designations appearing. The Egyptian D-30-M model has been featured in the Egyptian Self-Propelled Gun (SPG) platform as the SPH-122 (American M109 howitzer chassis) and T-122 (Soviet T-34 tank chassis).

Specifications

Service Year

1963

Origin

Soviet Union

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

6
CREWMEN

Production

12,000
UNITS

Gosudarstvennoe Unitarnoe Predpriatie Zavod 9

(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)

Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bangladesh; Belarus; Benin; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Cambodia; Cameroon; China; Congo; Croatia; Cuba; Egypt; Djibouti; Egypt; Estonia; Finland; Macedonia; Georgia; Iran; Iraq; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Libya; Madagascar; Mali; Mauritania; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Nicaragua; North Korea; Pakistan; Peru; Russia; Rwanda; Sudan; Slovakia; Serbia; Soviet Union; Syria; Takjikistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Anti-Tank / Anti-Armor
Base model or variant can be used to track, engage, and defeat armored enemy elements at range.

✓ Fire Support / Assault / Breaching
Support allied forces through direct / in-direct fire, assault forward positions, and / or breach fortified areas of the battlefield.

Height

5.2 ft
1.6 m

Weight

7,055 lb
3,200 kg

Tonnage

3.5 tons
LIGHT

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Model 1963 (D-30 / 2A18) production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)

Powerplant: None. This is a towed-artillery battlefield element.

Range

3.6 mi
(5.8 km)

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Model 1963 (D-30 / 2A18) production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)

1 x 122mm gun barrel.

Supported Types