122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)

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122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)
The D-30 in Finnish Army service.
Type	howitzer
Place of origin	USSR
Specifications
Weight	combat: 3,200 kg
Length	5.4 m (transport)
Barrel length	bore: 38 calibres
Width	1.9 m (transport)
Height	1.6 m (transport)
Crew	1+7

Caliber	122 mm
Recoil	hydropneumatic
Carriage	tripod
Elevation	-7° to 70°
Traverse	360°
Rate of fire	1 rounds per minute (sustained), 7-8 rounds (max)
Effective range	15.4 km
Maximum range	22 km (with rocket assisted ammunition)

The 122-mm howitzer D-30 (GRAU index 2A18) is a Russian howitzer that entered service in the late 1960s, replacing the M-30 122 mm howitzer. Its 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.

1 Description
2 Deployment
3 Variants
4 Specifications
5 Ammunition
- 5.1 List of operators
6 External links

[edit] Description

Afghan troops prepare to fire a D-30 howitzer.

D-30J of Serbian Army.

This is a 122-mm artillery piece developed in the former Soviet Union. It is loosely based on a German design of the Second World War. Its most striking feature is the fact that it's mounted on a tripod which allows the gun to be swung around a full 360-degrees. Another interesting feature is that it's 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 a defensive role. It has seen service in a number of countries including Egypt, Iraq and Poland. A number of them have built their own versions of the D-30. This includes a model built by Egypt which is self-propelled. China has its own version, which serves with the People's Liberation Army.

[edit] Deployment

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.

[edit] Variants

D-30
- D-30M - new double baffle muzzle brake, square central base plate, towing lunette assembly.
- D-30A - modified 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 brake, redesigned trail, NATO standard sighting, improved hydraulic brake
D-30 - Egyptian version.
"Saddam" - Iraqi version
Shafie D-301 - Iranian version
D-30J - Yugoslav/Serbian version

[edit] 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

[edit] 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.