Name:Russian 122-mm Towed Howitzer D-30A
Cal. 122mm
E-Factor : See by type below.
Wt. (Empty) 3.2 Metric Tons
Min. Range Varies by ammunition type
Eff. Range Varies by ammunition type
Max. Range Varies by ammunition type
Burst Radius by type Varies by ammunition type
Type of Fire
Rate of Fire 8 rpm burst / 6 rpm normal / 4 rpm sustained
Feed Device Manual
Feed Device Wt. n/a
Basic Load 21 mixed type
Load Wt. by type
Total Wt.
Additional Comments:The D-30A is a midlife product improvement of the D-30. The original D-30 was fielded in 1963 and the midlife product improvements occurred in the mid to late 1970’s. The original D-30 is in use with at least 50 different countries.
The D-30, also known as the M1963, replaced the older 122-mm howitzer M-30 (M1938). The original D-30 was fielded in 1963 and the midlife product improvements occurred in the mid to late 1970�s. The original D-30 is in use with at least 50 different countries. The 2A18M D-30A and D-30M are midlife product improvements of the D-30 that are currently in production by the Gosudarstvennoe Unitarnoe Predpriatie Zavod 9 [Vysokodispersnye Metallicheskiye Poroshki AO]. The D-30 features a unique three-trail carriage, a conspicuous boxy shield for the recuperator above the tube, and a small protective shield between the wheels. The gun has a semiautomatic, vertically sliding, wedge-type breechblock. It is towed muzzle-first by a truck or armored tractor, at speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour, with its trails folded under the barrel.
The D-30 can be recognized by its unique three-trail carriage, the conspicuous box-like shield for the recoil-recuperator mechanism mounted above the tube, the multi-baffle muzzle brake, and the small protective shield fitted between the wheels. Early models of the D-30 had a multi-baffle muzzle brake while the D-30M has a double-baffle muzzle brake. The gun has a semiautomatic, vertically-sliding, wedge-type breechblock. It can be towed by a truck (Ural-375 or ZIL-131) or armored tractor at speeds up to 80 krn/hr. It is towed muzzle-first by a large lunette just under the muzzle brake with its trails folded under the barrel.
The D-30 is found in the howitzer battalion of BTR-equipped motorized rifle regiments and in the artillery regiment of motorized rifle, tank, and airborne divisions. A battalion of D-30s is also being added to some tank regiments as an interim measure. These D-30s will eventually be replaced by a battalion of 122-mm self-propelled howitzers 2S1. The maximum effective range of either howitzer is 15,300 meters.
In firing position, the crew of eight unhitches the gun, lowers the central firing jack, raising the wheels high enough to clear the trail legs, and spreads the two outer trails 120� on each side. The revolving mount permits 360� traverse and is equipped for high and low angles of fire, making it fully suitable for antitank defense. It is doubtful that full elevation is possible when the breech is immediately over a trail leg. The D-30 can also be equipped with a IR or passive night vision sights for direct fire.
The D-30 fires FRAG-HE and HEAT-FS variable-charge, case-type, separate-loading ammunition. The D-30 has a special nonrotating, fin-stabilized, HEAT projectile which allows it to effectively engage armored vehicles with direct fire. The HEAT round can penetrate up to 460 mm of armor at any range. Other types of projectiles include chemical, illuminating (S-462 weighing 22.4 kg), smoke (D-462 weighing 22.3 kg), leaflet, flechette, and incendiary. Recently an RAP has been introduced with a maximum range of 21900 m.
There are at least two chemical projectiles for the D-30, with the CW agent is dispersed by the explosion of a TNT bursting charge. The Sarin projectile weighs 22.2 kg with 1.3 kg of Sarin agent. The 122 mm Lewisite projectile weighs 23.1 kg with 3.3 kg of viscous Lewisite agent.
SYSTEM
Alternative Designations: 122-mm D-30A Lyagushka
Date of Introduction: 1963
Proliferation: At least 13 countries
Description:
Crew: 5 (section of 6)
Carriage: D-30
Combat Weight (mt): 3.2
Chassis Length Overall (m):
Travel Position: 5.4
Firing Position: INA
Height Overall (m): 1.6
Width Overall (m):
Travel Position: 1.9
Firing Position: INA
Towing Speed (km/h):
Max Road: 60
Max Off-Road: 25
Max Cross-Country:
Fording Depths (m): .5
Emplacement Time (min): 1.5
Displacement Time (min): 3.5
Prime Mover: MT-LB; Ural-375, or equivalent
ARMAMENT
Main Armament:
Caliber, Type, Name: 122-mm, 2A18M canon
Barrel Length (cal): 38 (approximately)
Rate of Fire (rpm):
Burst: 8
Normal: 6
Sustained: 4
Loader Type: Semi-automatic
Breech Type: Vertical sliding wedge
Muzzle Brake Type: Multi-baffle
Traverse: (°):
Left: 360
Right: 360
Total: 360
Elevation (°) (-/+): -7/+70°
FIRE CONTROL
Indirect Fire: PG-1M Panoramic Telescope (PANTEL)
Direct Fire: OP 4M-45
Collimator: K-1
Gun Display Unit: None
Fire Control Computer: None
VARIANTS
Saddam: Iraqi produced version of the D-30
D30J: Yugoslavian produced version of the D-30
SP 122: Egyptian self-propelled howitzer (M109A2 chassis and
turret with an Egyptian made D-30 howitzer).
Type 85: Chinese self-propelled howitzer (Chinese Type 85 APC
chassis and a licensed produced version of the D-30 in a semi-open
superstructure.)
MAIN ARMAMENT AMMUNITION
Caliber, Type, Name:
122-mm Frag-HE, OF-81
Indirect Fire Range (m):
Minimum Range: 1000
Maximum Range: 15,300
Complete Projectile Weight (kg): 21.76 (OF-56)
Filler: TNT and amatol 3.46 kg
DPW = 7031 ((3.46 / 0.563) x 1300) x 0.88 = 7030.62167
Muzzle Velocity: 680 m/s
Fuze Type: RGM-2 PD
122-mm, HEAT-FS
Direct Fire Range (m):
Minimum Range: 0
Maximum Range: 1000
Armor Penetration (mm): 460 (@ 0° obliquity any range)
E-factor = 2208. 48 * 2.5^[3.322(log(460) - 1.4049)]= 2208.385244
DPW=
Complete Projectile Weight (kg): 21.58
Muzzle Velocity: 740 m/s
Fuze Type: GPV-2 PIBD
122-mm Frag-HE Rocket Assisted
Indirect Fire Range (m):
Minimum Range: INA
Maximum Range: 21,900
Complete Projectile Weight (kg): 21.76 (3OF-56)
Filler: RDX/A1 4.31 kg
DPW= 12141.5 ((4.31 / 0.563) x 1300) x 1.22 = 12141.49201
Muzzle Velocity: INA
Fuze Type: PD
Other Ammunition Types: Incendiary, Chemical, Flechette,
Semi-active laser-guided Kitolov-2M Frag-HE