Indian Military

122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)
Afghan National Army D-30 Howitzer
Type	Howitzer
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1960s
Used by	Soviet Union and allies as well as nonaligned and post-Soviet states.
Wars	Cold War, many regional conflicts.
Production history
Designer	F.F. Petrov
Specifications
Weight	combat: 3,210 kg (7,055 lbs)
Length	5.4 m (17.71 ft) (transport)
Barrel length	bore: 38 calibres
Width	1.9 m (6.23 ft) (transport)
Height	1.6 m (5.24 ft) (transport)
Crew	1+7
Caliber	122 mm (4.8 in)
Recoil	hydropneumatic
Carriage	tripod
Elevation	-7° to 70°
Traverse	360°
Rate of fire	1 round per minute (sustained), 7-8 rounds (max)
Effective range	15.4 km (9.56 mi)
Maximum range	21.9 km (13.76 mi) (with rocket assisted ammunition)

The D-30, or 122-mm howitzer D-30 (GRAU index 2A18), is a Soviet howitzer that first entered service in the 1960s. It is a relatively light and handy weapon despite being heavy enough for sustained long range fire in the field. The D-30 has a maximum range of 15.4 kilometers, or over 21 km using RAP ammunition.

With its striking three-leg stabilising system the D-30 can be rapidly traversed through 360 degrees. Although no longer manufactured in FSU nations the D-30 is still manufactured internationally and is in service in more than 60 countries' armed forces.

The 2A18 gun is the primary weapon of the 2S1 self-propelled howitzer. There are also Egyptian, Chinese, and Syrian Self-propelled variants and conversions. The Syrian conversion utilizes the hull of a T-34 tank.

History

Work on a replacement for the M-30 howitzer began in the 1950s. The M-30 as a divisional weapon unified the roles of field and long range artillery commonly separated in other armies. The first lacked range, the second power; but the M30 combined in itself a compromise between the two, meeting most operational needs. With a 22 kg projectile and a range of almost 12 km, it was a weapon with longer range than Western field howitzers of 75-105 mm, and more mobile than heavy 149-155 mm howitzers. After the war the M-30 remained a favorite with Soviet forces, and has been kept in Russian service until almost the present day. Nonetheless scope for improvement was identified and a development programme initiated.

Like the M-30, the D-30 was designed by the highly regarded team of F.F. Petrov (Motovilikha Plants). The new howitzer had a longer 40 caliber gun barrel with a multiple baffle muzzle brake, giving both greater range and reduced recoil. This allowed designers to constrain the total weight while meeting tactical requirements for the weapon. The increased range was remarkable; from 11.8 km to 15 km. Accuracy also improved, with mean error dropping from 35 m to just 21 m at a distance of about 10 km.

This meant the beaten area of the new gun was potentially half of what was previously possible, with obvious savings in terms of ammunition used, especially against point targets.

Ammunition for the new howitzer was also improved. Not only was a more effective High Explosive (HE) shell developed, but also an entirely new line of projectiles, eventually including a rocket assisted projectile.

The unusual tripod stabilizer arrangement, with its 360 degree traverse, brings significant operational improvements: the M-30 was limited to a traverse of 58 degrees, good for its conventional split-trail design. The configuration originates from studies for the 10.5cm Leichte Feldhaubitze 43 during World War II, and prior to that from French development work. Other artillery with the ability for full traversal, such as the British 25-pounder instead made use of a large circular platform slung below the carriage. The D-30's configuration traded the dead weight and unwieldiness of a platform for the greater complexity of the stabilizer legs and carriage lift. Stability of the D-30 compares well with conventional designs and equals or surpasses the M-30.

Several countries have built their own licenced versions of the D-30. A Chinese version, the Type 86, has been produced in large quantities and serves with the People's Liberation Army and other countries.

Self-Propelled Versions

Syrian D-30 Self Propelled Artillery conversion on the hull of a T-34 tank.

MT-LB tracked vehicles were often employed by Soviet forces for towing instead of trucks. This led to the development of a self-propelled variant combining the gun with the chassis of the MT-LB, the 2S1. This was the first Soviet enclosed turret self propelled artillery gun, going into service in the early 1970s. The 2S1 is very light and mobile, and amphibious without preparation. Good mobility and quick reaction abilities of the 2S1 enhance the flexibility of the D-30, reducing its vulnerability in manouver battles.

Post 1973, Syrian and Egyptian armed forces fielded D-30 guns fitted to the hulls of obsolete T-34 tanks, similar to Israeli conversions of Sherman hulls. This rather crude modification improves the speed of divisional artillery, allowing for both escape and the ability to match speed with front-line mechanized forces. A major drawback is the lack of protection for the gunners.

For more information see 2S1.

Description

D-30 122 mm howitzer.

An interesting feature of the towed gun is the large linkage attached to the muzzle; in transport the stabilizers are folded away and the barrel serves as a trail. The D-30 uses separate, variable, cased charges (not powder charges) which are loaded after the shell.

The D-30 can fire explosive munitions, including HEAT shells capable of penetrating 460 mm of steel armor plate. Other types of munitions include smoke, illumination and chemical projectiles. The rate of fire of the D-30 is at least 6-8 shots per minute, but this maximum rate allows for precise shots only in direct fire against vehicles within relatively small distances, approximately 1 km. In other situations the gun may have to be reset.

The weapon uses a vertical falling-block breech design, with automatic extraction of the cartridge case; the recoil mechanism sits above the gun. There are sight quadrants and telescopes for both indirect fire and direct fire.

The pair of large tires are arranged on a single axis; maximum towing speed is 60 kph on the road.

Service

Finnish D-30 in direct fire during a training exercise.

Soviet divisional artillery was deployed in three batteries per regiment, each of six pieces. Each division had a mix of armored and motorized infantry regiments (three armored regiments plus one motorized infantry regiment if an "armored division", the reverse if a "motorized infantry division"). Thus, each division nominally had 72 122 mm howitzers at the end of World War II. The massive arms buildup of the Cold War meant that by the 1980s many thousands of D-30s were in service with Soviet forces.

Manufactured from the early 1960s in the No. 9 Artillery factory in Sverdlovsk, the D-30 was widely exported. It participated in violent battles in the Middle East, particularly in the First Gulf War - a long-lasting war of attrition similar to World War I. In this context, the D-30, with its relatively limited range and low-powered shells was not particularly distinctive, being designed for mobile large-scale battles against troops in relatively unprepared fortifications rather than use against trenches and shelters. In such situations long-range 152, 155 and 130 mm artillery such as the M-46 proved more useful, especially for counter-battery use.

However the D-30 proved superior to American 155 mm M114 artillery as well as virtually every piece in the 105 mm class. Even Iranian M109 self-propelled howitzers were beaten in range by 1000m, despite their much larger shell size.

Another D-30 development was a 100 mm anti-tank gun adopted in Yugoslavia, created by mating the T-12 antitank gun to the carriage of the D-30, gaining the 360 degree traverse in the process. The low profile of the D-30 in direct fire made this solution possible. With low-light optics, a firing solution computer, laser rangefinder and a cadence of fire of 15 shots the minute, this weapon served with the Federal Army in the War in Yugoslavia.

Afghan National Army 205th Corps D-30 shooting indirect fire mission, Zabul Province, September 2009.

The later Soviet 125 mm anti-tank gun Sprut shares the configuration of the D-30.

Ultimately the D-30 was and remains an excellent piece of artillery, probably the best in the world in its time. The design was rational and functional, despite an odd appearance, with excellent manouverability, combat versatility and range. In use it was and is simple, robust and cost-effective, and light enough to be towed by average vehicles. However in recent decades major military powers around the world have tended to favor the development and deployment of larger and longer range standardized 155/152 mm artillery, with 122 mm weapons being retained by lesser nations.

In addition to the Gulf War, the D-30 has seen much action with both regular and irregular forces in conflicts in Africa, Europe, and throughout Asia and the Middle East. In the Yom Kippur War and during the Iran–Iraq War it proved to be a deadly anti-tank weapon when used in a defensive role.

The gun remains a mainstay of artillery forces in developing countries and is deployed in the War in Afghanistan.

Emplacement Procedure

A location chosen for emplacement of the D-30 should be as level as reasonably possible. Firstly the carriage is raised via an internal hydraulic jack located under the cradle of the gun. Once the gun is at the required height the wheels are raised via the wheel lifting lever; this allows the two split stabilizer legs to be separated from the mono stabiliser leg and brought rearward into firing configuration.

The legs are then locked in place with locking pins. The carriage is lowered via the hydraulic jack so the legs touch the ground; integral stakes are then hammered into the ground. At this point the gun is ready for direct fire using the OP4 direct fire sight, or can be orientated and have its position fixed via the aiming circles for subsequent indirect fire using the Pantel sight.

Variants

• 2A18 or D-30 - basic model, as described.
  • 2A18M or D-30M - new double baffle muzzle brake, square central base plate, towing lunette assembly.
  • 2A18M-1 or D-30M-1 - with semi-automatic loader. Prototype.
  • D-30A - modified recoil system, new muzzle brake.
  • 2S1 self-propelled version.
• Type 85 or D-30-2 Chinese self-propelled version of the D-30.
  • D-30-3 - Chinese upgrade of the Type 59 85 mm field gun with 122 mm weapon.
  • Type 86, variously, Type 83, Type 96 - Chinese licence-production or derivative of the D-30.
• D30 RH M-94 - Croatian built version, new muzzle brake, redesigned trail, NATO standard sighting, improved hydraulic brake.
• D 30-M - Egyptian licence version of the D-30.
  • SP 122 - Self-propelled version, mounted on a T-34 chassis.
• Saddam - Iraqi version.
• Shafie D-30I or HM-40 - Iranian version.
• D-30J - Yugoslav/Serbian version of the D-30M.
  • D-30JA1 - Improved Serbian version.
  • M-91 "Mona" - Yugoslav variant with the 100 mm ordnance of the MT-12. Prototype only.
• Khalifa - Sudanese licenced version of the D-30.

Ammunition

The D-30 fires separate loading projectiles, with variable charges:

List of operators

•  Abkhazia
•  Afghanistan
•  Algeria
•  Angola
•  Armenia - 90
•  Azerbaijan
•  Bangladesh - 130 (more than 100 will be made soon for the army)
•  Belarus
•  Benin
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina - 51 units
•  Cambodia
•  Congo
•  Croatia - 52 units (D-30 HR M94)
•  Cuba
•  Egypt
•  Ethiopia
•  Estonia - 42 units
•  Finland - 486 units (Finnish designation was originally 122 H 63 after certain modernizations its current designation is 122 H 63A)
•  Macedonia
•  Georgia - 140 units
• India being replaced by m-46
•  Iran - 400-600 units
•  Iraq
•  Kazakhstan - 183 units, will be partially converted into self-propelled systems Semser
•  Kyrgyzstan - 72 units
•  Laos
•  Lebanon
•  Libya
•  Madagascar
•  Mali
•  Mauritania
•  Mongolia
•  Montenegro - 30 units
•  Morocco
•  Mozambique
•  Myanmar From  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
•  Nicaragua
•  North Korea
•  People's Republic of China
•  Peru
•  Russia
•  Sudan
•  Slovakia
•  Serbia - 303 units
•  Syria
•  Tajikistan - 12 units
•  Ukraine - 443 units
•  Uzbekistan - 540 units
•  Vietnam
•  Yemen
•  Zambia - 25 units