Self-Propelled Howitzer
D-30 howitzer
The D-30 (2A18) is a Soviet 122 mm towed howitzer designed at Motovilikha Plants in Perm and in service since 1960. Its three-trail carriage allows 360-degree fire, and more than 15,000 have been built, making it one of the most widespread artillery pieces.
Russia|Motovilikha PlantsOverview
The D-30 was designed by the F.F. Petrov bureau at Motovilikha Plants and entered Soviet service in 1960, where it is known to GRAU as the 2A18. Its main innovation is a triple-trail carriage that lets the gun traverse through 360 degrees without repositioning the trails. The 122 mm L/38 barrel reaches 15.4 km with high-explosive shells and 21.9 km with rocket-assisted rounds, at up to 7 to 8 rounds a minute. The gun weighs 3.2 tonnes and needs a crew of seven.
More than 15,000 D-30s were built in the USSR, China (as the Type 96), Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Poland and Yugoslavia. Around 60 countries have used it, including Russia, which keeps roughly 700. Combat use runs from Vietnam and the Iran-Iraq War to Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 and the war in Ukraine, where both sides use it heavily. China and Iran still produce modified versions, and Egypt builds it under licence.
Key Specifications
Variants
The base D-30 is the Soviet 122 mm towed howitzer with a three-trail carriage and 360-degree traverse.
The D-30A is a modernised variant of the same gun used by Soviet and later Russian units.
The 2A18M is the upgraded GRAU-designated model of the D-30 with improved performance and ammunition handling.
Operators
Russia
Ukraine
Belarus
China
Iran
Iraq
Syria
Egypt
Libya
India
Algeria
Yemen
Sudan
Ethiopia
Azerbaijan
Armenia
Bulgaria
Poland
Czechia
Slovakia
Romania
AngolaFrequently Asked Questions
What is the range of the D-30 howitzer?
The D-30 howitzer has a range of 15.4 km with standard high-explosive shells and up to 21.9 km with rocket-assisted projectiles. It fires 122 mm rounds at up to 7 to 8 rounds per minute.
Which countries use the D-30 howitzer?
The D-30 is used by about 60 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, China, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, India, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Poland and Angola. Russia alone fields roughly 700 of them.
D-30 vs M101: which is better?
The D-30 outperforms the M101 in range and traverse. The D-30 reaches 15.4 km and fires through 360 degrees on its three-trail carriage, while the older US 105 mm M101 has a shorter range and a conventional split-trail design.
Is the D-30 used in Ukraine?
Yes, the D-30 is used extensively by both Russia and Ukraine in the war that began in 2022. The 122 mm howitzer is common in both armies because large Soviet-era stocks were inherited.
Which Arab countries have the D-30 howitzer?
Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Algeria, Yemen and Sudan all field the D-30. Egypt also produces the 122 mm howitzer under licence.
How many D-30 howitzers were built?
More than 15,000 D-30 howitzers have been built in the USSR, China, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Poland and Yugoslavia. China (Type 96) and Iran still produce modified versions today.