The 122mm M-30 howitzer, known in the West as the M1938, is a staunch veteran. The howitzer was developed back in 1938, and its serial industrial production began a year later. Produced in large quantities and widely used during the Great Patriotic War, the M-30 howitzer, practically unchanged, is still widespread in the CIS and other countries, although today in many armies it is used only for training purposes or transferred to the reserve. Although the production of the M-30 in the CIS countries ceased several years ago, the howitzer is still being produced in China under the designation Type 54 and Type 54-1 122 mm howitzer. Modification Type 54-1 has a number of design differences, which are due to the peculiarities of local technologies.
The 122mm M-30 as a whole has a classic design: a reliable, durable two-hull gun carriage, a shield with a raised central sheet that is rigidly fixed, and a 23-gauge barrel without a muzzle brake. The gun was equipped with the same gun carriage as the 152 mm D-1 howitzer (M1943). Wheels with a large diameter are equipped with solid slopes, for filling which sponge rubber is used, however, the Bulgarian modification of the M-30 has wheels of excellent design. Each implement has two types of openers - for hard and soft soil.
Calculation of the Soviet 122-mm howitzer M-30 in the battle against German tanks. In the foreground is a dead artilleryman. 3rd Belorussian Front
122-mm howitzer M-30 senior sergeant G. E. Makeev on Gutenberg Strasse in Breslau, Silesia. 1st Ukrainian Front
A Soviet artillery guardsman resting at his 122mm M-30 howitzer after a battle with German tanks near Kaunas. 3rd Belorussian Front. The author's title of the work - "After a fierce battle"
Soviet self-propelled guns SU-122 go to the front in Leningrad, returning from repair
The M-30 howitzer at one time was the main armament of the SU-122 self-propelled guns, which was created on the basis of the T-34 chassis, but now these installations are no longer in any army. In China, the following ACS is currently being produced: the Type 54-1 howitzer is mounted on the Type 531 armored personnel carrier chassis.
The main type of ammunition M-30 is a highly effective fragmentation projectile, weighing 21, 76 kilograms, having a range of up to 11, 8 thousand m. To combat armor targets, the BP-463 cumulative armor-piercing projectile can theoretically be used, which at the maximum distance of a direct shot (630 m) to penetrate 200 mm armor, however, such ammunition is currently practically not used.
Until now, it is in service with the armies of many countries of the world, it was used in almost all significant wars and armed conflicts of the middle and late XX century.
Tactical and technical data of the 122 mm M-30 howitzer:
The first prototype - 1938;
Serial production start - 1939;
The countries in which it is currently in service - the former member countries of the Warsaw Pact, the countries to which the Soviet Union provided military assistance, China;
Calculation - 8 people;
Length in the stowed position - 5900 mm;
Width in the stowed position - 1975 mm;
Caliber - 121, 92 mm;
The initial velocity of the projectile is 515 meters per second;
Projectile weight - 21, 76 kg;
Full charge mass - 2.1 kg;
The maximum pressure of the powder gases is 2350 kgf / cm;
Maximum firing range - 11800 m;
Barrel length (excluding the shutter) - 2800 mm (22, 7 caliber);
The number of grooves - 36;
Length of the rifled part of the barrel - 2278 mm (18, 3 calibers);
Groove width - 7.6 mm;
Cutting depth - 1.01 mm;
Rifling field width - 3.04 mm;
The volume of the chamber when using a long-range projectile is 3, 77 dm3;
Chamber length - 392 mm (3, 2 calibers);
Declination angle - -3 °;
The maximum elevation angle is 63 °;
Horizontal angle of fire - 49 °;
The rate of vertical guidance (one turn of the flywheel) is approximately 1, 1 °;
Horizontal hover speed (one turn of the flywheel) is approximately 1.5 °;
The height of the line of fire - 1200 mm;
Maximum rollback length - 1100 mm;
Rollback length when firing with a full charge - from 960 to 1005 mm;
Normal pressure in the reel - Z8 kgf / cm2;
The volume of liquid in the knurling device is from 7, 1 to 7, 2 liters;
The volume of fluid in the rollback brake is 10 liters;
Tool height (elevation angle 0 °) - 1820 mm;
Stroke width - 1600 mm;
Clearance - 330-357 mm;
Wheel diameter - 1205 mm;
Barrel weight with shutter - 725 kg;
Pipe weight - 322 kg;
Casing weight - 203 kg;
Breech weight - 161 kg;
Shutter weight - 33 kg;
The weight of the retractable parts is 800 kg;
Cradle weight - 135 kg;
Oscillating part weight - 1000 kg;
Carriage weight - 1675 kg;
Upper machine weight - 132 kg;
Wheel weight with hub - 179 kg;
Lower machine weight - 147 kg;
Bed weight (two) - 395 kg;
Weight in firing position - 2450 kg;
Weight without front end in stowed position - 2500 kg;
The weight of the LO-4 ski rig is 237 kg;
Transfer time between traveling and combat positions - 1-1, 5 minutes;
Rate of fire - up to 6 rounds per minute;
The maximum speed of transportation on good roads is 50 km / h;
The pressure of the trunk on the coupling hook is 240 kgf.
A battery of Soviet 122 mm howitzers of the 1938 model (M-30) fires at Berlin
A column of Soviet ZiS-42 semi-tracked tractors with 122 mm M-30 model 1938 howitzers on a trailer passes the T-60 light tank. Leningrad front
Calculation of the Soviet 122-mm howitzer model 1938 M-30 behind the shield cover
Calculation of the Soviet 122-mm howitzer M-30 in the battle against German tanks. In the foreground is a dead artilleryman. 3rd Belorussian Front
Soviet soldiers ferry on a pontoon a 122-mm howitzer of the 1938 M-30 model across the Sivash Bay (Rotten Sea)
After the war
