Estonia requests approval from Germany for delivery of D-30 122mm howitzers to Ukraine


According to information published by the Ukrainian News Agency Interfax on January 21, 2022, Estonia has requested Germany an approval to deliver D-30 122mm towed howitzers to Ukraine.
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Estonia army soldiers conduct a firing exercise with D-30 122mm towed howitzer. (Picture source Hawk 26)


Germany is studying the issue and is under government approval, in fact, the D-30 122mm towed howitzer was originally produced by Russia, and used by the former East German army. After the German reunification in the 1990s, some of the D-30 howitzers were exported to Finland, which then handed them over to Estonia in 2009. A total of 49 D-30 howitzers were purchased from Finland in 2009 to replace previously used 105mm howitzers.

Citing information published by 112 International website, in recent weeks, Estonia has requested permission from Berlin to send artillery weapons to Ukraine, as required by German export legislation. Finland, which is not a member of NATO, is also obliged to allow the supply of weapons under an agreement with Germany. A spokesman for the Finnish government said the procedure was a simple formality that had nothing to do with the current situation in Ukraine.

The D-30 is a Russian-made 122mm towed howitzer that entered service with the former Soviet Army in the early 1960s. Today, the D-30 is one of the most popular towed howitzers in the world and is currently used by more than 60 countries from all over the world.

The D-30 uses the 2A18 gun which is also used by the Russian 2S1 tracked self-propelled howitzer. The maximum rate of fire of the D-30 is 6-8 rounds per minute and about 75 rounds per hour. The D-30 fires FRAG-HE and HEAT-FS variable-charge, case-type, separate-loading ammunition. Using standard HE-Frag shells, the D-30 has a maximum firing range of 15.4 km.

On road position, the D-30 howitzer can be towed by a military truck or tracked vehicle. In firing position, the crew of eight unhitches the gun, lowers the central firing jack, raises the wheels high enough to clear the trail legs, and spreads the two outer trails 120° on each side.