D-20 Howitzer: The Soviet Union’s Powerful Artillery Piece

D-20 Howitzer: The Soviet Union's Powerful Artillery Piece

The D-20 howitzer, also known as the 152 mm gun-howitzer M1955, was a powerful artillery piece manufactured in the Soviet Union during the 1950s. It was a manually loaded, towed weapon that saw widespread use by Soviet forces and their allies. The D-20 was known for its accuracy and range, making it a valuable asset in both offensive and defensive operations.

Design and Features

The D-20 was a relatively simple and robust design. It featured a split-trail carriage with a large, wheeled chassis that allowed for easy transportation. The gun barrel was rifled and could fire a variety of high-explosive, fragmentation, and armor-piercing rounds. The D-20 had a maximum range of around 17 kilometers (11 miles) and a rate of fire of up to 6 rounds per minute.

The howitzer was designed with a number of features that made it effective in combat. These included:

• High muzzle velocity: This allowed the D-20 to achieve a long range and a high degree of accuracy.
• Variable elevation: The gun could be elevated to a wide range of angles, allowing it to engage targets at various distances and elevations.
• Traversable carriage: The carriage could be rotated 360 degrees, allowing the gun to engage targets in any direction.

Operational History

The D-20 howitzer entered service with the Soviet Army in 1955 and was quickly adopted by other Warsaw Pact nations. It saw extensive use in a number of conflicts, including:

• The Hungarian Revolution of 1956: Soviet forces used D-20s to suppress the uprising.
• The Six-Day War of 1967: The D-20 was used by both the Egyptian and Syrian armies against Israel.
• The Yom Kippur War of 1973: The D-20 was again used by both the Egyptian and Syrian armies against Israel.
• The Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989): The D-20 was used extensively by Soviet forces against Afghan mujahideen.

The D-20 howitzer was also exported to a number of countries, including China, Cuba, India, and Vietnam. It remains in service with some countries today.

Legacy

The D-20 howitzer was a highly successful artillery piece that played a significant role in a number of conflicts. Its simplicity, reliability, and accuracy made it a valuable asset to the Soviet Union and its allies. The D-20 was eventually replaced by more modern artillery systems, but it remains a testament to the ingenuity of Soviet weapons designers.

Technical Specifications

Characteristic	Value
Caliber	152 mm (6 inches)
Barrel length	24 calibers
Weight (in firing position)	6,800 kg (15,000 lbs)
Rate of fire	6 rounds per minute
Maximum range	17 km (11 miles)
Crew	6