The Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) corporation recently unveiled the M-392 122mm howitzer – a replacement for the M-30 howitzer, which has served for over 70 years in 40 countries worldwide.
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| Despite being manufactured over 70 years ago, the M-30 122mm howitzer is still used by approximately 40 countries worldwide today. 19,266 M-30 howitzers were produced between 1939 and 1955 at factories No. 92 and No. 9, supplying the Soviet Red Army during World War II. After 1945, they continued to be exported to dozens of countries around the world, including Vietnam. Today, they continue to serve reliably across four continents. (Image source: Wikipedia) |
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| Of course, obsolescence is inevitable with the M-30 122mm, and it needs replacing. According to Jane's magazine, the Uralvagonzavod Research and Production Corporation (UVZ) recently launched the M-392 122mm howitzer to replace the M-30 mod 1938, which is currently in use in over 40 countries worldwide. (Image source: Jane's) |
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| According to UVZ representatives, the M-392 can fire all the ammunition of the M-30 mod 1938 cannon. It can be deployed to provide direct fire support for offensive operations. Thus, it seems UVZ carefully considered the future of the M-392 when designing this cannon. The reuse of M-30 122mm ammunition significantly reduces ammunition costs for countries with limited budgets – most countries using the M-30 have weak or developing economies. (Image source: deagel) |
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| Vietnam is currently one of the countries possessing a large number of M-30 122mm howitzers, along with ammunition; we have even been able to produce our own M-30 artillery shells. Therefore, the M-392 can be considered a strong candidate to replace the M-30 howitzer in our army. |
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| Besides its superior ammunition capacity, the M-392, according to UVZ representatives, can be deployed on the battlefield in just 60 seconds. Soldiers can easily move the M-392 on the battlefield because of its light weight. The photo shows a crew of M-30 howitzers of the Vietnam People's Army conducting live-fire exercises. (Image source: Vietnam People's Army) |
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| The M-30 122mm, designed in 1938 by FF Petrov, head of the design department at the Motovilikha plant, was produced from 1939 to 1955, with a total of 19,266 units manufactured. This artillery piece was developed to replace outdated World War I artillery in the Soviet Army. (Image source: Wikipedia) |
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| During World War II, the M-30 anti-tank gun was successfully used as indirect fire against Nazi forces. It was used against infantry, to eliminate enemy personnel, support attacks, and also against enemy defensive fortifications, clearing minefields, and breaching barbed wire fences. Even high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) rounds posed a threat to armored vehicles. The fragments from the explosion could penetrate up to 20mm of armor, enough to pierce light armored vehicles of the Nazis. There were even recorded instances of a SU-122 self-propelled gun equipped with a 122mm M-30 cannon firing high-explosive anti-tank rounds that severely damaged a German Tiger I tank. (Image source: Wikipedia) |
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| From 1960 onwards, the M-30 howitzer was gradually replaced by the D-30 122mm howitzer. However, at least 4,000 M-30s remain in Russian military storage today. More than 40 countries worldwide still maintain M-30s for combat readiness, artillery training, and as ceremonial artillery. Image source: Wikipedia |
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| The M-30 howitzer weighs 3.1 tons during transport, reducing to 2.45 tons during combat. It is 5.9 meters long with a barrel length of 2.8 meters, 1.82 meters high, and 1.98 meters wide. It requires eight soldiers to operate. (Image source: Wikipedia) |
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| Structurally, the M-30 howitzer is quite similar to earlier types of howitzers, consisting of a barrel, breech, and breech lock. The gun carriage is a detachable frame with rubber-coated iron wheels, providing high mobility and the ability to be towed at speeds of 35-50 km/h. Assembling the howitzer for combat takes approximately one minute. (Image source: Wikipedia) |
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| The breech lock uses a threaded bolt with a screw-like structure, creating a suction force to pull the spent cartridge case out of the barrel after firing. The gun's recoil system is equipped with an additional recoil damper and a heat sink. The general sighting system is used for both direct and indirect fire. Image source: Wikipedia |
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| The artillery piece has a firing rate of 5-6 rounds per minute, depending on the gunner's health, with a range of 2-11.8 km depending on the type of ammunition. For example, the BP-460A armor-piercing round has a range of 2,000 m, the OF-462 fragmentation round has a range of 11.7 km; and the chemical explosive round has a range of 11.8 km. In addition, it can fire illuminating rounds, smoke rounds, and leaflet-dropping rounds. Image source: Wikipedia |
According to Kienthuc
