Russia turns to WWII relics amid artillery shortages
The Russians are facing increasing equipment shortages, leading them to send older equipment to the front lines. Recently, it has been observed that the Russians are using old M-30 howitzers against the Ukrainians. These artillery pieces were used during World War II, including in the capture of Berlin. Here's a look at what this relic from the past is capable of.
2:44 PM EDT, October 22, 2024
Due to losses and insufficient production capabilities for artillery barrels, the Russians are resorting to increasingly older solutions. Notably, in post-Soviet depots, 122 mm, and 152 mm caliber towed howitzers often appear on new satellite images without barrels, which are compatible with more valuable self-propelled systems like the 2S1 Gvozdika or 2S3 Akatsiya.
Meanwhile, relics like M-46 or D-74 cannons are replaced by towed artillery, most likely originating from North Korea. Additionally, equipment reserves dating back to the capture of Berlin, such as M-30 howitzers, are being mobilized. In the video below, a relic at an artillery position is shown being hit in the barrel by an FPV drone.
M-30 howitzer - main artillery of the Red Army
The M-30 is a howitzer produced from 1939 until the late 1950s. Its caliber is 122 mm, but due to its short barrel length of 22 calibers (9 feet), its range today is not impressive, reaching a maximum of 7.5 miles. Notably, some mortars used by NATO countries can shoot at such a distance.
On the other hand, for the Russians, even such artillery is better than none at all and can pose a problem for Ukrainian soldiers without counter-battery support, as the relic can fire up to six shells per minute. Each shell contains about 8.2 pounds of explosives, and its lethal radius is approximately 98 feet.
However, suppose the Ukrainians have effective reconnaissance in a given region, along with strike-capable FPV drones or "Baba Jaga" and real-time paired artillery. In that case, the M-30 and its crew are, at most, targets on today's battlefield.
