152 mm howitzer M1943 (D-1)
The D-1 howitzer M1943 (Russian: 152-mm gaubitsa obr. 1943 g. (D-1)) is a Soviet World War II-era 152.4 mm howitzer. The gun was developed by the design bureau headed by F. F. Petrov in 1942 and 1943, based on the carriage of the 122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30) and using the barrel of the 152 mm howitzer M1938 (M-10). The powerful and mobile D-1, with its wide range of ammunition, significantly increased the firepower and breakthrough abilities of Red Army tank and motor rifle formations. Several hundred D-1s were manufactured before the end of World War II.
| D-1 howitzer | |
|---|---|
D-1 at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, Kyiv | |
| Type | Field howitzer |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1943–present |
| Used by | Countries of the former Warsaw Pact and former Soviet Union |
| Wars | World War II Arab-Israeli War Vietnam War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Production history | |
| Designer | F. F. Petrov |
| Designed | 1943 |
| Manufacturer | No. 9 Plant |
| Produced | 1943–1949 |
| No. built | 2,827 |
| Variants | D-15, M1943/85 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3,600 kg (7,937 lbs) |
| Length | 6.7 m (22 ft) |
| Barrel length | Bore: 3.527 m (11 ft 7 in) L/23 |
| Width | 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Height | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Crew | 8 |
| Shell | Separate loading charge and projectile HE; 40 kg (88.2 lb) |
| Caliber | 152.4 mm (6 in) |
| Breech | Interrupted screw |
| Recoil | Hydro-pneumatic |
| Carriage | Split trail |
| Elevation | –3° to 63.5° |
| Traverse | ±17.5° |
| Rate of fire | 3–4 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 508 m/s (1,666 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 12.4 km (7.70 mi) |
Post World War II, the D-1 saw combat in numerous conflicts during the mid- to late 20th century. The long operational history of D-1 howitzers in national armies of numerous countries is a testimony to its qualities; the gun still remains in service in a number of post-Soviet states and some other countries. The D-1 is widely considered a valuable element of Soviet artillery.