New Artillery!

We have three new pieces of artillery to share. All three of these were designed and used during for WW2. All of them were excellent designs and severed well after WW2.

The 122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30) was a Soviet 121.92 mm (4.8 inch) howitzer and was in produced in huge numbers from 1939 to 1955. The M-30 saw action in World War II. Post World War II the M-30 saw combat in numerous conflicts of the mid- to late twentieth century in service of other countries' armies, notably in the Middle East. Some historians consider it the most prolific piece of artillery in history. The M-30 used many elements from existing guns. A modified version was used in the SU-122 assault gun. The gun could fire a 21.7 kg (48 lb) shell to a maximum range of around 11.72 km (7.28 miles).

M-30 howitzers were primarily employed for indirect fire against enemy personnel. They were also used against field fortifications, for clearing minefields and for breaching barbed wire. Their HE-fragmentation shells presented a danger to armored vehicles. The gun was eventually replaced by the 122-mm howitzer D-30. After World War II the gun was supplied to many countries around the globe. With the Egyptian and Syrian armies it saw action in the Arab-Israeli Wars. Some of these guns were captured by Israel, although it is unclear whether they were ever employed by the Israeli Defense Forces.

The 155 mm Gun M1 was a 155 millimeter caliber field gun developed and used by the United States military. Nicknamed "Long Tom" it was one of the most modern and powerful field artillery pieces of World War 2 in its class. Developed to replace the Canon de 155mm GPF, the gun was deployed as a heavy field weapon during World War II and the Korean War. The gun could fire a 45.36 kg (100 lb) shell to a maximum range of 22 km (13.7 mi). The Long Tom was also adopted by a number of other nations, including the UK, Austria, Israel, Jordan and the Netherlands.

It first saw service with the US Army in North Africa, where it soon proved to be a very precise weapon with superior range to its Axis counterparts. One reason for that was the well balanced two-axle-carriage M1, which gave the gun both mobility and a very stable stand. Before entering World War I, the United States was poorly equipped with heavy artillery. Long Toms were used against Israel by the Jordanian army in the 1967 war. Their long range gave them an advantage over many Israeli guns. Israel captured many Long Toms during the 1967 War and used them in subsequent wars along side more modern artillery.

The 152 mm howitzer-gun M1937 (ML-20), is a Soviet heavy gun-howitzer. It was in production from 1937 to 1946. The ML-20 saw action in World War II for the Soviet Army. Post World War II, the ML-20 saw combat in numerous conflicts during the mid to late twentieth century. The ML-20 was one of the most successful Soviet artillery pieces of World War II. Its characteristics positioned it between classical short-range howitzers and special long-range guns. Excellent characteristics of the gun, including reliability and ease of maintenance, allowed it to remain in service with the Soviet Army for a long time after the war. The main shortcomings of the ML-20 were its weight and limited mobility.

The gun could fire a 43.6 kg (96 lb) shell to a maximum range of around 17.23 km (10.7 miles) The ML-20 was also modified and used in the SU-152 and ISU-152 self-propelled guns. The ML-20 was eventually replaced by the D-20 152 mm gun in 1956. It was primarily used for indirect fire against enemy personnel, fortifications and key objects in the near rear. Heavy fragments of the HE-Fragmentation shell were capable of piercing moderate armor, making a barrage dangerous to most vehicles. After World War 2 the ML-20 was widely exported to Warsaw Pact allies and to many states in Asia and Africa (in some of those states the gun still remains in service). It was adopted by Egypt and Syria and saw action in Arab–Israeli conflict.