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Armor/AFV: AA/AT/Artillery
For discussions about artillery and anti-aircraft or anti-tank guns.
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Prime Mover for D-30 Howitzer
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 07:58 AM UTC
Building a D-30 fro Incoming Campaign. Buil is almost complete, can't decide if I want it in towed or firing position. If I do it towed, what is the standard prime mover for the D-30, GAZ-66 or Ural 4320?
Gr8_Humpback
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France
Joined: March 16, 2004
KitMaker: 18 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 11:44 AM UTC
In fact, it depends of the potential danger and/or the unit. If there is a significant danger, then an armored prime mover will tow the howitzer ; the standard armored prime mover is the MT-LB, as depicted in the SKIF kit. If there is less daner, or for a long distance travel on roads, the D-30 can be towed by a truck. The most probable trucks are either the Ural-375D (or a -4320) or the ZIL-131. There is no way that a GAZ-66 can tow a D-30 as the max towing load is 2000 kg and the D-30 weights 3210 kg in travelling order (3440 kg for the Yugoslavian D-30J)
Sources :
Jane's Armour and Artillery
Janes Military Vehicles And Logistics
Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices : 1945 to Present


Hope it helps.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 12:08 PM UTC
That is what I thought. Guess I will have to use the GAZ-66 for something else and probably put the D-30 in firing mode. Thanks.
Gr8_Humpback
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France
Joined: March 16, 2004
KitMaker: 18 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Monday, May 10, 2004 - 05:20 AM UTC
If you really want to use your GAZ-66 for fire support, you can try to convert it into a BM-21V Grad-V. It is a lightweight version of the BM-21 MRL for the airborne troops. The BM-21V has 2x6 122mm tubes mounted on a GAZ-66B. The GAZ-66B is the airborne version of the GAZ-66 with collapsible canvas cab, removable doors and windscreen, telescopic steering wheel and tie-point for parachute dropping.
It seems quite a conversion, but it can be a nice one to do.
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