Ukrainian partisans expose Russian weapons cache in Crimea
Ukrainian partisans have uncovered one of the places where Russians are amassing their weapons. In the Simferopol region of Crimea, they found D-20 or D-30 howitzers, which we explain the capabilities of, near civilian facilities.
The discovery of Russian weapons in Crimea is credited to the partisan movement Ates, which has recently reported on disturbing movements of Russians in Kakhovka. In the streets of this Ukrainian city in the Kherson area, Pantsir-S1 systems have recently been appearing.
Russian howitzers at the railway station
This time, the Ates group "learned that in the area of the railway station there are about 11 military trucks and D-20 or D-30 howitzers". The partisans believe that the weapons located in this place are "evidence that the Russian army is placing military equipment on the transport infrastructure territory to later be able to accuse Ukrainian forces of attacks on civilian objects" – reads the statement on the Ates group's Telegram profile. So, amassing weapons in such places constitutes a kind of provocation by the Russians aimed at Ukrainians.
The mentioned towed howitzer weighs about 5,600 kg and requires 10 people to operate. In the marching position, its length reaches nearly 8.7 metres, and the total length of the barrel itself is 5.2 metres. The D-20 uses fragmentation-high-explosive shells weighing 43.5 kg, concrete-piercing shells weighing 56 kg, and shaped charge projectiles weighing 49 kg. The range of standard shells is about 18 km, and the rate of fire is up to six shots per minute (65 shots per hour).
The D-30, on the other hand, is a somewhat newer towed howitzer cal. 122 mm, whose production started in 1963. Its three-legged carriage provides a 360-degree firing arc (the older D-20 has a two-legged carriage). The howitzer can fire fragmentation-high-explosive projectiles weighing 22 kg and shaped charge projectiles of similar weight. They have a slightly shorter range than the D-20, about 15.5 km. Moreover, the newer design is capable of faster firing, as its rate of fire is defined at a maximum of eight shots per minute.
