Munitions

3OF56 122 mm HE-Frag Projectile

Also known as
  • 3OF56
  • 3OF-56
  • 3ОФ56
  • 3OF56 122 mm Frag-HE Rocket Assisted Projectile

3OF56 is a Soviet-era 122 mm high-explosive fragmentation artillery projectile for D-30/2A18-family guns and the 2A31 gun of the 2S1 Gvozdika. Public references do not describe the designation consistently: Fenix Insight identifies it as a nose-fuzed, boat-tailed, spin-stabilised HE-frag projectile, while U.S. WEG/FAS tables place a 3OF-56 complete projectile weight in a rocket-assisted ammunition row for the D-30A and 2S1.

3OF56 122 mm HE-Frag Projectile, 122 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile, Munitions
Image source: 122 mm OF-462.jpg
Profile / Specs

Specifications

Caliber
122 mm
Type
High-explosive fragmentation projectile
Projectile design
Nose-fuzed, boat-tailed, spin-stabilised artillery projectile
Projectile mass
About 21.76 kg
Explosive fill
About 4.05 kg of A-IX-2
Fuze compatibility
RGM-2/RGM-2M point-detonating fuzes are documented with 122 mm HE-frag projectiles including 3OF56 and 3OF56-1
Muzzle velocity
About 690 m/s in 2A31 ammunition references
Range references
15.2 km in 2A31 ammunition summaries; 21.9 km where U.S. WEG/FAS tables list 3OF-56 under rocket-assisted ammunition
Compatibility
Compatible with Soviet/Russian 122 mm artillery pieces including the D-30/2A18 family and the 2A31 gun used by the 2S1 Gvozdika
Variants

Open 2A31 ammunition references group 3OF56 and 3OF56-1 as closely related 122 mm high-explosive fragmentation shells; public sources do not give enough detail to separate the -1 change with confidence.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
3OF56-1122 mm HE-fragmentation projectile variant

Mortar Investments lists 3OF56-1 alongside 3OF56 in the 2A31 ammunition set with an RGM-2M contact fuze.

Sources: 2S1 Gvozdika Ammunition - Mortar Investments

Firing Weapons

The designation is documented in ammunition tables for Soviet/Russian 122 mm howitzers rather than as a stand-alone guided or powered weapon system.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
D-30 122 mm howitzer, 122 mm towed howitzer, ArtilleryD-30 122 mm howitzer122 mm towed howitzer

WEG and FAS D-30 reference tables list 3OF-56 as a 21.76 kg complete projectile in the 122 mm ammunition set for the D-30A/2A18M family.

Sources: Worldwide Equipment Guide, D-30 2A18M 122-mm Towed Howitzer - FAS

2S1 Gvozdika, 122 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer, Artillery2S1 Gvozdika122 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer

The Worldwide Equipment Guide lists 3OF56 as the 21.76 kg complete projectile for the 2A31 cannon on the 2S1 Gvozdika, while Mortar Investments lists 3OF56 and 3OF56-1 among 2A31 high-explosive shells.

Sources: Worldwide Equipment Guide, 2S1 Gvozdika Ammunition - Mortar Investments

Reference Caution

The public sources consulted agree on 122 mm D-30/2S1 compatibility and a 21.76 kg projectile weight, but they differ on whether the 3OF56 label itself denotes the rocket-assisted round or the improved HE-fragmentation projectile in the same ammunition family.

Sources: Worldwide Equipment Guide, 3OF56 Projectile - METIS, 2S1 Gvozdika Ammunition - Mortar Investments, D-30 2A18M 122-mm Towed Howitzer - FAS

3OF56 In Open References

Open references agree that 3OF56 belongs to the Soviet/Russian 122 mm artillery ammunition family, but they label the designation in slightly different ways. The table below keeps that source disagreement visible.

ReferenceHow it describes 3OF56What that supports
Fenix Insight METISSoviet-era 122 mm nose-fuzed, boat-tailed, spin-stabilised HE-fragmentation projectile.Core identity, origin, design features, and approximate 1980s development/service timing.
U.S. WEG / FAS3OF-56 appears as a 21.76 kg complete projectile in the 122 mm Frag-HE rocket-assisted ammunition row.D-30A/2S1 compatibility, projectile weight, and the reason some references treat the designation as a RAP entry.
Mortar Investments3OF56 and 3OF56-1 are listed among 2A31 high-explosive shells with RGM-2M contact fuzing.2S1/2A31 compatibility, the -1 designation, and the 690 m/s muzzle-velocity context.
GICHD Ukraine EO guideRGM-2 fuzes are described with common 122 mm HE-frag artillery ammunition such as OF-462 or 3OF56.Fuze context and humanitarian ordnance-recognition relevance without proving a standalone conflict-use row.
Timeline

3OF56 122 mm HE-Frag Projectile Key Events

  1. Development Period Reported

    Fenix Insight describes 3OF56 as a Soviet-era projectile thought to have been developed in the early 1980s.

    Sources: 3OF56 Projectile - METIS

  2. Approximate Soviet Service Entry

    Fenix Insight places the projectile's introduction into Soviet service around 1985.

    Sources: 3OF56 Projectile - METIS

  3. U.S. Reference Tables List 3OF-56

    U.S. WEG and FAS D-30 reference tables list a 21.76 kg 3OF-56 complete projectile under 122 mm Frag-HE rocket-assisted ammunition for D-30A/2S1-family guns.

    Sources: Worldwide Equipment Guide, D-30 2A18M 122-mm Towed Howitzer - FAS

  4. Ukraine EOD Guide Reference

    The GICHD Ukraine explosive-ordnance guide identifies RGM-2 fuzes as routinely used with common 122 mm HE-frag artillery ammunition such as OF-462 or 3OF56.

    Sources: Explosive Ordnance Guide for Ukraine - GICHD

Media

3OF56 122 mm HE-Frag Projectile Images

3OF56 122 mm HE-Frag Projectile, 122 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile, Munitions - view 1
Source: 122 H 38 shell.JPG
Related Weapon Systems
3OF50 High-Explosive Fragmentation rocket-assisted projectile, 120 mm rocket-assisted HE-fragmentation projectile, MunitionsMunitions3OF50 High-Explosive Fragmentation rocket-assisted projectile120 mm rocket-assisted HE-fragmentation projectileThe 3OF50 is a Soviet-era 120 mm rocket-assisted high-explosive fragmentation projectile for Nona-family gun-mortars such as the 2S9 Nona and 2S23 Nona-SVK. Specialist ammunition references describe a spin-stabilised, nose-fuzed projectile with an A-IX-2-filled warhead and integral rocket motor, while Ukraine explosive-ordnance identification material lists the round among munitions discovered on Ukrainian territory.
122 mm artillery round, 122 mm artillery ammunition, MunitionsMunitions122 mm artillery round122 mm artillery ammunitionThe 122 mm artillery round is a family-level label for Soviet-origin medium-caliber artillery ammunition used by D-30-type towed howitzers and 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers. Manufacturer and military references describe separate-loading HE projectiles with full or reduced propelling charges, while U.S. security-assistance reporting documents 122 mm artillery rounds among ammunition committed to Ukraine and TWZ reporting describes a pair of 122 mm rounds as a standard AQ-400 Scythe payload.
3VOF54 / 3OF49 high-explosive fragmentation round, 120 mm rifled gun-mortar HE-fragmentation semi-fixed round and projectile family, MunitionsMunitions3VOF54 / 3OF49 high-explosive fragmentation round120 mm rifled gun-mortar HE-fragmentation semi-fixed round and projectile familyThe 3OF49 is the HE-fragmentation projectile used in Soviet and Russian Nona-family 120 mm semi-fixed ammunition. METIS distinguishes the projectile from complete rounds: 3VOF54 combines 3OF49 with the 3V35 impact fuze, while 3VOF54-1 uses the AR-5 radio/proximity fuze. Belspetsvneshtechnika lists both fuze configurations for the 2S9 Nona-S, and VPK attributes Nona ammunition development to Basalt.
M106 203 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile, 203 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile, MunitionsMunitionsM106 203 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile203 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectileThe M106 is a U.S. 8-inch, or roughly 203 mm, high-explosive fragmentation projectile built for American heavy artillery such as the M110. Open munition references describe a nose-fuzed, boat-tailed steel shell with TNT or Composition B filling, while Ukrainian and defense-reporting sources document M106 projectiles being adapted to Ukrainian 2S7 Pion guns during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War as Soviet-pattern 203 mm stocks became scarce.

Sources

Worldwide Equipment GuidePublisher: TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate | Note: Supports the 2S1 Gvozdika's 2A31 gun ammunition list, including 122 mm Frag-HE Rocket Assisted ammunition and the 3OF-56 complete projectile weight of 21.76 kg. | Accessed: 2026-06-293OF56 Projectile - METISPublisher: Fenix Insight | Note: Supports the 3OF56 as a Soviet-era-developed, Russian Federation, 122 mm high-explosive-fragmentation projectile; the page also states it was developed in the early 1980s and introduced around 1985. | Accessed: 2026-06-292S1 Gvozdika Ammunition - Mortar InvestmentsPublisher: Mortar Investments | Note: Supports the 2S1 Gvozdika's 2A31 gun ammunition list, including 3OF56 and 3OF56-1 high-explosive fragmentation shells and their 690 m/s muzzle velocity. | Accessed: 2026-06-29D-30 2A18M 122-mm Towed Howitzer - FASPublisher: Federation of American Scientists | Note: Supports D-30 compatibility context and the public-reference ambiguity: the FAS D-30 table lists 3OF-56 as a 21.76 kg projectile in a 122 mm Frag-HE rocket-assisted ammunition row with a 21,900 m maximum range. | Accessed: 2026-06-29PM CAS D-30 Product PagePublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports D-30 family context and the distinction between standard 15.4 km and assisted 21.9 km range figures for the firing weapon. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Explosive Ordnance Guide for Ukraine - GICHDPublisher: Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining | Note: Supports fuze context for 3OF56 by describing RGM-2 fuzes as routinely used with common 122 mm HE-frag artillery ammunition such as OF-462 or 3OF56; not used as a direct conflict-use source. | Accessed: 2026-06-29122 mm OF-462.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a representative 122 mm artillery shell photograph; the visible marking is OF-462 rather than 3OF56. | Accessed: 2026-06-29122 H 38 shell.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a representative 122 mm shell image where an exact open-license 3OF56 image was not available. | Accessed: 2026-06-29