Artillery

ATS-59-122

Also known as
  • 122 mm ATS-59-122
  • ATS-59 D-30 122 mm
  • ATS-59/122
  • ATS-59G 122 mm artillery conversion

The ATS-59-122 is a rare Yemeni self-propelled artillery conversion that pairs an ATS-59-family tracked artillery tractor with a 122 mm D-30-type gun. Its Yemen Civil War record is source-limited: Oryx identifies the vehicle in pre-war Yemeni Army self-propelled artillery stocks, while separate sources support the Soviet/Polish chassis lineage and distinguish related North Korean Tokchon ATS-59-based guns from the Yemeni conversion.

ATS-59-122, Yemeni 122 mm tracked self-propelled artillery conversion, Artillery
Image source: Handbook Of Pre-War Yemeni Fighting Vehicles

Role in Conflicts

2014 Yemen Civil War
Fire Support

Oryx lists the 122 mm ATS-59-122 among pre-war Yemeni Army self-propelled artillery available to Yemeni battlefield parties after the 2014-2015 Houthi takeover; separate reporting identifies Houthi use of related North Korean Tokchon ATS-59-based self-propelled guns, but direct open-source evidence for ATS-59-122 operational use remains limited.

Role details
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Yemeni conversion on an ATS-59-family Soviet tracked artillery tractor chassis
Type
Yemeni 122 mm tracked self-propelled artillery conversion
Service note
Cold War chassis adapted for the 2014 Yemen Civil War
Designer
Unknown conversion designer; ATS-59G developed by SKB of the KMZ plant
Designed
Unknown conversion date; ATS-59G development followed the original ATS-59 and entered service around 1970
Unit cost
Unknown
Produced
Unknown conversion period; ATS-59G chassis production 1969-1987
Number built
Unknown

Specifications

Armament
122 mm D-30-type howitzer on an ATS-59-family chassis; exact Yemeni conversion details remain sparsely documented
Chassis
ATS-59-family tracked artillery tractor chassis; ATS-59G reference data shows a five-roadwheel layout
Engine
ATS-59G reference chassis uses an A-650G V12 diesel rated at about 300 hp
Mobility
ATS-59G reference chassis road speed about 45 km/h and range about 350 km, or 500 km with auxiliary fuel; ATS-59-122 performance is not separately published
Protection
Soft-skin artillery tractor chassis with no armor on the reference ATS-59G
Crew
Unknown for the Yemeni conversion
Conversion country
Yemen, based on Klüser's origin/operator listing and Oryx's Yemeni inventory context
Conversion Context

The useful reading of ATS-59-122 is as a small Yemeni conversion rather than a fully documented serial self-propelled gun family. The chassis and gun relationships are better sourced than the conversion workshop, production date, or wartime unit assignment.

Yemeni vehicle

Oryx lists the 122 mm ATS-59-122 in pre-war Yemeni Army self-propelled artillery stocks, and Klüser identifies it as a Yemen-origin ATS-59 plus D-30 122 mm type.

Reference chassis

WeaponSystems.net documents the ATS-59G as a Soviet-origin prime mover built by KMZ/Kurgan and ZM Labedy with a five-roadwheel tracked chassis.

Adjacent lineage

Tokchon and other North Korean ATS-59-based guns show a separate conversion tradition; they should not be treated as confirmed ATS-59-122 variants without direct sourcing.

Sources: Handbook Of Pre-War Yemeni Fighting Vehicles; Modelling vehicle history - ATS-59-122; ATS-59G; Egyptian ATS-59G 122 mm MLRS; Tokchon Self-Propelled Gun Platform.

Variants

Open references treat ATS-59-122 as a Yemeni conversion on the ATS-59 chassis family. Related ATS-59-based North Korean Tokchon guns are adjacent conversion history, not confirmed variants of the Yemeni vehicle.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
122 mm ATS-59-122Yemeni D-30-type self-propelled conversion

Klüser identifies the entry as an ATS-59 base vehicle with D-30 122 mm armament and Yemen as operator and origin country.

Sources: Modelling vehicle history - ATS-59-122

Mounted Gun
Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
D-30 122 mm howitzer, 122 mm towed howitzer, ArtilleryD-30 122 mm howitzer122 mm howitzer

Klüser identifies ATS-59-122 as an ATS-59 base vehicle with D-30 122 mm armament, making the D-30 the source-backed gun relationship for the conversion.

Sources: Modelling vehicle history - ATS-59-122

Compatible Ammunition
Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
OF-462, 122 mm high-explosive fragmentation shell, MunitionsOF-462122 mm HE shell

Klüser identifies ATS-59-122 as D-30-based, while STV Group documents HE-462/OF-462-type cartridges as 122 mm ammunition for D-30 gun-howitzers.

Sources: Modelling vehicle history - ATS-59-122, Cartridge 122 mm HE with full charge - STV GROUP, Ammunition 122 mm for cannon D-30 and 2S1 Gvozdika - STV Group

Timeline

ATS-59-122 Key Events

  1. ATS-59G production period begins

    WeaponSystems.net lists ATS-59G production from 1969 to 1987 by KMZ/Kurgan and ZM Labedy, giving the chassis-production background for later artillery conversions.

    Sources: ATS-59G

  2. Yemen inventory listing published

    Oryx listed the 122 mm ATS-59-122 among pre-war Yemeni Army self-propelled artillery vehicles available to Yemeni battlefield parties after the Houthi takeover.

    Sources: Handbook Of Pre-War Yemeni Fighting Vehicles

  3. ATS-59G conversion context documented

    Tank Encyclopedia described ATS-59G-based artillery adaptations and noted Yemen's 122 mm artillery mounting alongside separate North Korean Tokchon lineage.

    Sources: Egyptian ATS-59G 122 mm MLRS

Media

ATS-59-122 Images

ATS-59-122, Yemeni 122 mm tracked self-propelled artillery conversion, Artillery - view 1
Source: ATS-59G
Related Weapon Systems
Sakr-6 multiple rocket launcher, Light 122 mm multiple rocket launcher, ArtilleryArtillerySakr-6 multiple rocket launcherLight 122 mm multiple rocket launcherThe Sakr-6 is a light six-tube 122 mm multiple rocket launcher associated with Egypt's Sakr/Grad-compatible rocket-artillery family. Oryx lists the type in both pre-war Yemeni Army inventories and later Houthi-held Yemen Civil War equipment, while technical sources support only family-level details for compatible Sakr and Russian-pattern Grad rockets rather than a complete Sakr-6 datasheet or a verified Sakr-6 firing incident.

Sources

Modelling vehicle history - ATS-59-122Publisher: Klüser | Note: Identifies ATS-59-122 as an ATS-59 D-30 122 mm type, supporting the mounted-gun relationship to the D-30. | Accessed: 2026-07-04122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)Publisher: Wikipedia | Note: Describes the D-30 122 mm howitzer and its ammunition context, supporting the ATS-59-122 mount and compatible-ammunition relationship. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Handbook Of Pre-War Yemeni Fighting VehiclesPublisher: Oryx | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War context: 122mm ATS-59-122 was in Yemeni Army service before the 2014-2015 Houthi takeover and listed as equipment available to Yemeni parties on the battlefield; also supports the current image as provenance, though no visible reuse license is provided. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Tokchon Self-Propelled Gun PlatformPublisher: MilitaryFactory.com | Note: Supports background on related ATS-59-based North Korean Tokchon self-propelled guns and reported Houthi use of that related family; it does not independently identify the Yemeni ATS-59-122 conversion in combat. | Accessed: 2026-07-04ATS-59GPublisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports ATS-59G chassis background, manufacturer, production period, mobility specifications, and image provenance for the reference chassis gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Egyptian ATS-59G 122 mm MLRSPublisher: Tank Encyclopedia | Note: Supports background on ATS-59G artillery conversions and notes that Yemen mounted 122 mm artillery on ATS-59G chassis. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Cartridge 122 mm HE with full charge - STV GROUPPublisher: STV Group | Note: Supports the HE-462/OF-462-equivalent full-charge cartridge and its D-30 firing context for the ammunition relationship. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Ammunition 122 mm for cannon D-30 and 2S1 Gvozdika - STV GroupPublisher: STV Group | Note: Supports D-30 and 2S1 122 mm ammunition-family context for the OF-462 relationship. | Accessed: 2026-07-04