D-20

The D-20 is a Soviet 152 mm towed gun-howitzer developed in the early Cold War for divisional and army-level fire support. Its split-trail carriage, semi-automatic breech, and standard 17.4 km range made it a long-lived Warsaw Pact artillery system, and Ukrainian forces have documented captured Russian D-20s being turned back against Russian units during the Russia-Ukraine War.

Russia-Ukraine WarUkraine

Conflict side: Ukraine
Built by: No. 9 Uralmash Plant
Built in: Soviet Union

D-20, 152 mm towed gun-howitzer, Artillery

Profile

Type: 152 mm towed gun-howitzer
Conflict side: Ukraine
Origin: Soviet Union
Service note: Cold War design still used in the Russia-Ukraine War

artillery towed152 mm

Service History

In service: Entered service in 1955; retained by multiple operators into the 21st century
Used by: Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian Armed Forces, Soviet Army
Wars: Russia-Ukraine War

Production History

Designer: F. F. Petrov design bureau
Designed: Late 1940s to early 1950s
Built by: No. 9 Uralmash Plant
Built in: Soviet Union
Unit cost: Not publicly established
Produced: Early 1950s onward
Number built: About 3,000 D-20 guns, with additional licensed Type 66 production
Variants: Type 66, M1981, M1985

Specifications

Caliber: 152 mm
Crew: 8 to 10
Combat weight: 5.7 t
Barrel: 152 mm L/34 gun-howitzer with double-baffle muzzle brake
Maximum range: 17.4 km with standard ammunition; farther with rocket-assisted projectiles
Rate of fire: 5 to 6 rounds per minute maximum
Carriage: Two-wheel split-trail carriage, normally truck-towed

Conflict Usage

Russia-Ukraine War: Side: Ukraine
Ukrainian forces have used captured Russian D-20 152 mm gun-howitzers, including trophy weapons reported in Ukrainian service on the Kherson front in 2023.

D-20 Images

D-20, 152 mm towed gun-howitzer, Artillery - view 1

D-20, 152 mm towed gun-howitzer, Artillery - view 2

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Sources

D-20 (M1955) Russian 152mm Towed Gun-HowitzerPublisher: U.S. Army ODIN Worldwide Equipment Guide | Note: Supports general identification and background for the D-20 as a 152 mm towed gun-howitzer. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 152mm D-20Publisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports origin, producer, design background, variants, and technical specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 The Ukrainian Military Successfully Deploys Trophy D-20 Gun-Howitzer Against Russian ForcesPublisher: Defense Express | Note: Supports Russia-Ukraine War use by Ukrainian forces, including captured D-20 gun-howitzers deployed on the Kherson front. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 File: D-20 of the Ukrainian NavyPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing record for a Ukrainian Ministry of Defense photo reviewed as CC BY-SA 2.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 File: 152 mm Gun-howitzer D-20 2017-12-24Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Gallery image provenance and licensing record for a D-20 photograph under CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20