F-521 high-explosive shell

Also known as

F-521
53-F-521
Ф-521
53-Ф-521
F-521 mortar shell
53-F-521 mortar high-explosive shell

F-521, also indexed as 53-F-521, is a Soviet 152 mm mortar high-explosive shell tied to the 152 mm mortar model 1931 and later firing-table corrections for the 152 mm howitzer model 1909/30. The 1909/30 table line gives the shell a 38.3 kg projectile mass, 7.7 kg explosive fill, RGM-2 fuze, and 8.35 km listed maximum range, while D-1 ammunition notes explicitly exclude 53-F-521 from D-1, M-10, and ML-20 firing.

F-521 high-explosive shell, 152 mm high-explosive shell, Munitions

Image source: 152 mm shell RUK-museo.JPG

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: Soviet Union
Built by: Not publicly identified
Type: 152 mm high-explosive shell
Service note: Interwar Soviet artillery ammunition

Specifications

Caliber: 152 mm
Projectile class: Mortar high-explosive shell
Table designation: 53-F-521 / F-521
Documented firing table: 152 mm howitzer model 1909/30 correction table
Original application: 152 mm mortar model 1931
Projectile mass: 38.3 kg in the 1909/30 table
Explosive fill: 7.7 kg
Propelling charge: 54-Zh-534
Fuze: RGM-2
Muzzle velocity: 380 m/s in the 1909/30 table
Maximum range: 8.35 km in the 1909/30 table
Compatibility caution: D-1, M-10, and ML-20 firing prohibited in D-1 notes

Firing Compatibility

F-521 is best treated as a legacy 152 mm mortar shell rather than a generic D-1 howitzer round. The 1909/30 howitzer table records a 53-F-521 firing entry with charge, fuze, velocity, and range data, while D-1 ammunition notes state that 53-F-521 was not to be fired from the D-1, M-10, or ML-20.

Supported table entry

The 152 mm howitzer model 1909/30 table lists 53-F-521 with the 54-Zh-534 charge, RGM-2 fuze, 380 m/s muzzle velocity, and 8.35 km maximum range.

Designation context

GRAU index tables list F-521 as a mortar high-explosive projectile, and the National Electronic Library records a dedicated 1946 correction table for F-521 firing from the 1909/30 howitzer.

Excluded later systems

D-1 notes identify 53-F-521 as an exception that was prohibited for D-1, M-10, and ML-20 firing.

Sources: National Electronic Library F-521 correction table record; GRAU index tables F-521 entry; 152 mm howitzer model 1909/30 ammunition table; 152 mm howitzer M1943 D-1 ammunition notes.

Media

F-521 high-explosive shell Images

F-521 high-explosive shell, 152 mm high-explosive shell, Munitions - view 1 — Source: 152 mm shell production SA-Kuva 88285.jpg

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Sources

National Electronic Library F-521 correction table recordPublisher: National Electronic Library | Note: Supports the existence and bibliographic details of the 1946 correction table for firing the F-521 high-explosive mortar shell from the 152 mm howitzer model 1909/30. | Accessed: 2026-07-02 GRAU index tables F-521 entryPublisher: Internet Archive | Note: Supports the F-521 designation as a mortar high-explosive projectile and the 54-Zh-534 charge as a charge for 152 mm howitzers model 1909/30 and 1910/37. | Accessed: 2026-07-02 152 mm howitzer model 1909/30 ammunition tablePublisher: Wikipedia | Note: Supports the 53-F-521 listing in the 152 mm howitzer model 1909/30 ammunition table, including the 54-Zh-534 charge, 38.3 kg projectile mass, 7.7 kg fill, RGM-2 fuze, 380 m/s muzzle velocity, and 8.35 km listed range. | Accessed: 2026-07-02 152 mm howitzer M1943 D-1 ammunition notesPublisher: Wikipedia | Note: Supports the compatibility caution that 53-F-521 was excluded from firing in the D-1, M-10, and ML-20 artillery systems. | Accessed: 2026-07-02 152 mm howitzer model 1909/30 historical sketchPublisher: Military Wikireading | Note: Supports broader 1909/30 howitzer service context and cites Soviet 1909/30 service manuals and firing tables as the underlying technical literature. | Accessed: 2026-07-02 152 mm shell RUK-museo.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the Soviet 152 mm howitzer shell photographed in the RUK museum. | Accessed: 2026-07-02 152 mm shell production SA-Kuva 88285.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the 152 mm shell production photograph in the Finnish Wartime Photograph Archive. | Accessed: 2026-07-02