Russian Military Exercises in Crimea

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation has released photographs of military exercises in Crimea, Southern Military District, April 4. The images show parachute landings, beach assault with specialist landing craft, tank firing, mine clearance and airborne troops in small arms drills. Airborne units stationed in the Southern Military District are 56th Guards Air Assault Brigade (Kamyshin) and 7th Guards Airborne Division at (Novorossiysk). Pictured here are soldiers firing the 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30).

Military Units Featured

Ground Forces of the Russian Federation

The Ground Forces of the Russian Federation (Russian: Сухопутные войска Российской Федерации, transliteration: Sukhoputnye voyska Rossiyskoy Federatsii) are the land forces of the Russian Armed Forces, formed from parts of the collapsing Soviet Army in 1992.

Military Equipment Featured

122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)

The 122-mm howitzer D-30 (GRAU index 2A18) is a Soviet howitzer that first entered service in 1960. It is a robust piece that focuses on the essential features of a towed field gun suitable for all conditions. The D-30 has a maximum range of 15.4 kilometers, or over 21 km using RAP ammunition. With its striking three-leg mounting, the D-30 can be rapidly traversed through 360 degrees. Although no longer manufactured in the nations of the former Soviet Union, the D-30 is still manufactured internationally and is in service in more than 60 countries’ armed forces.

Photographer

Unknown. Copyright Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. Used with permission.