Fort Sill in Comanche County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Soviet D-20 152mm Field Howitzer

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

1. Soviet D-20 152mm Field Howitzer Marker

Inscription. The D-20 was the principal Soviet heavy-towed howitzer of the first half of the Cold War. It was developed after World War II as a replacement for the M1937 152mm Howitzer. The D-20 was introduced in 1955 and is also known as the M-1955. The D-20 uses the same carriage as the 122mm D-74 Field Gun. The weapon features rapid 360 degree traverse by means of a firing jack that folds up beneath the barrel. The split box section trails each have a caster wheel, which folds on top of the trail when in transit. The shield has an irregularly shaped top commonly found in Soviet designs. The weapon has a semi-automatic, vertical sliding wedge-type breechblock and fired variable-charge, separate loading ammunition. In addition to high explosive and armor-piercing, high-explosive rounds, it could also fire a chemical round. A crew of eight served the howitzer, which could fire up to six rounds per minute. The D-20 was widely exported to Soviet satellite countries. This weapon system has seen service with at least eight Soviet Bloc countries. This howitzer was a war trophy of the 6th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment from Operation

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Desert Storm.

Caliber - 6 in. - 152 mm
Weight - 12,430 lbs. - 5,650 kg
Range - 19,800 lbs. - 18,000 m
Shell Weight - 106 lbs. - 48 kg
Muzzle Velocity - 2,149 ft/sec. - 655 m/sec.
Elevation (-5 to + 63 degrees) - (-89 to +1,116 mils)
Traverse - 60 degrees - 1,066 mils
Rate of Fire - 4 rpm
CCN# 126996

Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 530.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm • War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.

Location. 34° 40.023′ N, 98° 23.198′ W. Marker is in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in Comanche County. It is at the intersection of Corral Road and Randolph Road, on the right when traveling west on Corral Road. The marker is located in the central section of Artillery Park at the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Sill OK 73503, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Kiowa Tribe,

in the Comanche Nation,

and in Southwest Oklahoma—Great Plains Country.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the

The side view of the Soviet D-20 152mm Field Howitzer and marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

2. The side view of the Soviet D-20 152mm Field Howitzer and marker

prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: U.S. M2A1/M101A1 105mm Towed Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); U.S. MGM-52C Lance Missile on Zero-Length Launcher (a few steps from this marker); Soviet D-44 85mm Field Gun (a few steps from this marker); "C-22" (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. M109 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); Dedicated to the Memory of SGM Ira Edward Whittaker (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. MGM-31A Pershing IA Missile (within shouting distance of this marker); "Killed in Action at FSB Rita, November 1, 1968" (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Sill.

More about this marker. Marker and Museum are located on Fort Sill, an active U.S. military installation.

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The museum is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access for Fort Sill.

Also see . . . U.S. Army Artillery Museum. (Submitted on February 23, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 433 times since then and 118 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 23, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.