Footage from a russian propaganda report has surfaced, showing enemy forces using 122-mm D-74 cannons. These weapons, operated by the 238th Artillery Brigade of the Southern Military District of the russian Armed Forces, were employed in battles on the Kurakhove axis.
The video also reveals that russian forces are firing North Korean copies of Soviet OF-472 shells from these D-74 guns, likely due to the russian defense industry's inability to produce such ammunition. At the same time, the emergence of this footage raises an important question: where did the russians obtain these D-74 cannons?
Read more: Which Country Is a Potential Supplier of the 122-mm D-74 Towed Gun to russia?
The first appearance of D-74 guns in russian hands was noted in October 2024. Even then, questions arose about their origin, as existing records suggested that the russian army did not have D-74s in its storage facilities. Moreover, these cannons were believed to have been sold for export by the early 1980s, primarily to North Korea.
This led to speculation that russia might have received D-74s as aid from North Korea, potentially to offset artillery losses. Notably, the 238th Artillery Brigade, part of the Southern Military District, had previously operated towed howitzers like the Msta-B.
An alternative explanation is that these guns were sourced from russian military storage, specifically from unregistered reserves. In this scenario, some D-74s may have been conserved since the Soviet era but were omitted from public records, resulting in an informational gap.
It is also worth noting that China once manufactured D-74 guns under the designation Type-59. It is plausible that the russians might be using Chinese-origin guns, adding another layer of complexity to the issue.
Specifications of the D-74 Cannons
The D-74, first produced in the 1950s, has the following specifications:
- Weight: 5.5 tons
- Rate of fire: 6-7 rounds per minute
- Maximum range: up to 23.9 kilometers
- Crew: up to 10 personnel
Read more: Ukrainian Pyrotechnicians Dismantle Armed russian Geran-2 Drone in Kyiv Region (Photos)
