It is a robust piece that focuses on the essential features of a towed field gun suitable for all conditions.

The 122 mm (4.8 in) (originally 48 lines) calibre was adopted by Russia in the early 20th century, becoming very important to Soviet artillery during the Second World War.

The latter is evidenced by the very effective HEAT shell, the low silhouette of the piece, its wide and rapid top-traverse and its shield.

The gun remains a mainstay of artillery forces in developing countries and was deployed in the war in Afghanistan.

The three-legged mobile mount is unusual for field artillery, with stabilizers that are clamped together for towing and deployed when in action.

Similar mounts were a feature of several 76 mm (3.0 in) pre-war (1931–1935) universal (both field and anti-aircraft) guns designed by Leningrad's Kirov Plant (L-1, L-2 and L-3).

Other examples were the 1939 French 47SA39 APX, and 1943 German 105 mm (4.1 in) light field howitzers designs by Skoda and Krupp; neither entered service.

The Bofors 105 mm (4.1 in) L28 Light Field Howitzer 4140[11] was similarly arranged with four legs and did enter Swedish service.

Compared to the M-30, the new howitzer had a significantly longer 35 calibre gun barrel, just short of being a gun-howitzer by Soviet definition.

Effective stabilisation length is a fundamental aspect of a gun mount, and legs 120° apart need to be longer than those with a smaller angle.

The pair of large tires are suspended on a single trailing arm; the maximum towing speed is 60 km/h (37 mph) on the road.

A sliding block breech was adopted instead of the M-30's pre-1914 screw pattern, giving a slight increase in the rate of fire.

The D-30 could fire the older M-30 ammunition; however, new shells were also introduced, eventually including a rocket-assisted projectile with a range of 21.9 km (13.6 mi).

A more effective High Explosive (HE) shell was developed, as well as smoke, illumination, and chemical filled projectiles.

In keeping with Soviet doctrine, the anti-tank role is important; there is a HEAT shell capable of penetrating 460 mm (18 in) of steel armour plate.

Based on reloading speeds of similar guns using separate charges, solo re-laying, and given a stable emplacement, semi-automatic breech and no long lanyard, (examples are the 25-pdr and 105 mm (4.1 in) L118), and assuming concurrent lay adjustment during reloads, then it probably is when in the hands of a competent detachment.

The D-30 is noted for simplicity of maintenance by its users; reputedly, there are no special tools, and all jobs can be done with a wrench and large hammer.

However, like any other gun, routine maintenance is essential, and Western troops in Afghanistan have reported Afghan operated D-30s having problems with shells sticking in the barrel due to lack of cleaning.

There is more self-propelled versions developed by other countries by mounting D-30 on some tracked or wheeled vehicles at the disposal of their armed forces.