130mm Type-54 (M-30)

The Type 54 is a Chinese 130mm towed field gun, a direct copy of the Soviet M-46. It is renowned for its exceptional long-range capabilities and robust construction, making it a popular export artillery piece.

Developed during the mid-1950s as part of China's post-Korean War modernization program, this heavy artillery piece was produced to provide the People's Liberation Army with a standardized, long-range counter-battery capability based on proven Soviet designs. It officially entered service in the late 1950s, quickly becoming the backbone of China's divisional and corps-level artillery regiments. The weapon saw extensive combat during the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979, where its superior range allowed Chinese forces to dominate artillery duels, and it was later exported widely, seeing action in the Iran-Iraq War. While largely phased out of active front-line PLA service in favor of modern 155mm systems, it remains in reserve storage and continues to serve in several militaries worldwide.