2S19 Msta

The 2S19 "Msta-S" (Russian: Мста, after the Msta River) is a self-propelled 152 mm howitzer designed by Russia/Soviet Union, which entered service in 1989 as the successor to the SO-152. The vehicle is based on the T-80 tank hull, but is powered by the T-72's diesel engine.

Development

The Msta is a modern howitzer designed for deployment either as an unarmored towed gun, or to be fitted in armored self-propelled artillery mountings. Current production of the towed model is designated Msta-B, while the self-propelled model is the Msta-S (also known by the GRAU index 2S19).

Development of the 2S19 started in 1980 under the project name Ferma. The prototype was known as Ob'yekt 317. The 2S19's standard equipment consists of a semi-automatic laying system 1P22, an automatic loader, an NBC protection system, passive night vision device for the driver, a wading kit, a dozer blade, a smoke generator and 81mm smoke launchers, 1V116 intercom system and a 16 kW generator AP-18D. In 2008 the Russian armed forces ordered an improved model with an automated fire control system.

The 2A64 ordnance of the 2S19 can fire the following types of ammunition, among others: HE (24.7 km), HEAT-FS, HE-BB (28.9 km), HERA (36 km), smoke, chemical, tactical nuclear, illumination and cargo (ICM). The laser-guided round “Krasnopol” (of the 9K25 system) can also be launched, as well as the shorter "Krasnopol-M” which fits into the automatic loader.

Operational Use

Msta-S howitzers were used by Russian Army to deliver artillery strikes against Chechen separatists during the Second Chechen War.^[1]

Msta-S howitzers have also been used in the War in Donbass by the Ukrainian Army as well as pro-Russian rebels who captured one machine during the conflict.^[2]

Operators

Map of 2S19 operators in blue with former operators in red

Current operators

•  Azerbaijan - 18 ^[3]
•  Belarus - 13 ^[4]
•  Ethiopia - 12 ^[5]
•  Georgia- 1^[6]
•  Russia - 550 2S19 and 2S19M1, 108 2S19M2 since 2014. 42 2S19M2 on order since 2016.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]} Deliveries are underway.^[14]
•  Ukraine - 40 ^[15]
•  Venezuela - Received a number of Msta-S.^[16]
•  Morocco - Received an undisclosed number of Msta-S.^[17][18]

Former operators

•  Soviet Union

Specifications

Msta-S specifications provided by manufacturer

• Range:
  • 29 km (18 mi) base-bleed
  • 36 km (22 mi) rocket-assisted
• Rate of fire: 6-8 rounds per minute
• Weapon elevation: -4° to +68°
• Weapon traverse: 360°
• Deployment time: 22 minutes
• Unit of fire: 50 rounds

Variants

• 152 mm howitzer 2A65 - a towed version of the same gun.
• 1K17 Szhatie - a "laser tank" armed with a battery of lasers meant to disable optoelectronic systems; uses Msta-S chassis and turret.
• 2S19M1 (2000) - Improved version with automatic laying system and Glonass.
• 2S19M2 "Msta-SM" (2013) - Improved version equipped with a new automatic fire control system which increases the rate of fire. Digital electronic maps are now available which significantly speeds up the terrain orientation in difficult geographical conditions and allows performing faster and more efficiently firing missions.
• 2S19M1-155 (2006) - 155mm export version of the 2S19M1, fitted with an L/52 gun with a range of 40+ km.
• 2S27 "Msta-K" - Wheeled variant (K = kolyosnij), based on a 8x8 truck chassis. There were several different prototypes, including one based on a KrAZ-ChR-3130 and two based on the Ural-5323 (with and without turret).
• 2S30 "Iset" - Improved version, prototype only.
• 2S35 "Koalitsiya-SV" - Project for a new artillery system for the Russian land forces (SV = sukhoputniye voyska). Early prototypes consisted of a 2S19 chassis with modified turret, fitted with an over-and-under dual autoloaded 152mm howitzer. Development of this variant was abandoned in favour of an entirely new artillery system using the same designation.^[19]

Similar Vehicles

• Archer Artillery System
• AS-90
• AHS Krab
• Panzerhaubitze 2000
• Type 99 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
• K-9 Thunder
• T-155 Fırtına
• M109A6 Paladin
• PLZ-05
• 2S3 Akatsiya
• 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2S19 Msta-S.

• 2S19 152-mm Self-Propelled Howitzer
• 152-mm Self-propelled Howitzer 2S19 "MSTA-S"
• Arms Systems Page