2S19 Msta-S

The 2S19 Msta-S is a 152.4 mm self-propelled howitzer designed and manufactured by Uraltransmash in the Soviet Union and later in Russia, which entered service in 1989 as the successor to the 2S3 Akatsiya. The vehicle has the running gear of the T-80, but is powered by the T-72's diesel engine.[4]

2S19 Msta-S
A 2S19M2 Msta-S during a rehearsal of the 2014 Moscow Victory Day Parade held in Alabino
TypeSelf-propelled howitzer
Place of originSoviet Union/Russia
Service history
In service1989–present
Used bySee § Operators
WarsSecond Chechen War
Russo-Ukrainian War
Second Nagorno-Karabakh War
Production history
DesignerUraltransmash
Designed1980
ManufacturerUraltransmash
Produced1988–present
No. built~1,130 (est. 1988–2019, inc. prototypes)[1]
Specifications
Mass42 tonnes (93,000 lb)
Length7.15 m (23 ft 5 in)
Width3.38 m (11 ft 1 in)
Height2.99 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew5
Elevation−4° to +68°
Traverse360°
Rate of fire2S19: 6–8 rounds/min
2S19M2: 10 rounds/min
Maximum firing rangeStandard round: 24.7 km (15.3 mi)
Base bleed: 29 km (18 mi)
RAP: 36 km (22 mi)[2]
Armour15 mm all-around[3]
Main
armament
152 mm 2A64 L47-caliber howitzer
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun
EngineDiesel V-84A
840 hp (630 kW)
Power/weight20 hp/tonne
SuspensionTorsion bar
Operational
range
500 km (310 mi)
Maximum speed 60 km/h (37 mph)
Msta-S on the streets of Moscow
Msta-S at the 2013 tank biathlon

Development

The Msta-S (also known by the GRAU index 2S19) bears the Msta (Russian: Мста, after the river Msta) howitzer, which was designed for deployment either on a self-propelled vehicle or as a towed gun. The 2S19 Msta-S is the armoured self-propelled howitzer, while the 2A65 Msta-B is an unarmoured towed gun.

Development of the 2S19 started in 1980 under the project name Ferma. The prototype was known as Obiekt 316. 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 vehicle snorkel, a dozer blade, a smoke generator and 81 mm 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.

Specifications

Msta-S specifications provided by manufacturer

  • Range:
  • 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
  • 1K17 Szhatie – a "laser tank" armed with a battery of lasers meant to disable optoelectronic systems; based on the Msta-S.[5]
  • 2S19M1 (unveiled in 2000, first deliveries in 2007) – Improved fire-control system and added GLONASS antenna. Modernised V-84AMS engine.[5]
  • 2S19M2 or 2S33 Msta-SM2 (2013) – Improved version currently in production equipped with a new automatic fire-control system which increases the rate of fire to 10 rounds per minute. 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.[6] The 2S33 Msta-SM2 howitzer is fitted with a new 2A79 152 mm/L60 ordnance that has improved ballistics. It can fire ammunition with more propellant charges and with a higher breech pressure than the original 2S19 Msta-S. The gun is longer and has a heavier barrel. As a result, it has a greater range of fire. Maximum range of fire with standard HE-FRAG shells is 30 km (19 mi) and 40 km (25 mi) with rocket-assisted shells.[7] Its range is reportedly up to 80 km (50 mi).[8]
  • 2S19M1-155 (2006) – 155 mm export version of the 2S19M1, fitted with an L/52 gun with a range of more than 40 km (25 mi). Modernised in 2020.[9] A modernised version for hot climates has been tested in India as of August 2022.[10]
  • 2S21 Msta-K – Wheeled variant, based on an eight-wheel truck chassis. It used the 2A67 gun, a variant of the 2A65 modified for use from wheeled platforms. There were several different prototypes, including one based on the Ural-5323 and one on the KrAZ-6316. The project was abandoned in 1987.[5]
  • 2S19M (also known as 2S30 Iset and 2S33 Msta-SM) – Project for a version with improved range and rate of fire, easier maintenance and optimised manufacturing process. Started between the 1990s and the early 2000s, but quickly abandoned in favour of the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV.[5]
  • 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV – Project for a new artillery system for the Russian Ground Forces (SV stands for "sukhoputniye voyska"). Early prototypes consisted of a 2S19 chassis with modified turret, fitted with an over-and-under dual autoloaded 152 mm howitzer. Development of this variant was abandoned in favour of an entirely new artillery system using the same designation.[11]

Operational use

Msta-S howitzers were used by the Russian Ground Forces to deliver artillery strikes against Chechen separatists during the Second Chechen War.[12]

Msta-S howitzers have been used in the Russo-Ukrainian War by the pro-Russian separatists who captured one machine during the conflict.[13]

Both Msta-B and Msta-S were used by the Ukrainian Ground Forces in the Battle of Bakhmut.[14]

As of 20 September 2023, there is visual evidence of Russian forces losing 144 Msta-S (97 destroyed, 10 damaged, 2 abandoned and 35 captured) and 34 Msta-SM2 (16 destroyed, 2 damaged and 16 captured).[15]

Operators
Map of 2S19 operators in blue

Current operators

Russia recently offered its Msta-S 152 mm howitzer to foreign countries, particularly in the Middle East. A demonstration was organised in 2020 by Rosoboronexport, the country's nodal agency for arms export, for representatives from various Middle Eastern countries.[33]

Former operators

Similar vehicles

References
  1. altyn73 (24 April 2019). "152-мм самоходная гаубица 2С19 "Мста-С" в Вооруженных Силах Российской Федерации. Версия 2.0" (in Russian) – via LiveJournal.
  2. "2S19 Msta". WeaponSystems.net. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  3. Pike, John (19 June 1999). "2S19 MSTA-S 152-mm Self-Propelled Howitzer". Military Analysis Network. Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  4. Zaloga, Steven J. (2009). T-80 Standard Tank: The Soviet Army's Last Armored Champion. New Vanguard. Vol. 152. Illustrated by Tony Bryan. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp. 43, 45–46. ISBN 978-1-84603-244-8.
  5. Benoît.C (16 September 2019). "[Dossier] Le 2S19 Msta-S". Red Samovar (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  6. "Latest Msta-S artillery systems arrive for troops in Russia's south". TASS. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  7. "Russian Western Military District Gets Newest 2S33 Msta-SM2 Self-propelled Howitzer". MilitaryLeak. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  8. "Артиллеристам общевойсковой армии ЗВО торжественно вручили ключи от десяти новых гаубиц «Мста-С-М2»". armstrade.org (in Russian). Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  9. Fediushko, Dmitry (30 March 2020). "UVZ upgrades STANAG-compatible 2S19M1-155 155 mm howitzer". Janes. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  10. "В Индии проведены испытания модифицированной гаубицы «Мста» 2С19". armstrade.org (in Russian). Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  11. de Larrinaga, Nicholas (22 April 2015). "New Russian heavy armour breaks cover". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  12. Pashin, Alexander (2002). "Russian Army Operations and Weaponry During Second Military Campaign in Chechnya". Moscow Defense Brief. No. 3. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  13. Ferguson, Jonathan; Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (2014). Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine (PDF) (Report). Armament Research Services. Research Report No. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  14. "Ukrainian Airborne Brigade soldiers use captured Russian Msta-S ACS". Ukrainian Military Portal. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  15. Mitzer, Stijn; Janovsky, Jakub (24 February 2022). "Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  16. Nikolsky, Alexey; Khimshiashvili, Polina (18 June 2013). "Россия вооружает Азербайджан". Vedomosti (in Russian). Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  17. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). Hackett, James (ed.). The Military Balance 2021. London: Routledge. p. 465. ISBN 978-1-03-201227-8.
  18. "Georgia Land Forces military equipment and vehicle Georgian army | Information before the conflict of 2008". Army Recognition. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  19. "Russia might offer non-nuclear submarine to Morocco". TASS. 4 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  20. "Военные в Чечне получили новые самоходные гаубицы". Lenta.ru (in Russian). 29 November 2011. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  21. "Russian Army Equipment". GlobalSecurity.org. 13 September 2021. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  22. "Российская армия досрочно получила 108 самоходных гаубиц" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 10 October 2014. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  23. "Russian Central Military District receives 'dozen' of new Msta-S self-propelled howitzers 22906172". Army Recognition. 29 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  24. "New artillery brigade of Combined Arms Army receives modified Msta-S howitzers, Western MD". mil.ru. Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. 4 December 2017. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  25. "Defense manufacturer delivers batch of upgraded Msta-S howitzers to Russian troops". TASS. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  26. "Артполк общевойсковой армии ЗВО получил на вооружение первую партию модернизированных гаубиц «Мста-СМ1»". armstrade.org (in Russian). Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  27. "Russian radars track over 40 foreign spy planes and drones near state borders over week". TASS. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  28. "Артиллеристы общевойсковой армии ЗВО получили на вооружение 12 модернизированных САУ «Мста-СМ2»". armstrade.org (in Russian). Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  29. "Defense firm delivers first batch of upgraded Msta-S howitzers to Russian troops". TASS. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  30. "ЦАМТО / / Ростех поставил в войска первую партию модернизированных гаубиц «Мста-С» в рамках ГОЗ-2023".
  31. "Ground Forces Equipment – Ukraine". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  32. "Nuevo lote de obuses autopropulsados 2s19 MSTA-S de 152mm arribó a Venezuela". maquina-de-combate.com (in Spanish). 26 January 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  33. Krishna, Om (25 March 2020). "Msta-S 155mm Howitzer: Russia offers new self propelled artillery gun". Defence Star. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
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