2S19 Msta

The 2S19 Msta (Russian: Мста, after the Msta River) is a 152.4 mm self-propelled howitzer designed by the Soviet Union, 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
2S19M2 Msta-S of the Russian Army
TypeSelf-propelled howitzer
Place of originSoviet Union/Russia
Service history
In service1989–present
Used bysee Operators
WarsSecond Chechen War
Russo-Ukrainian War
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Russo-Ukraine 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 per minute 2S19M2: 10 rounds per minute
Maximum firing rangeStandard round: 24.7 km (15.3 mi)
Base bleed: 29 km (18 mi)
RAP: 36 km (22 mi)[2]
Armor15 mm all-around[3]
Main
armament
152mm 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.

Development

The Msta is a 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 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 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.

Operational use

Msta-S howitzers were used by the Russian Army to deliver artillery strikes against Chechen separatists during the Second Chechen War.[5]

Msta-S howitzers have been used in the Russo-Ukrainian War by the pro-Russian separatists who captured one machine during the conflict.[6]

Both Msta-B and Msta-S used by the Ukrainian Army in Battle of Bakhmut.[7]

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

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.[25]

Former operators

Specifications

Msta-S specifications provided by manufacturer

  • Range:
    • 24.7 km (15.3 mi) standard round
    • 28.9 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; based on the Msta-S.[26]
  • 2S19M1 (unveiled in 2000, first deliveries in 2007) – Improved fire-control system and added GLONASS antenna. Modernised V-84AMS engine.[26]
  • 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.[27] 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 and 40 km with rocket-assisted shells.[28] Russians say that its range is up to 80 km.[29]
  • 2S19M1-155 (2006) – 155 mm export version of the 2S19M1, fitted with an L/52 gun with a range of more than 40 km. Modernized in 2020.[30] A modernized version for hot climates has been tested in India as of August 2022.[31]
  • 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.[26]
  • 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 favor of the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV.[26]
  • 2S35 "Koalitsiya-SV" – Project for a new artillery system for the Russian land 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.[32]

Similar vehicles

References
  1. altyn73 (24 April 2019). "152-мм самоходная гаубица 2С19 "Мста-С" в Вооруженных Силах Российской Федерации. Версия 2.0".
  2. "2S19 Msta".
  3. Federation of American Scientists.
  4. Zaloga, Steven (2009). T-80 Standard Tank. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing. pp. 43, 45–46. ISBN 978-1-84603-244-8.
  5. Pashin, Alexander (2004). "Russian Army Operations and Weaponry During Second Military Campaign in Chechnya". Moscow Defense Review. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009.
  6. Ferguson, Jonathan; Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (2014). "Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine. (Research Report No. 3)" (PDF). ARES. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  7. https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrainian-airborne-brigade-soldiers-use-captured-russian-msta-s-acs/ Ukrainian Airborne Brigade soldiers use captured Russian Msta-S ACS
  8. "Россия вооружает Азербайджан". www.vedomosti.ru. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013.
  9. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. p. 465. ISBN 978-1-03-201227-8.
  10. "Georgia Land Forces military equipment and vehicle (before the conflict of 2008)". Army Recognition. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015.
  11. Russia delivered to Morocco a batch of Msta-S self-propelled howitzers, [Rosoboronexport Deputy chief Viktor Komardin] said in 2014. Russia might offer non-nuclear submarine to Morocco, U.S. News Las Vegas Archived 2014-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
  12. 2013: Russia delivered to Morocco a batch of Msta-S self-propelled howitzers. "Russia might offer non-nuclear submarine to Morocco". TASS. July 4, 2013. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  13. "Lenta.ru: Наука и техника: Военные в Чечне получили новые самоходные гаубицы". Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  14. John Pike (13 September 2021). "Russian Army Equipment". Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Updated from time to time.
  15. "ria.ru Forces". 10 October 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  16. ngain. "Russian Central Military District receives 'dozen' of new Msta-S self-propelled howitzers 22906172 – June 2017 Global Defense Security news industry – Defense Security global news industry army 2017 – Archive News year". www.armyrecognition.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  17. "New artillery brigade of Combined Arms Army receives modified Msta-S howitzers, Western MD : Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation". eng.mil.ru. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  18. "Defense manufacturer delivers batch of upgraded Msta-S howitzers to Russian troops".
  19. "ЦАМТО / Новости / Артполк общевойсковой армии ЗВО получил на вооружение первую партию модернизированных гаубиц «Мста-СМ1»". armstrade.org.
  20. "Russian radars track over 40 foreign spy planes and drones near state borders over week".
  21. "ЦАМТО / / Артиллеристы общевойсковой армии ЗВО получили на вооружение 12 модернизированных САУ «Мста-СМ2»". armstrade.org.
  22. John Pike. "Ground Forces Equipment – Ukraine". Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  23. Oryx. "Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 2022-09-09.
  24. "Nuevo lote de obuses autopropulsados 2s19 MSTA-S de 152 mm arribó a Venezuela – maquina-de-combate.com". Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  25. "Msta-S 155 mm Howitzer: Russia offers new self propelled artillery gun". Defence Star. 25 March 2020.
  26. "[Dossier] Le 2S19 Msta-S". Red Samovar. 16 September 2019.
  27. "Latest Msta-S artillery systems arrive for troops in Russia's south". TASS. 16 March 2020.
  28. "Russian Western Military District Gets Newest 2S33 Msta-SM2 Self-propelled Howitzer". MilitaryLeak. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  29. "ЦАМТО / Новости / Артиллеристам общевойсковой армии ЗВО торжественно вручили ключи от десяти новых гаубиц «Мста-С-М2»". armstrade.org.
  30. Fediushko, Dmitry (30 March 2020). "UVZ upgrades STANAG-compatible 2S19M1-155 155 mm howitzer". Janes.
  31. "ЦАМТО / / В Индии проведены испытания модифицированной гаубицы «Мста» 2С19".
  32. de Larrinaga, Nicholas (22 April 2015). "New Russian heavy armour breaks cover". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016.
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