2S19 Msta-S Explained

2S19 Msta-S
Type:	Self-propelled howitzer
Origin:	Soviet Union/Russia
Is Ranged:	yes
Is Artillery:	yes
Is Vehicle:	yes
Is Uk:	yes
Service:	1989–present
Used By:	See
Wars:	Second Chechen War Russo-Ukrainian War Second Nagorno-Karabakh War
Designer:	Uraltransmash
Design Date:	1980
Manufacturer:	Uraltransmash
Production Date:	1988–present
Number:	~1,130 (est. 1988–2019, inc. prototypes)^[1]
Mass:	42t
Crew:	5
Rate:	2S19: 6–8 rounds/min 2S19M2: 10 rounds/min
Max Range:	Standard round: Base bleed: RAP: ^[2]
Elevation:	−4° to +68°
Traverse:	360°
Armour:	15 mm all-around^[3]
Primary Armament:	152 mm 2A64 L47-caliber howitzer
Secondary Armament:	12.7 mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun
Engine:	Diesel V-84A
Pw Ratio:	20 hp/tonne
Suspension:	Torsion bar

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]

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 a towed gun.^[5]

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.

Russia 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.^[6]

Specifications

Msta-S specifications provided by manufacturer

• Range:
  • standard round
  • base-bleed
  • 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

• 1K17 Szhatie – a "laser tank" armed with a battery of lasers meant to disable optoelectronic systems; based on the Msta-S.^[7]
• 2S19M1 (unveiled in 2000, first deliveries in 2007) – Improved fire-control system and added GLONASS antenna. Modernised V-84AMS engine.
• 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. 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 and with rocket-assisted shells.^[8]
• 2S19M1-155 (2006) – 155 mm export version of the 2S19M1, fitted with an L/52 gun with a range of more than . Modernised in 2020.^[9]
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.^[10]

Operational use

Msta-S howitzers were used by the Russian Ground Forces to deliver artillery strikes against Chechen separatists during the Second Chechen War.^[11]

Msta-S howitzers have been used in the Russo-Ukrainian War by the pro-Russian separatists who captured one machine during the conflict.^[12]

Both Msta-B and Msta-S were used by the Ukrainian Ground Forces in the Battle of Bakhmut.^[13]

, there is visual evidence of Russian forces losing 171 Msta-S (123 destroyed, 11 damaged, 2 abandoned and 35 captured) and 35 Msta-SM2 (17 destroyed, 2 damaged and 16 captured).^[14]

Operators

Current

• – 18 as of 2024
• – 10 as of 2024
• – 1 as of 2024
• – Estimated to have 300 2S19/2S19M1 Msta-S and 300 2S19M2/2S33 Msta-SM in service with the Ground Forces, 36 2S19M1 Msta-S in service with the Naval Infantry, plus 150 2S19 Msta-S in storage as of 2024
• – 35 as of 2024
• – 48 as of 2024

Former

• − 12 in 2023, none as of 2024

Bibliography

• Book: International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 2023 . 15 February 2023 . Routledge . 978-1032508955 . 1st . International Institute for Strategic Studies . .
• Book: International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 2024 . 13 February 2024 . Taylor & Francis . 978-1-040-05115-3 . en . . International Institute for Strategic Studies .

External links

• 152-mm Self-propelled Howitzer 2S19 "MSTA-S"
• Arms Systems Page - (Archived)

Notes and References

1. Web site: 24 April 2019. 152-мм самоходная гаубица 2С19 "Мста-С" в Вооруженных Силах Российской Федерации. Версия 2.0. ru. LiveJournal. 29 May 2019. 29 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190529051804/https://altyn73.livejournal.com/1382776.html. live.
2. Web site: 2S19 Msta. WeaponSystems.net. 1 July 2023.
3. Web site: Pike. John. 19 June 1999. 2S19 MSTA-S 152-mm Self-Propelled Howitzer. Military Analysis Network. Federation of American Scientists. 1 July 2023. 9 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220409112450/https://man.fas.org/dod-101/sys/land/row/2s19.htm. live.
4. Book: Zaloga, Steven J.. Steven Zaloga. 2009. T-80 Standard Tank: The Soviet Army's Last Armored Champion. limited. New Vanguard. 152. Illustrated by Tony Bryan. Oxford, UK. Osprey Publishing. 43, 45–46. 978-1-84603-244-8.
5. Book: Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945-1995 . 1995 . . Quantico, VA . 16 March 2024 . V-16–V-17. }
6. Web site: Krishna. Om. 25 March 2020. Msta-S 155mm Howitzer: Russia offers new self propelled artillery gun. Defence Star. 1 July 2023. 1 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230701210746/https://www.defencestar.in/military/army/msta-s-155mm-howitzer-rosoboronexport-offers-new-gun-foreign-customers/3355/. live.
7. Web site: Benoît.C. 16 September 2019. [Dossier] Le 2S19 Msta-S]. Red Samovar. fr. 1 July 2023.
8. Web site: 2 February 2022. Russian Western Military District Gets Newest 2S33 Msta-SM2 Self-propelled Howitzer. MilitaryLeak. 7 May 2023. 19 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230419230655/https://militaryleak.com/2022/02/02/russian-western-military-district-gets-newest-2s33-msta-sm2-self-propelled-howitzer/. live.
9. Web site: Fediushko. Dmitry. 30 March 2020. UVZ upgrades STANAG-compatible 2S19M1-155 155 mm howitzer. Janes. 1 July 2023. 24 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230424225722/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/uvz-upgrades-stanag-compatible-2s19m1-155-155-mm-howitzer. live.
10. de Larrinaga. Nicholas. 22 April 2015. New Russian heavy armour breaks cover. Jane's Defence Weekly. 1 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20150424171053/http://www.janes.com/article/50896/new-russian-heavy-armour-breaks-cover. 24 April 2015. dead.
11. Pashin. Alexander. 2002. Russian Army Operations and Weaponry During Second Military Campaign in Chechnya. Moscow Defense Brief. 3. 1 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20090129141108/http://mdb.cast.ru/mdb/3-2002/ac/raowdsmcc/. 29 January 2009. dead.
12. Ferguson. Jonathan. Jonathan Ferguson. Jenzen-Jones. N.R.. 2014. Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine. Armament Research Services. Research Report No. 3. 4 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20141201185108/http://armamentresearch.com/Uploads/Research%20Report%20No.%203%20-%20Raising%20Red%20Flags.pdf. 1 December 2014. live.
13. Web site: 17 February 2023. Ukrainian Airborne Brigade soldiers use captured Russian Msta-S ACS. Ukrainian Military Portal. 1 July 2023. 8 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230508032358/https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrainian-airborne-brigade-soldiers-use-captured-russian-msta-s-acs/. live.
14. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Janovsky . Jakub . 24 February 2022 . Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine . . 5 September 2023 . 14 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220314120721/https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html . live .