2S19 Msta

The 2S19 "Msta-S" (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 1985 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 grenade 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.

Operators

 * 🇦🇿 - 18
 * 🇧🇾 - 13
 * 🇪🇹 - 20
 * 🇷🇺 - 550 since 2008
 * 🇺🇦 - 40
 * 🇻🇪 - 47
 * 🇲🇦 - Received an undisclossed number of MSTA-S
 * 🇲🇦 - Received an undisclossed number of MSTA-S

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: 60 rounds

Variants

 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 2S33 "Msta-SM" - Improved version. No details available.
 * 2S35 "Koalitsiya-SV" - Project for a new artillery system for the Russian land forces (SV = sukhoputniye vojska). The prototype consists of a 2S19 chassis with modified turret, fitted with an over-and-under dual autoloaded 152mm howitzer.

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