The 152mm 2S19 MSTA-S self-propelled howitzer entered service with the Russian Army in 1989. While the Russian Army hoped to replace all of its 122mm and 152mm self propelled artillery with this howitzer, budgetary constraints mean this replacement will not be completed any time soon. At least one 2S19-equipped regiment served in Chechnya as part of the 8th Army Corps.
MSTA-S comprises a turret mounted on a tracked armored chassis based on elements of the T-72 and T-80 main battle tanks. It is manufactured by Uraltransmash of Ekaterinberg, Russia.
The 2S19's gun crew can load the gun at any angle of elevation. Ammunition and gun loading, laying and re-targeting are highly automated, allowing maximum firing rate of 8 rounds per minute with onboard rounds and 6-7 rounds per minute with rounds from the ground. The system provides automatic gun loading for projectiles and semi-automatic loading for charges. The design of the ammunition rack allows different types of projectiles to be stored in the same rack. The automatic loading mechanism can select the type of ammunition and control the loading and the number of rounds. A major drawback to the Krasnopol semiactive laser-guided projectileis the incompatibility with the autoloader of the 2S19 due to the projectile's length. The Krasnopol-M (152-mm/155-mm) was developed as a follow-on product improvement that is fully compatible with the 2S19 autoloader
A battery can deliver projectiles on a target and move on to the next firing point before reaction firing. The howitzer's armor gives protection against armor-piercing bullets and projectiles. The 2S19 can also produce a smokescreen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust outlet. The 21-hp gas turbine AP-18D Auxiliary Power Unit provides power for turret operations when the vehicle engine is shut down.
Specifications | ||
| Alternative Designations | 152-mm 2S19 Msta-S | |
| Date of Introduction | 1989 | |
| Proliferation | At least 4 countries | |
| Description | ||
| Crew | 5 (section of 7 with 2 in ammo carrier) | |
| Platform (chassis) | Modified T-72 | |
| Combat Weight (mt) | 42 | |
| Chassis Length Overall (m) | 11.91 | |
| Height Overall (m) | 2.98 | |
| Width Overall (m) | 3.58 | |
| Automotive Performance | ||
| Engine Type | 840-hp V84-A diesel | |
| Cruising Range (km) | 500 km | |
| Speed (km/h) | ||
| Max Road | 60 | |
| Max Off-Road | 25 | |
| Cross-Country | INA | |
| Max Swim | N/A | |
| Fording Depths (m) | Unprepared 1.5 | |
| Emplacement Time (min) | 1-2 | |
| Displacement Time (min) | 1-2 | |
| Radio | R-173 | |
| Protection | ||
| Armor, Turret (mm) | 15 | |
| Armor Turret Top (mm) | 15 | |
| Armor Hull (mm) | 15 | |
| Self-Entrenching Blade | Capable of digging a complete firing pit in 40- 60 minutes | |
| NBC Protection System | Yes | |
| Smoke Equipment | Six Type 902 smoke grenade launchers and Vehi-cle engine exhaust smoke system (VEESS) | |
| ARMAMENT | ||
| Main Armament | ||
| Caliber, Type, Name | 152-mm, canon, 2A64 | |
| Barrel Length (cal) | 48 | |
| Rate of Fire (rpm) | ||
| Burst | 8 | |
| Normal | 6 | |
| Sustained | 2 | |
| Fire from Ground | 6-7 | |
| Loader Type | autoloader | |
| Breech Type | Vertical sliding wedge | |
| Muzzle Brake Type | Double baffle | |
| Traverse | (°) | |
| Left | 360 | |
| Right | 360 | |
| Total | 360 | |
| Elevation (°) (-/+) | -4/+68° | |
| Auxiliary Weapon | ||
| Caliber, Type, Name | 12.7-mm NSVT machinegun | |
| Mount Type | PZU-5 AA | |
| Direct Fire Range (m) | 2000 | |
| Max Effective Range (m)` | ||
| Day | 1500 (AA)/1500 (Ground) | |
| Night | N/A | |
| Fire on Move | Yes | |
| Rate of Fire (rpm) | 800 (cyclic) | |
| FIRE CONTROL | ||
| Indirect Fire | 1P22 Panoramic Telescope (PANTEL) | |
| Direct Fire | 1P23 | |
| Collimator | K-1 | |
| Gun Display Unit | None | |
| Fire Control Computer | None | |
| VARIANTS | None | |
| MAIN ARMAMENT AMMUNITION | ||
| Caliber, Type, Name | 152-mm Frag-HE, OF-72 | |
| Indirect Fire Range (m) | ||
| Minimum Range | 6500 | |
| Maximum Range | 24,700 | |
| Complete Projectile Weight (kg) | 43.56 (OF-45) | |
| Muzzle Velocity | 864 m/s | |
| Fuze Type | RGM-2 PD 152-mm, HEAT, BP-540 | |
| Direct Fire Range (m) | ||
| Minimum Range | 0 | |
| Maximum Range | 1000 | |
| Armor Penetration (mm) | INA | |
| Complete Projectile Weight (kg) | 27.00 | |
| Muzzle Velocity | 655 m/s | |
| Fuze Type | GPV-3 PD 152-mm Frag-HE BB, OF-91 | |
| Indirect Fire Range (m) | ||
| Minimum Range | 6710 | |
| Maximum Range | 29,000 | |
| Complete Projectile Weight (kg) | 42.86 (OF-61) | |
| Muzzle Velocity | 828 m/s | |
| Fuze Type | KZ-88 PD | |
| Other Ammunition Types | All standard 152-mm artillery rounds | |
