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2S19 MSTA-S

1989 COLD WAR MODERN SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY

History

The 2S19 MSTA is now the main self-propelled artillery system of the Russian Army, equipped with a powerful 152mm main gun capable of firing various types of shells at long distances. The vehicle is similar in design, scope and functionality to contemporary Western designs including the American M109 and British AS90 series tracked gun platforms.

Hundreds of 2S19 units have been delivered since the type's launch, with foreign operators mostly in countries with close diplomatic relations with Russia.

The 2S19 system arose out of the Russian Army's attempts to modernize the range of its self-propelled guns in the 1980s. Design work began in 1985 and a pilot vehicle (prototype) known as the "Obyekt 317" ("Object 317") soon emerged, built on the chassis of the proven T-80 main battle tank.

Interestingly, the inherent T-80 engine was abandoned in favor of the powerplant used by the T-72 main battle tank series. After completing all the necessary field evaluations, the pilot vehicle appeared in production form, the 2S19 MSTA (MSTA in Russian means Mobile Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery).

Commissioned in 1989 and marked with the introduction of the 2S19 MSTA-S ("S" designates a self-propelled version of the weapon, the alternative is "MSTA-B" designation for a field towed version of the same weapon).

Externally, the 2S9 vehicle has a rather traditional appearance compared to modern self-propelled artillery systems. It features a low-slung chassis and a hull structure spanned by a long-range chain system, while its primary armament is housed in a large box-turret turret mounted in the rear center of the hull roof. The turret accommodates the crew as well as the main gun and recoil to contain the violent recoil of this large-caliber weapon system.

The turret was suspended from the bow of the hull and was closed by a muzzle brake with two baffles. There is a smoke vent in the center of the barrel. In transport mode, the barrel is attached to an inverted "V" arrangement to lock the barrel in place. Crew accommodation for five people, including driver, vehicle commander, gunner, loader and cargo manager. The pilot is the only crew member who is separated from the rest of the crew and occupies a central position in the front of the fuselage.

The crew has a full NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) suite, while the driver has access to a passive night vision system. Dozer blades are standard, allowing the 2S19 crew to dig their own position before firing. A water wading kit will also be released, allowing the 2S19 to traverse certain water sources (up to 5 meters deep) according to accepted Soviet-Russian tank warfare doctrine.

The vehicle is powered by a V-84A series diesel engine that produces 840 horsepower (some with a 46-6 series diesel engine), giving the 2S19 a top speed of 37 mph and a range of about 310 miles. The engine system was installed in a compartment at the rear of the fuselage.

Like other vehicles in this class, the 2S19 is powered by an integrated auxiliary generator, which allows all major ignition functions to operate without the engine running.

As a tracked vehicle, the 2S19 is mounted on six dual rubber tire wheels attached to one side of the track. The chain has a drive sprocket at the rear and a chain idler at the front. All wheel systems are suspended with a torsion bar system for good off-road maneuverability.

The upper part of the range is covered with lightweight "rock" armor for basic protection, although these armor plates remain flat and provide only limited ballistic protection against heavier weapons.

The main weapon of the 2S19 system is the powerful 152mm 2A64 howitzer, which can be used to throw large explosive rounds at enemy positions with great effect. This is backed up by a 12.7mm NSVT series heavy machine gun that can repel air defense threats, light armored threats and even infantry concentrations when needed. Trained and experienced crew members can fire 6 to 8 rounds per minute and have a range of up to 18 miles.

By using rocket-assisted projectiles, this lethality can be increased to 22 miles. Turret rotation is a full 360 degrees, and gun depression is limited to +68 and -4 degrees. The weapon section is managed by a semi-automatic weapon sighting system with an automatic loader for quick response. Available ammunition types include standard high-explosive (HE) ammunition, as well as smoke, flare, chemical, and nuclear bombs. "Smart" munitions also play a role in the inherent lethality of the 2S19, with precision-guided projectiles enabling precise targeting. There are two sets of three self-contained smoke grenade launchers mounted on the turret forward plates on either side of the main gun mount.

The 2S19 can also generate its own smoke if desired. The turret has a slightly sloping surface, but generally provides a larger ground profile to the enemy.

Russia has been the main (and quantitative) operator of the 2S19 system, with a few countries procuring the system over the years. These operators include Belarus, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ukraine and Venezuela. There are a few notable 2S19 variants to date, including the improved 2S19M1, which appeared in 2000 and was equipped with a digital fire control system (FCS).

A stripped-down "export friendly" form then appeared in 2006 as the 2S19M1-155 with the 155mm L/52 series main gun to help promote the weapon in NATO compliant countries. Of course, the larger projectile size ensured that the shells available on board were reduced to 46 rounds.

Several other related item types have emerged throughout 2S19's life cycle, although few have entered production form.