Efficient destruction of various targets in tactical depth:

• tactical nuclear attack means;

• unsheltered/sheltered manpower;

• command posts, air defence and electronic facilities;

• bunkers and pillboxes;

• artillery means, armoured vehicles, MBTs

Distinctive features:

• delivering both indirect fire using panoramic sight, and direct fire using optical or panoramic sight;

• the separate-case rounds with high-explosive projectiles used for firing;

• the loading mechanism to ensure easy and rapid projectile loading;

• the prime mover options for towing are the URAL-4320 Wheeled Truck, or MTLB Multipurpose Light-Armoured Tracked Vehicle;

• transportation of ammunition load by the prime move

Composition:

• cradle, recoil systems, and loading mechanism;

• sliding mount, guidance mechanism, balancing system;

• bottom carriage, trails, jack, and electrical equipment;

• running gear;

• sighting devices with illumination means;

• SPTAs (single, group, and repair).

In addition to the towed 152 mm 2A36 gun covered in detail in a separate entry, Russia also deployed a new 152 mm towed howitzer, designated the 2A65, which was allocated the NATO designation of the M1987. This was the year that the weapon was first identified by Western intelligence. According to United Nations sources there were no exports of this weapon between 1992 and 2006.

The 152 mm 2A65 is also referred to as the MSTA-B and the weapon forms the main armament of the 152 mm self-propelled artillery system, the 2S19, which is also referred to as the MSTA-S. Full details of the latter are given in a separate entry. In the designation MSTA-B the latter stands for Buksiruemyi, or towed. The MSTA-S has been offered on the export market but there are no known sales to date.

The 152 mm howitzer 2A65 (M1987) is mounted on a conventional split trail carriage and, when deployed in the firing position, rests on three points, the hydraulic circular firing jack under the forward part of the carriage and the two spades at the rear. Each of the box section trails has a castor wheel to assist the gun crew in bringing the weapon into action. When deployed in the firing position, these swing upwards through 180° and rest on top of each trail.

The 152 mm ordnance is fitted with a muzzle brake and a semi-automatic breech mechanism, spring-operated ramming system, hydraulic counter-recoil device and a liquid-cooled recoil brake.

Elevation and traverse is manual, two-speed, with the direct and indirect sighting devices being located on the left side of the weapon. Pneumatic brakes are fitted as standard.

The 152 mm 2A65 fires the same 152 mm ammunition types as the 152 mm 2S19 self-propelled artillery system and, more recently, a new family of separate loading (for example projectile and charge) 152 mm has been introduced.

The OF45 high-explosive projectile weighs 43.56 kg, has a maximum muzzle velocity of 810 m/s and a maximum range of 24.7 km. The charges include OF72 (long range), OF58 (full charge) and OF73 (reduced charge).

The OF45 projectile can be fitted with different rear ends, for example various types of screw-on boat tails, or the OF61 base bleed projectile which weighs 42.86 kg, has a maximum muzzle velocity of 828 m/s and a maximum range of 29 km.

The OF23 cargo projectile weighs 42.8 kg, has a maximum range of 26,000 m and contains 42 High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) bomblets, each of which can penetrate 100 mm of conventional steel armour. Other types of projectile include the HS30 jamming round and the Russian 152 mm Krasnopol laser-guided projectile, which is covered in the entry for the 2S19 self-propelled artillery system. A 155 mm version of this system has been developed but as far as it is known this has not been exported. China has developed a new 155 mm/52 calibre SP artillery system called the PLZ52. This has a turret very similar to the 2S19.

In addition to these new 152 mm projectiles the 2A65 can fire all standard types of 152 mm ammunition fired by the older Russian D-20 towed gun-howitzer and the 2S3 self-propelled gun-howitzer.

It is understood that a longer barrel version of the 2A65 is currently under development and there have been reports of a 155 mm model firing NATO standard ammunition. It is known that there is a 155 mm version of the 2S19 self-propelled artillery system. Russia has also developed to the prototype stage a 152 mm self-propelled artillery system based on a 8 × 8 forward control truck chassis, this is called the MSTA-K.

2A65 MSTA-B Quantities: Country Quantity BELARUS 136 GEORGIA 11 KAZAKHSTAN 90 RUSSIA 750 UKRAINE 185 Total: 1172