2S19 Msta-S vs PCL-181: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

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2S19 Msta-S — licensed reference photograph

AArtillery

2S19 Msta-S

Self-propelled howitzer

Credit

Vitaly V. Kuzmin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph — Representative exterior of PCL-181

BArtillery

PCL-181

Self-propelled howitzer

AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph

Credit

ForceTally · AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph · AI-generated · OpenAI output terms · Source ↗ · Modified

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

2S19 Msta-SLength

7.15 m

Length source ↗

PCL-181SH-15

6.5 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

2S19 Msta-Slarger figure on 1 of 3

Mass+68%

PCL-181larger figure on 2 of 3

Crew+20%
Speed+50%

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

20 of 49 rows sourced on both sides

7.15m

6.5mSH-15

Length

All recorded figures & sources

7.15 m

Length

Single source

7.15 m (23 ft 5 in)^[source]

6.5 m

SH-15

Single source

Configuration

Details

2S19 Msta-S and PCL-181 configuration
Specification	2S19 Msta-S	PCL-181
Type	Self-propelled howitzer^[source]	Self-propelled howitzer^[source]
Place of origin	Soviet Union/Russia^[source]	China^[source]
In service	1989–present^[source]	2019–present^[source]
Used by	See § Operators^[source]	See § Operators^[source]

Wars	Eritrean–Ethiopian War Second Chechen War Russo-Ukrainian War Second Nagorno-Karabakh War^[source]	2025 India–Pakistan conflict^[source]

Designer	Uraltransmash^[source]	Nanjing University of Science and Technology^[source]

Designed	1980^[source]	—

Manufacturer	Uraltransmash^[source]	Norinco^[source]

Produced	1988–present^[source]	—

No. built	~1,130 (est. 1988–2019, inc. prototypes)^[source]	—

Elevation	−4° to +68°^[source]	Around 20° to 70° (except for front due to cab)^[source]

Traverse	360°^[source]	360°^[source]

Armour	15 mm all-around^[source]	—

Main armament	152 mm 2A64 L47-caliber howitzer^[source]	PLL-01 155 mm howitzer gun^[source]

Secondary armament	12.7 mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun^[source]	—

Power/weight	20 hp/tonne^[source]	—

Suspension	Torsion bar^[source]	hydropneumatic suspension^[source]

Weapon elevation	−4° to +68°^[source]	—

Weapon traverse	360°^[source]	—

Deployment time	22 minutes^[source]	—

Unit of fire	50 rounds^[source]	—

Former operator · Belarus	Belarus^[source]	—

Former operator · Soviet Union	Soviet Union^[source]	—

Role	152.4 mm self-propelled howitzer^[source]	—

Source measurement	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.^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 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 .^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 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.^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Range: 24.7 km (15.3 mi) standard round 28.9 km (18.0 mi) base-bleed 36 km (22 mi) rocket-assisted^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Rate of fire: 6–8 rounds per minute^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weapon elevation: −4° to +68°^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weapon traverse: 360°^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Deployment time: 22 minutes^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 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 30 km (19 mi) and 40 km (25 mi) with rocket-assisted shells.^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 2S19M1-155 (2006) – 155 mm export version of the 2S19M1, fitted with an L/52 gun with a range of more than 40 km (25 mi). Modernised in 2020.^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 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.^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Msta-S howitzers have been used in the Russo-Ukrainian War by the pro-Russian separatists who captured one machine during the conflict. Both Msta-B and Msta-S were used by the Ukrainian Ground Forces in the Battle of Bakhmut . With their vehicles wearing out from continued combat use since 2014, and the 152 mm caliber gradually becoming obsolete, the Ukrainian Armed Forces has refitted some non-operational units with T-72 turrets or converted them into armoured personnel carriers .^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Operational use; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	—

Source measurement

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.^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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 .^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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.^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Range: 24.7 km (15.3 mi) standard round 28.9 km (18.0 mi) base-bleed 36 km (22 mi) rocket-assisted^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Rate of fire: 6–8 rounds per minute^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Weapon elevation: −4° to +68°^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Weapon traverse: 360°^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Deployment time: 22 minutes^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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 30 km (19 mi) and 40 km (25 mi) with rocket-assisted shells.^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

2S19M1-155 (2006) – 155 mm export version of the 2S19M1, fitted with an L/52 gun with a range of more than 40 km (25 mi). Modernised in 2020.^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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.^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Msta-S howitzers have been used in the Russo-Ukrainian War by the pro-Russian separatists who captured one machine during the conflict. Both Msta-B and Msta-S were used by the Ukrainian Ground Forces in the Battle of Bakhmut . With their vehicles wearing out from continued combat use since 2014, and the 152 mm caliber gradually becoming obsolete, the Ukrainian Armed Forces has refitted some non-operational units with T-72 turrets or converted them into armoured personnel carriers .^[source]2S19 Msta-S · Operational use; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

—

Barrels	—	52 caliber^[source]

Breech	—	Semi-automatic vertical wedge type breech block^[source]

Engine	—	diesel^[source]

Drive	—	6×6^[source]

Barrel length	—	52 caliber^[source]PCL-181; main howitzer barrel

Reported operators	Reported operator · Azerbaijan Reported operator · Ethiopia Reported operator · Georgia Reported operator · Russia Reported operator · Ukraine Reported operator · Venezuela	Reported operator · Ethiopia Reported operator · People's Republic of China Reported operator · Pakistan Reported operator · Myanmar