2A65 Msta-B

The 152mm 2A65 howitzer has found a few takers beyond Russia since its inception in 1987.

Detailing the development and operational history of the 2A65 Msta-B 152mm Towed Howitzer.  Entry last updated on 10/12/2017. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com

Introduced in 1987 - the last few years of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the West - was the 152mm 2A65 "MSTA-B" towed howitzer system. The weapon was brought along as a conventional artillery produce featuring a twin-wheeled, split-trail carriage, minimal gunshield, and multi-baffled muzzle brake. Design work spanned 1976 to 1986 by the Central Design Bureau (Titan) and production has been ongoing out of the Motovilikha Plant since.

As designed, the weapon features a combat weight of 15,000 lb and is operated by a crew of up to ten personnel. It traditionally fires a High-Explosive (HE) shell out to 18 miles through a 2,720 feet-per-second muzzle velocity though there is support for various other projectile types - anti-infantry, chemical, nuclear, etc... The standard gun mounting hardware allows for an elevation span of -3.5 degrees to +70 degrees and traversal of 28 degrees from centerline. Rate-of-fire is listed at eight rounds-per-minute in burst fire phases.