The Russo-Ukriane war – as many experts call it – is becoming a savage affair with hundreds of thousands dead or wounded on both side.
And the sad reality is much of the carnage is captured on social media.
And that means bad news for Russian President Putin – as every tank and artillery piece he seems to lose makes for viral content.
Ukraine War Footage of Howitzers Being Destroyed Goes Viral
The Ukrainian counteroffensive seems well underway, at least five Russian 2S19 Msta-S 152mm self-propelled howitzers came under recent fire and were disabled or destroyed near the settlement of Novopetrykivka.
Video footage of the first two guns being targeted was posted on social media in the early hours of Wednesday.
“Two Russian 2S19 Msta-S SPGs have been destroyed what looks like precise GMLRS strikes. The SPGs were part of the Russian defense north of Novopetrykivka, and as such can be considered critical losses,” open-source reporter @Tendar first posted.
Hours later, Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) shared a subsequent video that purported to show the destruction of “At least three more Russian 2S19 Msta-S 152mm self-propelled howitzers” that were destroyed in GMLRS strikes.
The Russian Army normally deploys the 2S19 in batteries of six guns, so it would appear that perhaps nearly an entire battery came under enemy fire. As previously reported, the 2S19 has been part of the “backbone” of the Kremlin’s artillery in the war in Ukraine.
Russia’s Big Guns
The 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzer was initially developed for the Soviet Army at the tail end of the Cold War, and it entered service in 1989 as the successor to the 2S3 Akatsiya. The vehicle comprises a turret mounted on a tracked armored 6×6 chassis, which is based on a T-80 main battle tank (MBT) hull, yet it is powered by a T-72 MBT diesel engine. Road speed is 60 km/h (37 mph) with a range of 500 km (310 miles).
The vehicle is operated by a crew of five, and when coming under fire, they can take cover from small arms fire and artillery shell splinters within the welded steel armor on the hull and turret. The vehicle is also fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems.
It is armed with a 152mm/L47 howitzer, which is similar in design to the gun employed on the 2A65 Msta-B towed howitzer. It is fitted with a semi-automatic loader and fume extractor. The gun can apparently be loaded at any angle, while its maximum rate of fire is seven to eight rounds per minute.
The Msta-S is compatible with all standard 152mm projectiles used by the D-20 towed gun-howitzer as well as 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer. It can fire a wide range of munitions, including standard and rocket-assisted HE-FRAG projectiles, cluster projectiles with anti-tank submunitions, jammer carrying projectiles. It is also capable of firing Krasnopol precision-guided munitions. A total of 50 rounds are carried inside the Msta-S.
In late 2021, Uraltransmash – part of the Uralvagonzavod defense manufacturer within the state tech corporation Rostec – announced that it produced and delivered the new upgraded version, the 2S19M2 “Msta-S,” to the Russian military under a defense procurement plan.
The improved version is reported to be equipped with a new automatic fire control system, which can greatly increase the rate of fire. It further utilizes electronic maps that can significantly speed up terrain orientation in difficult geographical conditions and allow for faster and more efficient firing missions.
This is a developing story.
Two Russian 2S19 Msta-S SPGs have been destroyed what looks like precise GMLRS strikes. The SPGs were part of the Russian defense north of Novopetrykivka, and as such can be considered critical losses.
Coordinates:
47°38’57″N 36°56’35″E#Ukraine #Counteroffensive #Donetsk pic.twitter.com/wHVkp3SFFu
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) June 14, 2023
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
