Roledivisional medium artillery
Main weapon / system152 mm 2A33 howitzer
Platform / layouttracked chassis with fully rotating turret
MediaPrimary image integrated
Development and design
The system was developed to replace greater dependence on towed 152 mm artillery in forward formations. Its armored chassis, enclosed turret, and wide range of ammunition made it suitable for indirect fire and limited direct-fire tasks. 1, 2
Operational use
2S3s were fielded in large numbers across Soviet and allied forces and have remained in service through extensive modernization. They have appeared in numerous post-Cold War conflicts. 1, 2
Role and significance
Akatsiya established the medium-caliber Soviet SPH template that the later 2S19 Msta-S was designed to replace: armored, turreted, mobile, and integrated into mechanized combined-arms formations. 1, 2
Sources and further reading
Representative source set used for this profile. Primary image source and reuse terms are listed with the image.