Msta-S

The Msta-S is a tier 9 Self-Propelled Guns originating from Russia. It can be obtained as a prize from Echoes Of War Battle Path campaign.

Features

 * Artillery: This vehicle is capable of indirect fire across large distances but is very vulnerable in close combat.
 * Heavy Weapon: This vehicle carries one of the largest weapons around with significantly increased damage per shot.

History
Class: Self-Propelled Gun Developed: 1980-1989 Service: 1989+ Vehicles Built: cca 720-1000+ (estimates vary) Operators: Russia, Venezuela, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Ethiopia The Msta-S SPG was developed as a replacement to the older 2S3 Akatsiya. The goal was to match (or surpass) the newly developed NATO artillery pieces with long 155mm guns that were designed to offer enough range to keep Soviet infantry from actually reaching the front. The Soviets needed the same type of weapon in their arsenal. Adapting a long 152mm gun for vehicle use turned out to be a long process. The general development started as early as in 1976 with several projects running parallel, but the actual MSTA-S project was opened in 1980 and it would take almost a decade for the vehicle to see service. The MSTA-S SPG is based on a heavily modified T-72 chassis and is armed with a long 152mm gun, allowing it to fire at extreme distances (especially when using modern ammunition). The production began in 1988 and is currently ongoing with a modernized variant rolling out for the Russian military. More than 500 Msta-S SPGs are still in Russian service and dozens were exported to several other countries. It has seen some combat during the Second Chechen War and the War in Donbass.