The 2S5 was first used in combat by the Soviet Union in Soviet–Afghan War. Later, Russian forces used it in the First and Second Chechen War.
Although most of Russia’s self-propelled artillery complexes were developed during the Soviet era, their value remains the same to this day. Among these is the 2S5 Giatsint-S with the ability to hit targets at longer ranges and at a higher rate of fire than the more widely produced 2S3 Akatsiya 152 mm self-propelled gun, and is capable of firing nuclear projectiles.
The 2S5 was first used in combat by the Soviet Union in Soviet–Afghan War. Later, Russian forces used it in the First and Second Chechen War. The 2S5 has been employed by the Ukrainian Army in the war in Donbas.
Development of the 2S5 Giatsint 152 mm self-propelled gun began in 1968. It was developed alongside the 2A36 Giatsint-B towed gun of the same caliber. Both guns have similar ballistics and use the same ammunition. The 2S5 self-propelled howitzer entered service with the Soviet Army in 1976. Production commenced during the same year and ceased in the early 1990s. Currently it is in service with Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
At its core, the 2S5 is a 28-ton vehicle utilizing a shallow armored hull superstructure. 2S5 has a length of 8.33 m, a width of 3.25 m, and a height of 2.76 m. A typical operating crew is five while the vehicle requires coupling with ammunition carriers to supply its projectiles – this increases the human commitment to the system by several additional members. Armor protection is 15mm at the thickest facing.
Power is served through a diesel-fueled engine of 520 horsepower which allows for a top road speed of 38 miles per hour and an operational range out to 311 miles. The chassis is fully suspended atop a torsion bar suspension system. The track-and-wheel system consists of six paired rubber-tired road wheels to a hull side with four track return rollers used. The drive sprocket is forward and the track idler is rear.
The 2S5 is fitted with a turretless 152 mm/L54 gun. This gun is completed with load assisting system. Maximum rate of fire is 5-6 shells per minute. The Giatsint fires standard and rocket-assisted HE-FRAG, HEAT, cluster and smoke shells. Maximum range of fire with the standard HE-FRAG shell is 28.4 km, and up to 33 km with rocket assisted shell. The 2S5 is capable of firing special shells with 0.1-2 kT nuclear charges. Full ammunition load consists of 60 shells, however only 30 shells are carried by the artillery system. Other shells are carried by an escorting re-supply truck. It takes 3 minutes to prepare this artillery system for firing.
Secondary armament consists of a 7.62 mm machine gun. A shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile is carried inside the vehicle for protection against helicopters and low-flying aircraft.
