Ukraine neutralizes Russian 2S3 Acacia howitzer in precision strike
The list of equipment that the Russians have lost in the war in Ukraine needs to be updated to include another specimen of the 2S3 Acacia howitzer. In this article, we describe the Ukrainian-led attack and also highlight the most significant features of this weapon, which will no longer assist Putin's army.
8:53 AM EST, November 28, 2023
A recording of the Ukrainian attack emerged on social media. This operation greatly resembled numerous others carried out on the front line in recent months. The Russian equipment was pinpointed by Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance. Drones, which are commonly employed for this purpose, can locate even vehicles hidden among the bushes and trees. As it turned out, hiding offered the Russians no protection in this situation.
Russian artillery 2S3 Akatsiya destroyed
After receiving the information, the command decided to launch a strike. All it took was one shot. Ukrainian troops utilized the HIMARS rocket artillery system - one of the most efficacious weapons of its kind, often referred to as the "god of war" due to its high efficiency.
The HIMARS system allows for the use of a variety of ammunition. The standard MLRS caliber 227 mm missiles have a range of up to approximately 43.5 miles, while the Tactical MGM-140 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles can hit targets even 186 miles away.
The 2S3 Acacia is among the Russian's most frequently used howitzers. Developed in the USSR, it's based on the prototype self-propelled gun SU-100P and was first introduced into service in 1973.
The artillery system is armed with a D-20 howitzer caliber 152.4 mm, mounted on the chassis of the aforementioned SU-100P. This leads to a crucial feature of the entire 29.7-ton vehicle - tracked propulsion. When combined with an engine power of 520 HP, it provides the crew with enhanced mobility (with a range of approximately 310.7 miles). The crew also has the advantage of auxiliary weapons, which include a 7.62 mm machine gun.
When using standard, most commonly used fragmentation-shattering shells that weigh about 94.8 lbs, the 2S3 Acacia provides a maximum firing range of 11.5 miles. It is possible to replace them with rocket-assisted shells, which extends the lethal range to 14.9 miles.
