2S3M

2S3M

SU-100

SU-122-54

2S3M

SU-100

SU-122-54

USSR

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.3	6.3	6.3

Class:

Tank destroyer

Research:82 000

Purchase:240 000

Show in game

Description

The 2S3M is a rank IV Soviet tank destroyer with a battle rating of 6.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Winged Lions".

General info

Survivability and armour

Self-entrenching equipment

Creation of ramparts and trenches in soft ground

Armourfront / side / back

Hull30 / 15 / 15

Turret30 / 15 / 15

Crew4 people

Visibility94 %

The survivability of the 2S3M is a very situational one. Due to having absolutely no effective armour to stop any munition but small firearms, it is very vulnerable to all damage. However, solid shots such as APCR have a chance to go right through the armour without making any damage whatsoever. The armour of the 2S3M can also partially stop artillery strikes fragmentation depending on the distance between the explosion and the platform. The best armour of the 2S3M is not to be seen. As a howitzer with a very potent weapon, it should be never stay stationary after firing, as this can disclose the location of the platform and be killed.

Armour type:

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	15 mm (74°)	15 mm Top 15 mm Bottom	15 mm	10 - 15 mm
Turret	10 - 30 mm Turret front 20 mm Gun mantlet	15 mm	15 mm	10 - 15 mm
Cupola	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm	5 mm

Notes:

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB66 / 16 km/h

RB and SB60 / 14 km/h

Number of gears6 forward

2 back

Weight27.5 t

Engine power

AB992 hp

RB and SB520 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB36.1 hp/t

RB and SB18.9 hp/t

The 2S3M is not exactly agile, but it is nowhere near being sluggish. It takes time to accelerate and brake due to the heavy weight of the main gun, but it reaches the top speed fairly easily. It holds a max speed of 60 km/h, which is fast for a vehicle. As it is based on the SU-100P hull, it has a very decent turn rate and reverse speed, being able to reach up to -14 km/h while on reverse. It has a very capable cross-country capability and when track module is researched, along with a much better turn radius.

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	66	16	27.5	739	992	26.87	36.07
Realistic	60	14		460	520	16.73	18.91

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB4 300 → 5 890

RB4 560 → 6 247

SB5 300 → 7 260

Total cost of modifications71 700

116 700

Talisman cost1 900

Crew training68 000

Experts240 000

Aces990

Research Aces620 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 190 / 250 %

184 / 184 / 184 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 2 900 Cost: 4 700 150 Suspension Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 170 Brake System Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 170 Filters Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 240 Transmission Research: 5 800 Cost: 9 500 310 Engine Research: 5 800 Cost: 9 500 310	Parts Research: 2 900 Cost: 4 700 150 FPE Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 170 Crew Replenishment Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 240 Dozer Blade Research: 5 800 Cost: 9 500 310	Horizontal Drive Research: 2 900 Cost: 4 700 150 152mm_ussr_HEAT_ammo_pack Research: 2 900 Cost: 4 700 150 NVD Research: 2 900 Cost: 4 700 150 Adjustment of Fire Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 170 152mm_ussr_APHEBC_ammo_pack Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 170 Elevation Mechanism Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 240 152mm_ussr_HE_3OF25_ammo_pack Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 240 152mm_ussr_HE_VT_3OF25_ammo_pack Research: 5 800 Cost: 9 500 310

Armaments

Night vision device

Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Main armament

152 mm 2A33 cannon

Ammunition46 rounds

First-order12 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

17.3 → 13.3 s

Vertical guidance-4° / 60°

The 2S3M has access to the 152 mm 2A33 howitzer, a very potent gun with a significant firepower. It is the only howitzer in game capable of firing HEAT and APCBC rounds. The performance of the gun leaves nothing to expect, decent muzzle velocity for rounds as well as a slow but steady aiming speed. While it is slower in performance compared to the Type 75 SPH or the Bkan 1C, it holds one of the most devastating rounds in game: the 3OF25. Holding more than 10 kg of TNT equivalent explosive mass, it is able to annihilate any ground vehicle with almost any hit. The 3OF25 (PF) is a variable time fuse high-explosive shell, allowing it to take down aircraft far more effectively than normal shells. Additionally, this fuse works on ground vehicles which can allow the 2S3M to destroy light to moderately armoured vehicles hiding behind terrain by exploding over the roof. The fuse arms past 300 m, so utilizing this feature in close combat would not work.

152 mm 2A33					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	46	-4°/+60°	±180°	N/A	8.8	12.2	14.8	16.4	17.4	17.29	15.30	14.10	13.30
Realistic					6.0	7.0	8.5	9.4	10.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
OF-540	HE	49	49	49	49	49	49
BP-540	HEAT	250	250	250	250	250	250
BR-540B	APHEBC	166	164	156	146	137	129
3OF25	HE	62	62	62	62	62	62
3OF25 (PF)	HE-VT	62	62	62	62	62	62

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
OF-540	HE	655	43.56	0	0.1	5.9	79°	80°	81°
BP-540	HEAT	680	27.4	0.05	0.1	4.8	62°	69°	73°
BR-540B	APHEBC	600	48.96	1.2	19	1.02	48°	63°	71°
3OF25	HE	655	43.56	0	0.1	10.12	79°	80°	81°

Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Arming distance (m)	Trigger radius (m)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
									0%	50%	100%
3OF25 (PF)	HE-VT	655	43.56	0	0	300	3	10.12	79°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
46	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__

Notes:

• The 2S3M uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant charges (orange). Both have separate racks.
• Projectiles and propellant charges are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
• Hull empty: 13 (+33) shells.

Machine guns

7.62 mm PKT machine gun

Ammunition1 500 rounds

Belt capacity250 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate700 shots/min

7.62 mm PKT
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	1,500 (250)	700	-6°/+15°	-160°/+155°

Usage in battles

The 2S3M should be used as a support gun, able to take down even the heaviest of targets with a single shot. Teammates should be supported with the power of this weapon as well as the variety of projectiles available to it. It is not to be played as a frontline vehicle due to the immense reload time and aiming of the weapon. However it is a very good guerilla combatant and skirmisher if used as a backup for frontline vehicles.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Its deadly HE shells can finish anything with overpressure, like Panther II, Tiger II (H), M4A3E2 (76) W, etc.
• HEAT with a penetration of 250 mm is able to penetrate most tanks at the rank
• Has a variety of shell types: HE, HEAT, HE-VT, APHEBC
• HE-VT shell can take down aircraft and enemies hiding behind cover or terrain in certain situations
• Is turreted, allowing more flexible tactics
• -14 km/h reverse speed is good enough to retreat into cover
• Has a dozer blade to build a dirt cover
• Has NVD for night battles

Cons:

• Thin armour, any weapon larger than a MG is threatening
• Poor -4° gun depression limits its ability in hilly terrains
• Long reload time
• Turret is huge, easy to get spotted and hit
• Slow turret steering speed

History

By 1964, NATO was equipped with the M109 self-propelled artillery. However, the Soviet army were still using artillery developed during WWII. During an exercise at Yavoriv military base, senior officials determined that the various types of artillery developed during World War II were not suitable for the war at that time. In order to make up for the technological gap with NATO countries, Resolution No. 609-201, issued by the Central Committee of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union on July 4, 1965, was finalized, starting the development plan for the new 152 mm self-propelled gun. In 1971, the Soviet Union passed the acceptance of the 2S3 self-propelled gun and began mass production.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the 2S3M from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #287 - Metal Beasts section at 01:04 discusses the 2S3M.

See also

• Type 75 SPH
• Bkan 1C

External links

• [Devblog] 2S3M : Hammer of the war god