Direct proof of use
The clearest direct evidence for 2S3 Akatsiya use in the 1990 Gulf War is the Imperial War Museums collection record for a 2S3M Akatsiya self-propelled gun. The record identifies the vehicle as a Russian Cold War self-propelled gun armed with a 152 mm gun and states that it was exported to Iraq, then captured from Iraqi forces during the First Gulf War in 1991 by 26 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
That evidence supports Iraqi fielding and coalition capture of the type during the war. It does not by itself establish a named firing incident, a tactical unit below the capturing British regiment, or a complete count of Iraqi 2S3 vehicles in theater.
Sources: IWM 2S3M Akatsiya Collection Record
Timeline
The conflict began when Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. The U.S.-led coalition air war began on January 16, 1991, followed by the ground offensive on February 24. National Army Museum campaign history describes coalition forces advancing into Kuwait, collecting large numbers of Iraqi prisoners, and recapturing Kuwait City on February 26 before the ceasefire and peace sequence in late February and early April.
The IWM record places the captured Akatsiya in that 1991 Gulf War context. It records capture by 26 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, but does not publish a precise day or battlefield location for the vehicle's recovery.
Sources: State Department Gulf War Milestone, National Army Museum Gulf War, IWM 2S3M Akatsiya Collection Record
Battlefield role
In the Gulf War record, the 2S3 is best treated as Iraqi self-propelled artillery documented through captured equipment rather than through a public shot-by-shot firing record. The Akatsiya's tracked chassis and 152 mm armament made it part of the Iraqi tube-artillery problem faced by coalition planners, while U.S. Army historical analysis notes that Iraqi artillery was numerous, often outranged coalition cannon battalions, and drove a heavy emphasis on counterfire and air attacks against Iraqi ground forces.
Coalition air and ground operations suppressed or overran much of the Iraqi artillery force before and during the short ground campaign. The surviving IWM vehicle shows that at least some Iraqi Akatsiya self-propelled guns were present in the war zone and recoverable by coalition forces after Iraqi positions collapsed or were captured.
Sources: IWM 2S3M Akatsiya Collection Record, Army Historical Foundation Gulf War Artillery, National Army Museum Gulf War
Evidence boundary
The published sources support Iraqi possession, wartime fielding, and coalition capture of a 2S3M Akatsiya during the 1990 Gulf War. They do not support attributing specific Iraqi artillery fires, coalition casualties, or a named engagement to this weapon model.
For that reason, this page uses the parent record's captured-equipment role package and describes the Akatsiya as documented Iraqi self-propelled artillery rather than as a confirmed participant in any single firing incident.
Sources: IWM 2S3M Akatsiya Collection Record, Army Historical Foundation Gulf War Artillery
