Munitions

3OF43 high-explosive projectile

Also known as
  • 3ОФ43
  • OF43

The 3OF43 is the Soviet 203 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile for 2S7-family separate-loading artillery ammunition. Open-source references distinguish 3OF43 as the projectile itself, while 3VOF34 names the assembled round, and CAT-UXO identifies the OF43 projectile as compatible with both the 2S7 Pion and 2S7M Malka.

3OF43 high-explosive projectile, 203 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile, Munitions
Image source: Army-2018-29.jpg
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union
Type
203 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile
Service note
Cold War-era Soviet artillery ammunition
Designed
Mid-1960s to mid-1970s
Unit cost
Not publicly documented
Produced
Cold War-era production
Number built
Not publicly documented

Specifications

Caliber
203 mm
Projectile class
High-explosive fragmentation projectile
Projectile mass
110 kg
Explosive filler
17.8 kg of A-IX-20
Maximum range
37.4 km with the 2S7 family
Fuze
Nose-mounted V-491 point-detonating fuze
Round designation
3VOF34 for the assembled round
Compatible weapon family
2S7 Pion / 2S7M Malka
Firing Weapons

Sources identify the 3OF43 as a 203 mm HE-fragmentation projectile used by the 2S7 family.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
2S7 Pion, 203 mm tracked self-propelled gun, Artillery2S7 Pion203 mm self-propelled gun

CAT-UXO identifies the OF43 projectile as used with the 2S7 Pion, and ARES explicitly states that the 2S7 fires 3OF43 high-explosive projectiles.

Sources: CAT-UXO 203mm OF43 projectile, Ukrainian government returns 2S7 Pion self-propelled artillery to service, 203mm shells for 2A44 howitzer

2S7M Malka, 203 mm tracked self-propelled gun, Artillery2S7M Malka203 mm self-propelled gun

CAT-UXO identifies the OF43 projectile as used with the 2S7M Malka, showing that the modernized 2S7 family keeps the same projectile in service.

Sources: CAT-UXO 203mm OF43 projectile, 203mm shells for 2A44 howitzer

Round Context

Open-source ammunition references tie the 3OF43 projectile to the 2S7 family and separate it from the assembled 3VOF34 round.

WeaponTypeEvidence
2S7 Pion, 203 mm tracked self-propelled gun, Artillery2S7 Pion203 mm self-propelled gunArmament Research names 3OF43 as the projectile fired by the 2S7, and CAT-UXO identifies OF43 as the same projectile family.
2S7M Malka, 203 mm tracked self-propelled gun, Artillery2S7M Malka203 mm self-propelled gunCAT-UXO lists OF43 as compatible with the 2S7M Malka, showing the projectile remained in the modernized 2S7 family.
Timeline

3OF43 high-explosive projectile Key Events

  1. Family development begins, mid-1960s

    Weaponsystems.net places the 203 mm ammunition family in development from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s.

    Sources: 203mm shells for 2A44 howitzer

  2. Enters service

    Weaponsystems.net lists the ammunition family as entering service in 1976 and remaining in service.

    Sources: 203mm shells for 2A44 howitzer

Media

3OF43 high-explosive projectile Images

3OF43 high-explosive projectile, 203 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile, Munitions - view 1
Source: File:2S7 Pion.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
203 mm shells for 2A44 howitzer, 203 mm separate-loading artillery ammunition family, MunitionsMunitions203 mm shells for 2A44 howitzer203 mm separate-loading artillery ammunition familyThe 203 mm shells for the 2A44 howitzer are the Soviet separate-loading ammunition family for 2S7 Pion and 2S7M Malka heavy guns. Public references distinguish standard 3OF43 high-explosive fragmentation projectiles, 3OF44 rocket-assisted projectiles, 3O14 cluster shells, concrete-piercing and special-shell designs, plus current Russian OF43/OF44 use and Ukrainian 203 mm ammunition use in the Russia-Ukraine War.
3OF50 High-Explosive Fragmentation rocket-assisted projectile, 120 mm rocket-assisted HE-fragmentation projectile, MunitionsMunitions3OF50 High-Explosive Fragmentation rocket-assisted projectile120 mm rocket-assisted HE-fragmentation projectileThe 3OF50 is a Soviet-era 120 mm rocket-assisted high-explosive fragmentation projectile for Nona-family gun-mortars such as the 2S9 Nona and 2S23 Nona-SVK. Specialist ammunition references describe a spin-stabilised, nose-fuzed projectile with an A-IX-2-filled warhead and integral rocket motor, while Ukraine explosive-ordnance identification material lists the round among munitions discovered on Ukrainian territory.
3OF56 122 mm HE-Frag Projectile, 122 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile, MunitionsMunitions3OF56 122 mm HE-Frag Projectile122 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile3OF56 is a Soviet-era 122 mm high-explosive fragmentation artillery projectile for D-30/2A18-family guns and the 2A31 gun of the 2S1 Gvozdika. Public references do not describe the designation consistently: Fenix Insight identifies it as a nose-fuzed, boat-tailed, spin-stabilised HE-frag projectile, while U.S. WEG/FAS tables place a 3OF-56 complete projectile weight in a rocket-assisted ammunition row for the D-30A and 2S1.

Sources

Ukrainian government returns 2S7 Pion self-propelled artillery to servicePublisher: Armament Research Services | Note: Supports the 3OF43 designation, the projectile-versus-round nomenclature, the projectile's HE role, and the cited range and explosive filler context. | Accessed: 2026-06-23Army-2018-29.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a CC0 image of the 2S7 203 mm self-propelled cannon, the firing weapon for this projectile. | Accessed: 2026-06-25CAT-UXO 203mm OF43 projectilePublisher: CAT-UXO | Note: Supports the OF43 designation, the HE-fragmentation and spin-stabilised description, the 2S7 Pion and 2S7M Malka compatibility, and the projectile-versus-round nomenclature. | Accessed: 2026-06-27203mm shells for 2A44 howitzerPublisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports the 3OF43 designation as the HE-frag projectile used in 2S7-family 203 mm ammunition sets, the mid-1960s to mid-1970s development window, and the 1976 service-entry listing. | Accessed: 2026-06-27File:2S7 Pion.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the additional gallery image showing a 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun in Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-27