The OF45 high-explosive projectile, also indexed as 3OF45, is a Soviet/Russian 152 mm HE-fragmentation projectile for separate-loading artillery. METIS and CAT-UXO describe it as a three-part, steel-bodied, hollow-base, boat-tailed projectile, while 2A65 and Msta-family references tie it to Msta-B and Msta-S firing systems with a 43.56 kg projectile mass and 24.7 km standard-shell range.
ARES documented 152 mm OF45 HE-fragmentation projectiles throughout eastern Ukraine in its 2014 conflict survey, while GICHD later identified OF45 as a common 152 mm HE-fragmentation projectile in Ukraine explosive-ordnance guidance.
Role detailsOpen references treat OF45 as part of a broader Soviet/Russian 152 mm projectile family for Msta-compatible artillery, with range-extension and cargo-projectile branches documented separately.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Longer-range 152 mm HE-fragmentation projectile | CAT-UXO describes OF61 as the long-range counterpart to OF45, and Msta-B ammunition references list the base-bleed projectile at about 29 km from the 2A65. Sources: CAT-UXO 152mm OF61 Projectile, WeaponSystems.net 152mm 2A65 Msta-B |
| 152 mm cargo projectile in the same ammunition family | WeaponSystems.net lists OF23 alongside OF45 and OF61 in the 2A65 ammunition set, distinguishing it as a cargo projectile rather than a unitary HE-fragmentation body. Sources: WeaponSystems.net 152mm 2A65 Msta-B |
The OF45 is documented through Soviet/Russian 152 mm artillery ammunition references rather than as an independent weapon system.
| Firing weapon | Weapon type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 152 mm towed gun-howitzer | GICHD identifies OF45 rounds as used with D-20 howitzers and relevant to explosive-ordnance clearance around D-20 positions. |
 | 152 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer | GICHD says OF45 can also be expected in abandoned or destroyed 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery contexts. |
 | 152 mm towed howitzer | 2A65 Msta-B references identify OF45 as the standard high-explosive projectile and list the 43.56 kg mass, 823 m/s muzzle velocity, and 24.7 km maximum range figures. Sources: 152 mm howitzer 2A65 Msta-B, WeaponSystems.net 152mm 2A65 Msta-B |
 | 152 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer | Forecast International identifies OF45 among the high-explosive-fragmentation rounds fired by the 2S19 Msta-S 2A64 cannon. Sources: Forecast International SP-152 Msta-S |
OF45 is a separate-loading projectile body rather than a fixed cartridge. METIS and CAT-UXO identify the 3OF45/OF45 as a 152 mm HE-fragmentation projectile with a fuze adapter or booster nose section, a main steel body with a driving band, and a hollow-base boat-tail assembly.
Three-part, steel-bodied, spin-stabilised 152 mm HE-fragmentation projectile for personnel, weapons, and fortification targets.
GICHD lists the OF45 with an RGM-2 impact fuze and 7.65 kg A-IX-2 explosive fill in Ukraine explosive-ordnance guidance.
Standard OF45 range data for the 2A65 is 24.7 km; related OF61 base-bleed ammunition extends the Msta-family HE-fragmentation range class.
Forecast International describes the former Soviet Union's newer 152 mm ammunition family for the Msta-S 2A64 cannon as beginning development in 1966.
Sources: Forecast International SP-152 Msta-S
GICHD identifies OF45 as a common 1980s 152 mm HE-fragmentation projectile, and open munition references describe the same 3OF45/OF45 steel-bodied projectile configuration.
Sources: GICHD Explosive Ordnance Guide for Ukraine, METIS 3OF45
2A65 Msta-B references identify OF45 as the standard high-explosive projectile for the towed Msta-B howitzer.
Sources: 152 mm howitzer 2A65 Msta-B, WeaponSystems.net 152mm 2A65 Msta-B
Forecast International lists OF45 among the high-explosive-fragmentation ammunition types fired by the 2S19 Msta-S 2A64 cannon.
Sources: Forecast International SP-152 Msta-S
