Munitions

OF61 base-bleed projectile

Also known as
  • 3OF61
  • 3ОФ61
  • OF61
  • ОФ61
  • 152 mm OF61 projectile
  • 152mm OF61 projectile
  • 3VOF91 round
  • 3ВОФ91

The OF61 base-bleed projectile, indexed as 3OF61 and usually marked OF61, is a Russian 152 mm high-explosive fragmentation round for long-barrel Msta-family artillery. CAT-UXO describes it as a spin-stabilized separate-loading projectile issued in the 3VOF91 round with a Zh61 cartridge case, while Army Guide gives a 42.86 kg projectile weight, 828 m/s muzzle velocity, and about 29 km maximum range from the 2A65 Msta-B.

OF61 base-bleed projectile, 152 mm base-bleed artillery projectile, Munitions
Image source: File:152mm lime-colored projectile.jpg
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Type
152 mm base-bleed artillery projectile
Service note
Current Russian 152 mm separate-loading artillery ammunition family

Specifications

Caliber
152 mm
Designation
3OF61 projectile; normally marked OF61
Cyrillic marking
3ОФ61 / ОФ61
Complete round
3VOF91 round with Zh61 cartridge case
Projectile type
High-explosive fragmentation, spin-stabilized, base-bleed projectile
Projectile weight
42.86 kg
Muzzle velocity
828 m/s
Maximum range
About 29 km
Construction
Three-part steel-bodied projectile with fuze adapter/booster nose section, main body with one driving band, and screw-on base-bleed tail assembly
Variants

Open munition references treat OF61 as part of the Russian 152 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile family rather than a standalone gun system.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
OF-45 High-Explosive Fragmentation Projectile, 152 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile, MunitionsOF-45152 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile

CAT-UXO describes OF61 as the long-range counterpart to OF45, and Army Guide explains that OF45 can use different rear ends, including the OF61 base-bleed configuration.

Sources: CAT-UXO 152mm OF61 Projectile, Army Guide 2A65 MSTA-B

Firing Weapons

OF61 is documented as separate-loading 152 mm ammunition for long-barrel Russian artillery rather than as an independent weapon system.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
2A65 Msta-B, 152 mm towed howitzer, Artillery2A65 Msta-B152 mm towed howitzer

Army Guide lists the OF61 base-bleed projectile among the rounds the 2A65 Msta-B can fire and gives it an about 29 km range.

Sources: Army Guide 2A65 MSTA-B

2S19 Msta-S, 152 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer, Artillery2S19 Msta-S152 mm self-propelled howitzer

Army Guide states that the 2A65 fires the same 152 mm ammunition types as the 2S19 Msta-S and identifies OF61 as the base-bleed projectile in that Msta ammunition family.

Sources: Army Guide 2A65 MSTA-B

Round Construction

OF61 is a separate-loading 152 mm projectile, not a complete fixed cartridge. CAT-UXO identifies the complete round as 3VOF91 with a Zh61 cartridge case, and describes the projectile as a spin-stabilized HE-fragmentation body with a base-bleed tail unit. That base-bleed assembly is the key distinction from the shorter-ranged OF45 family data shown by Army Guide.

FeatureDocumented detailSource
Projectile designation3OF61, normally marked OF61.Fenix Insight; CAT-UXO
Complete round3VOF91 with Zh61 cartridge case.CAT-UXO
Range roleLong-range base-bleed counterpart to OF45, with Army Guide listing about 29 km from 2A65 Msta-B.CAT-UXO; Army Guide
Manufacturing contextMilitarnyi links an OF61 order to the Sverdlov Plant; War & Sanctions describes that plant as a Russian munitions and explosive-equipping enterprise.Militarnyi; War & Sanctions
Timeline

OF61 base-bleed projectile Key Events

  1. Msta-B identified as a firing system

    Army Guide says Western intelligence first identified the 2A65 Msta-B in 1987 and lists OF61 among the base-bleed projectiles associated with the gun's 152 mm ammunition family.

    Sources: Army Guide 2A65 MSTA-B

  2. Small Sverdlov Plant order reported

    Militarnyi reported that Russian state-defense-order material included a 2025 delivery line for 2,000 OF61 shells from the Sverdlov Plant.

    Sources: OF61 shell order by the Sverdlov Plant

Media

OF61 base-bleed projectile Images

OF61 base-bleed projectile, 152 mm base-bleed artillery projectile, Munitions - view 1
Source: File:152 mm shell RUK-museo.JPG
Related Weapon Systems
OFd MKM-DV, 155 mm high-explosive extended-range artillery projectile with base bleed, MunitionsMunitionsOFd MKM-DV155 mm high-explosive extended-range artillery projectile with base bleedThe OFd MKM-DV is a Slovak 155 mm high-explosive extended-range artillery projectile with a base-bleed gas generator. MSM Group lists the modernized round with a 43.55 kg fuzed projectile mass, a 10 kg explosive filling, and 40 km class range from a 52-caliber gun. Public sources support this page as a relationship-only ammunition record through product data, transfer records, and howitzer compatibility context, not through direct conflict-use evidence for the exact projectile.

Sources

3OF61Publisher: Fenix Insight | Note: Supports OF61/3OF61 identity, Russian Federation development, three-part steel-bodied base-bleed construction, and the projectile's 152 mm technical profile. | Accessed: 2026-06-29CAT-UXO 152mm OF61 ProjectilePublisher: CAT-UXO | Note: Supports OF61 projectile identity, HE-fragmentation base-bleed role, separate-loading construction, 3VOF91/Zh61 round context, and the relationship to OF45. | Accessed: 2026-06-29OF61 shell order by the Sverdlov PlantPublisher: Militarnyi | Note: Supports the manufacturer claim by reporting a contract for 2,000 OF61 shells from the Sverdlov Plant. | Accessed: 2026-06-29War & Sanctions Sverdlov PlantPublisher: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine | Note: Supports Sverdlov Plant background, including its Russian location, Rostec structure, explosives production, and artillery-shell ammunition-equipping role. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Army Guide 2A65 MSTA-BPublisher: Army Guide | Note: Supports the 2A65 Msta-B compatibility claim by listing the OF61 base-bleed projectile among projectiles the howitzer can fire and giving an about 29 km range. | Accessed: 2026-06-29File:152mm lime-colored projectile.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Primary image provenance; Commons licenses the Russian Ministry of Defence photograph under CC BY 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-29File:152 mm shell RUK-museo.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Secondary gallery image provenance; Commons releases the museum photograph into the public domain. | Accessed: 2026-06-29