PzH 2000 (Panzerhaubitze 2000)

History

In 1987, the Federal Ministry of Defense launched a development program for a self-propelled howitzer, named PzH 2000 (or "Panzerhaubitze 2000"). The roots of the new artillery platform can be traced back to the international SP70 howitzer project sponsored by West Germany, the UK and Italy in the late 1960s. All three countries believe that indirect fire control systems need improvement. Ultimately, five prototypes were produced, but the project was shelved in the 1980s due to funding, technical problems and interest in the American M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer.

However, the three participating countries of the SP70 program gained valuable experience in the development of self-propelled platforms, resulting in the British AS90 Braveheart, the outward-looking Italian OTO-Melara Palmaria and the German PzH-2000 artillery system. The German KraussMaffei Wegmann AG (KMW) and its subcontractor Rheinmetall Landsysteme designed the PzH 2000 in 1996 and started production in 1998.

The German army subsequently purchased 185 of these units, with plans to purchase 53 more in the future.

The Germans proved their mastery of armored warfare in WWII. By the end of the conflict, there were well-established doctrines deploying a combination of main battle tanks, tank destroyers, and self-propelled gun (SPG) platforms as a coherent mobile force.

SPG platforms can apply their artillery-oriented power to fortifications and troop positions, while main battle tanks and destroyers can focus on enemy armor. Although the end of the war divided Germany, West Germany developed the powerful Leopard 1 main battle tank in 1965 and gave the East a common stockpile of Soviet tank designs during the Cold War.

The Leopard 2 is a vastly improved extension of the Leopard 1 series, the German successor design that entered service in 1979 and quickly established itself as one of the most powerful main battle tanks in the world. Understandably, following the unification of Germany (and the German army) after 1989, the Germans would eventually turn to indigenous self-propelled artillery platforms to complement their fast-moving Panther tanks.

Due to the rate of fire, a three-man PzH 2000 can achieve the same attack performance as the three-celled early German howitzers. Triggered at the push of a button. When sixty rounds are fired, the barrel automatically locks to the clip on the front flap in fifteen seconds.

The PzH 2000 can then reach the new firing position before the fired projectile reaches the target.

The PzH 2000 howitzer has seven bearing rollers on each side of the track, and running wheels are attached to the front. The track is steel with rubber metal hinges, while the suspension is a torsion bar variant.

For mechanical needs on the battlefield, the tracks are interchangeable with the main battle tank "Leopard 2" - Germany's current main armor system. The PzH 2000 can reach 60 km/h on paved roads and 45 km/h off-road.

She can traverse 30-degree slopes, 1.1m vertical steps, 3m ditches, 1.5m deep water obstacles, and more if she's ready.

After the 60 rounds are used up, the crew must reload the turret. These were perilous times for the PzH 2000 - its engine was running in place, it exhibited a large thermal signature while handling live ammunition, and its outdoor crew was a tempting target.

Her crew consisted of five people - a commander, a gunner, a driver and two loaders feeding the autoloader. In the event of a failure on site, two loaders can take over the tasks of the automatic loader.

Secondary armament is a roof mounted 7.62mm MG3 general purpose infantry machine gun operated by the commander. The frontal armor is 1 inch thick and provides protection against large caliber 14.5mm shells. The sides of the hull can withstand small arms fire and shrapnel, but the best defense against a system like the PzH 2000 is its "shoot and slide" philosophy in all weather and terrain conditions.

This makes the system a more difficult moving target to track, while using weather and terrain to its advantage in defense. Explosive reactive armor is available upon mission requirements, helping to delay enemy use of armor-piercing munitions. In the event of a PzH 2000 impact, the cabin will be equipped with an automatic fire protection system and an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system for the crew

Operators of the PzH 2000 system include Italy (70 examples), the Netherlands (64 examples) and Greece (24 examples). Sweden reviewed the PzH 2000 but did not respond to purchase. In the near future, the number of German 185 PzH 2000 fleet will be reduced.

The first combat operation of the PzH 2000 occurred in August 2006, when several PzH 2000 systems of the Dutch Army attacked suspected Taliban positions in Kandahar. Needless to say, the PzH 2000 - also deployed with the Bundeswehr - has so far been deployed to support coalition forces in the war in Afghanistan.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

60 x 155mm projectiles and 288 x modular charging modules.

1,500 x 7.62 mm ammo.

Changes