Panzerhaubitze 2000

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The **Panzerhaubitze 2000** ("tank howitzer 2000"), abbreviated **PzH 2000**, is a German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall for the German Army. It is capable of a very high rate of fire; in burst mode it can fire three rounds in nine seconds, ten rounds in 56 seconds, and can—depending on barrel heating—fire between 10 and 13 rounds per minute continuously.[*unreliable source?*] The PzH 2000 has automatic support for up to 5 rounds of Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI). The replenishment of shells is automated. Two operators can load 60 shells and propelling charges in less than 12 minutes. PzH 2000 has also been selected by the armies of Italy, Netherlands, Greece, Lithuania, Hungary, Qatar and Croatia, mostly replacing older systems such as the M109 howitzer. In November 2019 a PzH 2000 L52 gun fired a shell to a range of 67 km.

## Development

In 1986, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany agreed to terminate their existing development of the PzH 155-1 (SP70) programme, which had run into reliability problems and had design defects, notably being mounted on a modified tank chassis. A new Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding (JBMOU) for a 52 caliber barrel (based on a UK proposal) to replace 39 caliber was nearing an agreement. German industry was asked for proposals to build a new design with gun conforming to the JBMOU. Of the proposed designs, Wegmann's was selected. Wegmann eventually won a contract in 1996 for 185 units to be delivered to Germany's rapid reaction force, followed by another 410 for the main force.

Wegmann and Krauss-Maffei, the two main German military tracked vehicle designers, merged in 1998 to form *KMW*.

## Design

Rheinmetall designed the 155 mm 52-calibre JBMOU compliant rifled gun (60-rifles, right-hand spiral), which is chromium-lined for its entire 8 m length and includes a muzzle brake on the end. The gun uses a new modular charge system with six charges (five identical), which can be combined to provide the optimal total charge for the range to the target, as well as the conventional bagged charge systems. Primer is loaded separately via a conveyor belt, and the entire loading, laying, and clearing are completely automated. The maximum range of the gun is 30–36 km with the standard DM121 Boattail round, about 40–47 km with base bleed rounds, and 67 km with M2005 V-LAP assisted projectiles. In April 2006 a PzH 2000 shot assisted shells (Denel V-Lap) over a distance of 56 km with a probable maximum range of over 60 km. The gun can also fire the SMART 155 artillery round, which is used by Germany and Greece.

Wegmann supplied both the chassis, sharing some components with the Leopard 2 and the turret for the gun. The system has superb cross-country performance because of its use of continuous tracks and considerable protection in the case of counter-fire. The turret includes a phased array radar on the front glacis for measuring the muzzle velocity of each round fired. Laying data can be automatically provided via encrypted radio from the battery fire direction Center.

A lighter, more air-portable version, using the gun in a module fitted to a lighter chassis, has been developed by KMW. It is called the Artillery Gun Module.

In December 2013, Raytheon and the German Army completed compatibility testing for the M982 Excalibur extended range guided artillery shell with the PzH 2000. Ten Excaliburs were fired at ranges from 9 to 48 km. Shells hit within 3 m of their targets, with an average miss distance of 1 m at 48 km. The Excalibur may be accepted by the German Army in 2014.

A PzH 2000 L52 gun fired a shell to a range of 67 km at the Alkantpan test range in South Africa on 6 November 2019.

In 2021, Germany and the Netherlands agreed to jointly define & execute a Mid Life Update to the operational Pzh2000 in their inventories and ensure standardisation and availability.

## Combat record and alterations

The PzH 2000 was used for the first time in combat by the Fire Support Command of the Royal Netherlands Army in August 2006 against Taliban targets in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Medusa. It was then used regularly in support of coalition troops in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. The PzH 2000 was also used extensively during the Battle of Chora. It was known as "the long arm of ISAF" and proved to be very precise & effective. The gun was criticised by the Dutch in Uruzgan province as the NBC system designed for use in Europe couldn't cope with the high level of dust in Afghanistan.

The guns have been modified with additional armor being fitted to the roof to protect against mortar rounds. There have been reports of other problems including the need to keep it in the shade unless actually firing, the damage it does to poorly built roads, and a significant 'cold gun' effect necessitating the use of 'warmers'.

Since the beginning of June 2010, German ISAF troops at PRT Kunduz had three PzH 2000 at their disposal. They were first used on 10 July 2010 to provide support for the recovery of a damaged vehicle. This was the first time in its history the Bundeswehr has used heavy artillery in combat. The PzH 2000 also played a key role during Operation Halmazag in November 2010, when the villages of Isa Khel and Quatliam were retaken from the Taliban by German paratroopers.

### War in Ukraine

On 21 June 2022, 12 Panzerhaubitze 2000 were deployed to Ukraine. Seven of these came from Germany and five from the Netherlands. An additional five Panzerhaubitze 2000 were given to Ukraine by Italy in July 2022, with several pictures emerging on social media of units mounted on rail cars in the Brenner Pass on 10 July on their way north to Germany.

## Operators

* Croatia: 16 ordered (second hand from Germany; 12 to be modernized and overhauled, 3 for spare parts, 1 for training. Total value of the contract was 55 million euros. The first PzH 2000 was delivered on 29 July 2015. Agreement for the procurement was signed in 2014, deliveries were to take place between 2015 and 2016, howitzers to be introduced in service by 2019.
* Germany: 185 delivered between 1998 and 2002. 7 were sent to Ukraine in 2022. 16 sold to Croatia and 21 to Lithuania. 108 to remain in active service.
* Greece: 25 ordered in 2001 and delivered between 2003 and 2004.
* Hungary: 24 ordered in December 2018
* Italy: 70 ordered in 2002 and delivered between 2004 and 2008. 2 pre-production models were retired.[*citation needed*]
* Lithuania: 21 delivered between 2015 and 2022. 17 active, 3 for spare parts, 1 for training.
* Netherlands: 57 ordered in 2002 and delivered between 2004 and 2009, 5 were sent to Ukraine in 2022, 35 in active service (2022), 10 additional planned (2024).
* Qatar: 24 ordered in 2013, first three were delivered in 2015
* Ukraine: In 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it was announced on 20 April that five Dutch PzH 2000s would be transferred to Ukraine, with ammunition and training on the guns to be provided by Germany. On 6 May it was announced that Ukraine would receive seven units from German Army stocks which were undergoing maintenance. On 7 May Olaf Scholz agreed to supply the ammunition required, straight from industry to Ukrainian forces without having to go through the German government in future for approval. The training of the Ukrainian artillery crews started on 11 May 2022 at the Bundeswehr's artillery school in Idar-Oberstein. On 21 June the Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov announced that the first PzH 2000s had entered Ukrainian service.

## Exports

A number of armies have tested the system and its ability to provide accurate fire at 40 km has been a major selling point.

The PzH 2000 was considered for the US Army's Crusader concept system, but several requirements of the Crusader made it unsuitable. The Crusader specifications placed the crew and gun in separate compartments, allowing a single highly armoured crew compartment to control the firing of an entire battery of guns through intervehicle links. In addition the Crusader included an automated ammunition tender, and an active cooled barrel.

The PzH 2000 was a contender for Phase 1C of Australia's Land 17 Artillery Replacement Programme, until that phase of the project was cancelled in May 2012.

Finland tested one alongside the 155mm SpGH ZUZANA and AS-90 "Braveheart". Tests ended in 1998; more of the cheaper 155 K 98 field guns were bought instead of self-propelled gun systems.

The German Navy evaluated a modified system known as MONARC for installation onboard frigates; while the system performed well, components were difficult to protect against corrosion. Sweden evaluated a slightly modified version, but selected the ARCHER Artillery System instead.

In December 2018, Hungary ordered 24 newly built PzH 2000s from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, and 44 Leopard 2A7+ and 12 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks, in a deal valued at over 160 billion HUF (US$565 million).

In June 2022, Germany and the Netherlands authorized the transfer of 12 Panzerhaubitze 2000s to the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the first being received on the 21st of June.