It is one of the world’s most powerful and versatile self-propelled artillery systems. Capable of firing three rounds in under nine seconds, the German Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzer is also one of the artillery guns with the most impressive fire rate in modern warfare.
The enormous mobile howitzer might be confused with a massive tank at first glance due to its thick armor and rotating turret configuration. Still, the 155-millimeter gun mounted on the armored vehicle can deliver a devastating barrage of indirect fire reaching up to 40 kilometers.
The unprecedented artillery gun made its debut during NATO’s incursion into Afghanistan in the early 2000s, covering its International Security Assistance Force troops and obliterating enemy positions from a safe distance.
The Panzerhaubitze 2000 was so crucial to the efforts in the region that it soon gained the nickname “the long arm of ISAF.”
Despite Germany’s current policy of avoiding arms races, the device clearly shows that they can still produce revolutionary weapons. And as new conflicts erode around the globe, the Panzerhaubitze 2000 will deter even the most vicious warmongers from attacking Germany and its allies.
Development
Developed by Kraus mafay Wegman or kmw cooperatively with the leading subcontractor reinmutal land system 155 millimeters self-propelled howitzer Panzerhaubitze 2000 was created as a modern artillery solution for the german army and as a replacement for the aging and increasingly unreliable pzh-1551.
The powerful 52-caliber rifle is chromium-lined for its 8-meter length and includes a muzzle brake on the end.
This weapon also uses an innovative modular charge system with six charges and the capacity to store 60 rounds at any given time.
The formidable loading system developed for the Panzerhaubitze 2000 is part of what makes such a high rate of fire possible.
Besides the modular charge arrangement, the primer is loaded separately via a conveyor belt, and the total loading laying and clearing are entirely automated.
A modified version of the wegman’s leopard 22 was chosen for the mobile artillery unit’s chassis. The turret where the gun is mounted is the main reason the Panzerhaubitze 2000 resembles an oversized tank.
However, similarities end as the howitzer is equipped with specialized continuous tracks and suspension systems that give it superb cross-country performance.
Panzerhaubitze 2000 Breakthrough:
The weapons propulsion system is located in the front of the hull. It consists of an eight-cylinder direct injection supercharged MTU mt881 ka 500 diesel engine with a four-speed rank hswl 284c gearbox.
The hull is also heavily reinforced to protect the unit and crew from enemy counterattacks.
This design was modified after its first iteration in the early 2000s, and the newer version developed in the 2010s has thicker armor and can fire a more comprehensive array of ammunition.
The turret in the Panzerhaubitze Tank Howitzer 2000 also includes a phased array radar to measure the muzzle velocity of each fired shell. This data can be automatically sent to strategic headquarters for targeting adjustments.
The initial intended maximum range of the howitzer was 30 kilometers; however, the artillery solution overtook its design limits in may of 2001 during a series of test firings for the Hellenic army.
the pzh2000 fired 20 rounds, all to ranges exceeding 40 kilometers with a maximum distance of 41.8 kilometers.
Conventional howitzers have an approximate range of just over 14 kilometers making the Panzerhaubitze 2000 a significant breakthrough in modern artillery development.
The unique range of capabilities of the german solution was further reinforced in November of 2002 during live firings in Sweden, where similar ranges were obtained using rhinematol’s new long-range RH-40bb ammunition.
The impressive ranges were obtained using m2000bb essegai shells from the dinell corporation of south Africa in combination with the reinmatal dm72 modular charge system equipped on the howitzer.
Eventually, a staggering range of 67 kilometers was achieved using m2005 v-lap assisted projectiles; to put it in perspective, the Panzerhaubitze 2000 could engage targets in new york city from Trenton, new jersey, while remaining virtually immune to artillery counter-strikes
Around the world
The german army initially requested 450 units, but it has since reduced the demand to 260 as the government decreased its military budget in 2012. however, production of the unique howitzer continued as the Italian, Dutch, and greek armies became highly interested in buying the german artillery solution.
Greece acquired 24 units while 70 were delivered to the Italian army thanks to a german Italian co-production program. The system entered service with the Italian army in June of 2007 and accomplished initial operating capability in October 2008.
Today the Panzerhaubitze2000 is an essential part of Italy’s artillery divisions.
The dutch army signed the contract to purchase 57 units which later decreased to 39, and completed deliveries by 2010. The remaining 18 units were offered to the Australian army but were rejected.
due to their outstanding fire and reliability range rate, German commanders are considering the gun’s potential as a
naval artillery solution; thus, a Panzerhaubitze 2000 turret has been successfully mounted on the deck of the german navy f-124 frigate Hamburg. No further details have been revealed regarding the howitzer’s gun use as a naval weapon.
still, according to preliminary reviews, the gun is more than capable of performing adequately while mounted on the deck of a warship.
Panzerhaubitze 2000 in Afghanistan
it wouldn’t take long for the groundbreaking artillery system to go from the testing grounds to the battlefields.
As nato began a large-scale incursion into Afghanistan in the early 2000s to root out the Taliban extremist forces hiding in the region, the howitzer would become a significant advantage for the international security assistance force.
In September of 2006, the Panzerhaubitze 2000 would complete its first live-fire combat operation serving the dutch army in Afghanistan as part of operation medusa.
During these preliminary tasks, Panzerhaubitze 2000 provided artillery support from over 30 kilometers away to nato task forces as they attacked key Taliban positions.
The system continued being used during the four stages of the ISAF deployment from 2006 to 2014.
During that time, the formidable weapons capabilities earned the admiration of allied forces deployed across Afghanistan still some significant flaws also became apparent.
Few Drawbacks
despite its initial fantastic test results, the gun was heavily criticized
by the dutch army as the delicate automated reloading systems were designed for use in Europe and could not cope with the high level of dust in Afghanistan, leading to malfunctions and mechanical mishaps.
Additionally, during the second iteration development, the gun’s increased armor resulted in significant issues, including always needing to keep the system in the shade unless firing.
If this wasn’t done routinely, the internal chambers would be overloaded, risking the integrity of the system and the crew operating it.
Ironically the howitzer’s automated temperature regulation system didn’t seem to address the issue, nor did the fact that the gun needed to be warmed before the operation to avoid a considerable cold gun effect that drastically affected the performance and rate of fire.
To solve the cold gun problem, unique warmers had to be used by the dutch army to prepare the artillery units before every firing procedure during cold days and nights.
The heavy armor plates and the hefty track and suspension systems also led to another shortcoming that caused civilians to come into conflict with nato troops as the howitzer would destroy local roads as the unit moved from one location to the next.
Putting aside the flaws presented when operated in less-than-ideal conditions, the panzer hobbits in 2000 remains one of modern warfare’s most remarkable artillery solutions; to this date, more and more of Germany’s allies are requesting access to the weapon.
Thanks to its lightning-fast rate of fire and unprecedented range, it might just make the difference between failure And victory in the conflict.
