Misplaced Pages

#67932

29-494: The Panzerhaubitze 2000 ( German pronunciation: [ˈpant͡sɐhaʊ̯ˌbɪt͡sə t͡svaɪ̯ˈtaʊ̯zn̩t] ), meaning "armoured howitzer 2000" and abbreviated PzH 2000 , is a German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall in the 1980s and 1990s for the German Army . The PzH 2000 has automatic support for up to five rounds of multiple round simultaneous impact . Replenishment of shells

58-670: A common caliber between the Royal Navy and the British Army . Despite superficially appearing to be inferior based on a simple comparison of round diameters, when firing conventional ammunition the smaller, 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun is comparable to the standard 155 mm (6.1 in) gun-howitzer of the British Army. The standard shell from a 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun has the same, if not better, range. Only by using rocket-assisted projectiles (RAPs) can most 155 mm (6.1 in) guns have comparable range to

87-526: A domestic production of shells. As of December 2022, the production rate was "in the thousands". The US declared its plans to increase the production to 90,000 per month, to reach 1,000,000 shells per year in 2025. Rheinmetall said it was ready to boost production to 500,000 per year. In summer 2023, the EU approved a plan that provides for the production of 650,000 large-calibre ammunition per year, and pledged to supply one million artillery shells to Ukraine over

116-526: A good compromise between range and power, while using just a single caliber greatly simplifies the logistics burden. This has led to the obsolescence of larger caliber artillery shells such as the 175 and 203 mm (6.9 and 8.0 in). Some militaries continue to retain the smaller 105 mm (4.1 in) weapons for their light weight and greater portability. Russia and former Eastern Bloc countries tend to use 122, 130, and 152 mm (4.8, 5.1, and 6.0 in) artillery in similar roles. Since

145-535: A modified tank chassis. German industry was asked for proposals to build a new design with a gun conforming to the JBMOU. Of the proposed designs, Wegmann's was selected. Rheinmetall designed the 155 mm 52-calibre JBMOU compliant rifled gun (60-rifles, right-hand spiral), which is chromium -lined over 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

174-654: A prototype L52 gun barrel with a new charge for a range of at least 75 km (47 mi) since 2020. In May 2024, Rheinmetall announced that it would supply "a three-digit number" of L52 gun barrel systems for the Panzerhaubitze 2000 for "a European customer country". 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

203-470: Is automated. Two operators can load 60 shells and propelling charges in less than 12 minutes. The PzH 2000 equips the armies of Germany , Italy , Ukraine , 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 a distance of almost 67 km (42 mi). Rheinmetall started testing

232-617: Is used in many field guns , howitzers , and gun-howitzers . It is defined in AOP-29 part 1 with reference to STANAG 4425. The 155 mm (6.1 in) caliber originated in France after the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) . A French artillery committee met on 2 February 1874 to discuss new models for French fortress and siege artillery, among which there was a weapon in the 14–16 cm (5.5–6.3 in) caliber range (later it became known as

261-489: The De Bange 155 mm cannon ). After several meetings, on 16 April 1874 the committee settled on the 155 mm (6.1 in) caliber (in the subsequent program-letter of the committee, dating from 21 April 1874, the caliber was for the first time expressed as 155 mm (6.1 in)). Since the early 21st century, most NATO armies have adopted 155 mm (6.1 in) weapons as an all-purpose standard. They are seen as striking

290-544: The US Navy 's Advanced Gun System (AGS) also uses a 155 mm (6.1 in) caliber, it is not compatible with NATO-standard 155 mm (6.1 in) ammunition. Only one type of ammunition was ever developed and procurement was discontinued in 2016 due to its high cost, making the AGS unusable. Compatible with NATO projectiles: Unknown compatibility: As of February 2023 –March 2023, Ukraine was firing up to 10,000 artillery shells per day, with

319-618: The 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun and by doing so there is a reduction in the payload. This is because naval guns can be built much more strongly than land-based self-propelled gun-howitzers, and have much longer barrels in relation to caliber (for example the 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun has a barrel length of 55 calibers , while the standard AS-90 self-propelled gun has a barrel length of 39 calibers). This allows naval guns to fire heavier shells in comparison to shell diameter and to use larger propellant charges in relation to shell weight, leading to greater projectile velocities. Even without active cooling,

SECTION 10

#1732883400068

348-684: 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 was accepted by the German Army in 2014. A PzH 2000 L52 gun fired a shell 67 km at the Alkantpan test range in South Africa on 6 November 2019. In 2021, Germany and

377-825: The Netherlands agreed to jointly define & execute a Mid-Life Update to the operational Pzh2000 in their inventories and ensure standardisation and availability. 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 . The PzH 2000

406-666: The Top Charge) high pressure unitary charge, the range is 36 km with DM121 BT round, 47 km with M0121 BB round and 67 km with the M2005 V-LAP RAP. The gun can also fire the SMArt 155 artillery round 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

435-552: The average monthly rate of 90,000–110,000 of 155 mm shells. In March 2023, the Ukrainian defense minister asked allies for 250,000 of such shells per month. Before the start of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022), the United States produced 14,400 shells per month. As of March 2023 , the rate has increased to 20,000 per month. Germany's Rheinmetall was producing 60,000–70,000 per year in 2022. Ukraine has

464-453: The barrels of the PzH 2000 had an expected lifetime of around 4,500 shots, but to the surprise of the manufacturer they have achieved up to 20,000 in Ukraine. As of June 2024, 41 remain to be manufactured, it includes 1 for Hungary, 22 for Germany and 18 for Ukraine. + 22 + 18 - 8 + 1 + 8 155 mm 155 mm (6.1 in) is a NATO -standard artillery shell caliber that

493-492: 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 centre. A lighter, more air-portable version developed by KMW and called the Artillery Gun Module uses the gun in a module fitted to a lighter chassis. In December 2013, Raytheon and

522-571: The end of World War II , the 155 mm (6.1 in) caliber has not found any use among naval forces despite its ubiquity on land with most NATO and aligned navies using 76 mm (3.0 in), 100 mm (3.9 in), 114 mm (4.5 in), or 127 mm (5.0 in) guns on modern warships. At one point the British Ministry of Defence studied "up-gunning" the Royal Navy 's 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval guns to give increased firepower and

551-665: The fire support batteries, a task which used to be the responsibility of the staff of the Fire Support Command. The staff will, however, maintain responsibility over the management of the Fire Support School and the artillery training grounds. Personnel of the command is divided over two corps , the Korps Veldartillerie (Field Artillery Corps) and the Korps Rijdende Artillerie (Horse Artillery Corps),

580-471: The guns required repairs, and error messages were being displayed as they are designed and built to fire no more than 100 shots a day. Germany considers 100 shots per day "a high-intensity mission". Ukraine has consistently exceeded this number, placing stress on the loading mechanism. Ukraine also fired "special ammunition at too great a distance." The Bundeswehr sent spare parts and a repair facility in Lithuania

609-458: The heavier naval gun barrels allow a faster sustained rate of fire than field guns, and this is exploited with an autoloading system with a capacity of several hundred rounds. The 155 mm (6.1 in) is better than the 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun for firing cannon-launched guided projectiles (CLGP) as the lower velocity of the 155 mm (6.1 in) shell makes it much easier for the projectiles' internal electronic guidance systems to survive being fired. While

SECTION 20

#1732883400068

638-529: The howitzers, finishing repair work on six by December 2022. By this time, the number of PzH 2000s sent to Ukraine rose to twenty-two; fourteen from Germany and eight from the Netherlands. As of February 2023, fifteen of the howitzers were waiting to be repaired in Slovakia , but were being held up at the border for several weeks due to legal issues. According to the Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger

667-476: The latter also known as the Gele Rijders (Yellow Riders) due to their traditional uniforms with heavy yellow braiding. The corps serve a traditional purpose and are not indicative of the size of the respective units. On 30 April 2021, the new Delta (D) Battery of the 41 Artillery Battalion was established as a result of investments into the land-based firepower. The battery has not yet reached full strength, hence

696-528: The need to keep it in the shade unless actually firing, the damage done when traveling on poorly built roads, and a significant 'cold gun' effect necessitating the use of 'warmers'. Starting in June 2010 as a result of the Good Friday Battle , German ISAF troops at PRT Kunduz had three PzH 2000s at their disposal. They were first used on 10 July 2010 to provide support for the recovery of a damaged vehicle. This

725-632: The next 12 months. Fire Support Command The command was established on 25 January 2013 through amalgamation of the 14 Field Artillery Battalion ( Dutch : 14e Afdeling Veldartillerie ) and the 11 Horse Artillery Battalion ( Dutch : 11 Afdeling Rijdende Artillerie ). With the establishment of 41 Artillery Battalion ( Dutch : 41 Afdeling Artillerie ) on 18 January 2019, the Royal Netherlands Army has returned to field an independent artillery unit. The battalion staff has since been responsible for planning and operational management of

754-520: 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 with standard issue DM92 propellant charges is 30 km with the standard DM121 boattail round, 40 km with base bleed rounds, and 54 km with M2005 V-LAP rocket-assisted projectile . With Rheinmetall's ERC (Extender Range Charge, previously known as

783-768: Was also used extensively during the Battle of Chora . It was known as "the long arm of ISAF " and proved to be accurate and effective. However, the gun was criticised by the Dutch in Uruzgan province as the NBC system , designed for use in Europe, could not 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

812-506: Was chosen to repair the weapons. This came as Ukraine and KMW entered into a 1.7 billion euro deal to purchase 100 PzH 2000s. Russian state news agency TASS reported that a PzH 2000 was destroyed by Russian forces in Kherson Oblast on 30 October 2022. The open-source intelligence site Oryx reported one visually confirmed damaged PzH 2000. Due to the intensity of artillery fire on the battlefield, Lithuania undertook to repair twelve of

841-582: Was the first time in its history that 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. On 21 June 2022, twelve PzH 2000s were deployed to Ukraine; seven came from Germany and five from the Netherlands. After a couple of weeks of intensive use,

#67932