PzH 2000, Panzerhaubitze 2000
This thread is about PzH 2000 - technical and general discussion.
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History
About History
In 1987, Germany BWB (now BAAINBw) launched a project for the new SPG because the PzH 155-1 project was failed.
Consortium South(Krauss-Maffei, Porsche, KUKA) and North (Weggman,MaK-Kiel) have enter the project.
South group built a six-wheeled hull made of components of Leopard 2; the North group built seven-wheeled hull and used Leopard 1’s technology.
As a drivetrain for both prototypes, MTU’s engine and Renk’s transmission were used.
Weapon systems were provided by Rheinmetall.
During the development phase and comparative studies, the WTD and army actively participated to test prototypes, provide advice to companies, and implement necessary decisions at the beginning of the project.
North group takes contract because of better ammunition flow and turret system.
Between 1991 and 1993, four similar prototypes were built (PT01 to PT04) by North group. The hull was built at MaK and the turrets at Wegmann.
From September 1993 to march 1995, driving dynamics and performance, weapons, navigation system, weather condition and etc… tests were went on.
During the test, the vehicle was exposed to extreme weather ranging from -30° to +50° , fired 17,400 rounds and travelled 20,000km on and off road.
On march 14 1996, the German Ministry of Defence issued a production contract for a first lot of 185 PzH 2000s to Wegmann & Co. The contract had a value of DM 1.7 billion.
Wegmann served as a prime contractor for the project. but in 1999 the company merged with Krauss-Maffei to become Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG.
The first series-production vehicle rolled out on 01 July 1998, and it delivered to the ArtLehrBtl 345 in Kusel.
At the same time, when the last series-production vehicle was fielded, KWS (combat capability improvement) program was implemented and all vehicles were modified into A1 version.
Therefore, all currently operating PzH 2000s of Bundeswehr are not less then A1 versions.
Part of improvements was an automatic air pressure governor for the rammer of auto-loading system, which replaced a manual one. and strap system of the driver’s seat was replaced by a new one. most important thing is all the vehicles were fitted with a more powerfull data processing unit for the operating and control system.
In 2010, Bundeswehr modified seven PzH 2000 A1 to the improved A2 standard. these seven A2 vehicles replaced A1 versions deployed in Afghanistan.
Main features of improvement were an air-conditioning system in the hull and charge storege and SEA 8kW APU that replaced the earlyer 1.9kW one, also fitted with the Mobile Multispektrale Tarnausstattung (MMT) mobile multispectral camouflage system.
From 2013 onward, an additional 27 vehicles were upgraded to A2 standard.
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.
Specification
Specification
Crew
Five Crew, Commander, Driver, Gunner, two Loaders
Weaponary
Rheinmetall 155mm L/52 Howitzer, JBMOU compatible
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Horizontal 360°, Vertical -2.5° to +65°
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3 Rounds in 10sec, Up to 12 rds/min
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60 Ready projectiles, Stored in the hull
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288 moduler charges or 36 conventional bag charge , Separately stored in 36 cylinders at back of turret by 3 sliding doors
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Up to 30~56km of range
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V0 945m/s (L15A1, 6 Charges)
7.62mm MG at turret roof, 1,200 rounds
Protection
Protected by welded armor, Up to 14.5mm MG and 152mm shrapnel
Add-on 60mm “Hedgehog Armor”, to protect hull & turret’s roof from shaped charge bomblet
Spall liners on turret and hull roof and part of the hull side
76mm Smoke grenade x8
“MMT” SAAB Baracuda multispectral camouflage system
Mobility
11.7m / 3.5m / 3.4m (L / W / H)
57.6t with add-on armor (55.8t without add-on armor)
MTU MT 881 Ka-500 (736 kW, 1,000 PS at 2,700rpm)
RENK HSWL 284C (Max 62km/h, Forward 4 / Reverse 2)
420km Operational range
Optics
PERI RTNL-80 Commander periscope
PERI-R19 mod Panoramic telescope
TN 80 Tank sight
Ammunition
L15A1 HE
DM111 HE
DM121 HE
DM131 HE-BB
DM702 “SMArt 155” DPICM
DM115 Smoke
DM116 Illumination
Other NATO Standard munitions
Charges
DM72 / DM92 High-zone Modular Charge
DM82 Low-zone Modular Charge
Photos
Optics
Panzerhaubitze 2000 PzH 2000 A1 (AM-00269) | Flickr
DVIDS - Images - Dynamic Front 22 [Image 1 of 8]
Operators
Hungary
Redirecting...
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/PzH_2000_of_the_Hungarian_Armed_Forces_(4).jpg
Greece
Qatar
No photos, sorry
Sources
Sources
Panzerhaubitze 2000 – Wikipedia
Tankograd Militar Fahrzeug Spezial No. 5025 Panzerhaubitze 2000
Panzerhaubitze 2000 A1/A2, Tankograd in Detail: Fast Track 14, 2015
https://www.rheinmetall.com/en/products/large-calibre/cutting-edge-in-modern-artillery-technology
Propulsion systems for the artillery | Rheinmetall
https://ndiastorage.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/ndia/2021/imem/Padfield.pdf
