The PzH 2000 is considered to be the most advanced follow-on system for the armoured cannon artillery worldwide and is scheduled to replace the M109 Howitzers that have been in service for more than 30 years. The German Procurement Agency (BWB) awarded a production contract in March 1996 for 185 units to Wegmann & Co GmbH, cementing the future of the PzH 2000 as the new standard gun for the future artillery requirements of the German army. Wegmann hopes to interest other national armies in the PzH 2000 with a view to procuring the weapon system jointly with the German artillery.
Following completion of engineering trails and operation tests including low-and-high temperature tests in Shilo, Canada and Yuma, US, life crew clearance was awarded by BWB in March 1994 with the user declaration of deployment readiness being approved in November 1995. Approval for introduction into service was given by the German armed forces in January 1996. Series production began immediately with a projected release date of 1998. The 185 units under production will be delivered between 1998 and 2002.
The new standards set by the PzH 2000 include a high level of protection for both crew and ammunition. The turret and hull areas are protected by armour steel and offer optional roof protection and a spall liner in the crew compartment.
An automatic shell-loading device gives a high rate of fire of three rounds in less than 10 seconds or nine rounds in less than 60 seconds. Replenishing the ammunition of the PzH 2000 with both shells and charges can be carried out by two crew members in only 12.5 minutes. Graduated manual modes are provided in the event of failure of individual parts or the complete automatic system. The required range of 30km with standard Nato-ammunition or almost 40km with assisted ammunition is achieved with the newly developed 52 cal. 155 mm armament as well as with the new modular charge system (MTLS). Continued use of the in-service bag charges will still be possible.
The increased ammunition load of the PzH 2000 allows for a total complement of 60 155mm shells. 288 MTLS modules or the corresponding number of bag charges are stowed in the turret bustle and the vehicle carries the required ammunition for the secondary armament and crew weapons.
The autonomy of the on-board navigation system makes each of the self-propelled guns a stand-alone weapon system and combat-ready at all times.
The system is operated and monitored via menu-controlled displays. The main armament of the PzH 2000 is automatically laid to the required angle and can be re-laid during firing as necessary. The electrical gun-laying equipment permits partially automatic or manual back-up operation.
The modern chassis of the PzH 2000 that is fitted with proven MBT Leopard components in the suspension area as well as the front-mounted powerpack featuring an eight-cylinder MTU 881 diesel engine (736kW), makes for a high degree of mobility and allows rapid changes of position. After receiving a fire mission on a march, it takes the PzH 2000 less than two minutes to carry out the order and to change its firing positing again.
The PzH 2000 with a three-man crew is capable of achieving the performance of at least three M109A3G Howitzers with a 20-man crew. This is particularly relevant to the man-power savings, limited resources and out-of-area UN missions of modern military forces.
Four PzH 2000 prototypes have been under intensive testing since August 1993. As well as the clearance given by the BWB and the cold and hot weather trials, logistic troop trials were successfully performed. Tests performed by the Swedish Coast Artillery in May 1996 proved the accuracy of the PzH 2000 against moving sea targets. The system achieved a high accuracy against a towed sea target (4x4m) at a range of between 6000 and 8000m. A constant pattern was shown in the points of impact that changed exactly in accordance with the moving target. Only four rounds would be needed to destroy the target. The success of these trials was confirmed by participating artillery and coast artillery inspectors from Norway, Finland, Sweden and Denmark as well as military onlookers from Italy, the Netherlands and Germany.
