The Panzerhaubitze 2000, abbreviated PzH 2000, is a German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall for the German Army.
The PzH 2000 is one of the most powerful conventional artillery systems deployed in the 2010s.
PzH 2000 has also been selected by the armies of Italy, Netherlands, Greece, Lithuania and
Croatia, and more orders are probable as many NATO forces replace their M109 howitzers.
The PzH 2000 is fitted with a 155-mm / L52 howitzer.
Vehicle has a fully-automatic loading system with ammunition management system.
The PzH 2000 is compatible with standard NATO 155-mm ammunition.
Maximum range of fire is 30 km with standard HE-FRAG projectile and 40 km with rocket-assisted
projectile.
Maximum rate of fire is 9 rounds per minute.
It is capable of Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact firing.
A total of 60 rounds are stowed in a magazine.
Secondary armament consists of a roof-mounted 7.62-mm machine gun.
The PzH 2000 receives target data via data link.
The gun is automatically laid using the fire control data.
Front armor of the PzH 2000 provides protection against 14.5-mm rounds.
All-round protection is against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters.
Explosive reactive armor can be fitted if necessary.
The PzH 2000 is also fitted with automatic fire suppression and NBC protection systems.
The PzH 2000 has a crew of five, including commander, gunner, two loaders and driver.
Target engagements can be carried out by a crew of two men.
Loaders are employed only when autoloader fails.
Chassis of the PzH 2000 uses some components of the Leopard 2 main battle tank.
Vehicle is powered by the MTU MT881 Ka-500 supercharged diesel engine, developing 1 000
hp.
The PzH 2000 is also fitted with auxiliary power unit, powering all systems, when the
main engine is turned off.
The PzH 2000 is reloaded by two operators.
Projectiles are automatically picked up from the back of the vehicle and stowed in the
autoloader's magazine.
This self-propelled howitzer is replenished in less than 12 minutes.
------------------------------- Weight: 55.8 t
Length: 11.7 m Width: 3.6 m
Height: 3.1 m
Speed Road:: 67 km/h
Off-road: 45 km/h
Unit cost: US$4.5 million -------------------------------
The PzH 2000 was used for the first time in combat by the Dutch Army in August 2006 against
Taliban targets in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Medusa.
Since then it has been used regularly in support of coalition troops in Uruzgan province, also
in Afghanistan.
The PzH 2000 was also used extensively during the Battle of Chora.
It is known as "the long arm of ISAF".
The PzH2000 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.