With an extremely fast rate of fire, long range, absolute maneuverability and high automation
the PzH-2000 is considered one of the most advanced and powerful self-propelled tracked artillery systems available today
The PzH-2000 is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer produced by two defense industry groups Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall for the German army
PzH-2000 was put into production in 1998, so far 8 countries around the world are operating this system
The German self-propelled artillery system has a combat weight of about 55.8 tons, a length of 11.7 m, a width of 3.6 m, and a height of 3.1 m
The crew of 5 includes: commander, driver, gunner, and two loaders
Its main armament is a 155 mm/L52 howitzer, which is compatible with standard NATO 155 mm ammunition
Secondary armament consists of a roof-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun
The PzH 2000 is one of the most powerful conventional artillery systems deployed in the 2010s
It is capable of a very high rate of fire; in burst mode it can fire three rounds in nine seconds
ten rounds in 56 seconds, and can—depending on barrel heating—fire between 10 and 13 rounds per minute continuously
The PzH 2000 has automatic support for up to 5 rounds of Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact
The replenishment of shells is automated
Two operators can load 60 shells and propelling charges in less than 12 minutes
Maximum range of fire is 30 km with standard HE-FRAG projectile and 40 km with base bleed projectile
Using a South African VLAP rocket-assisted projectile a range of 56 km can be achieved
The PzH 2000 is powered by a supercharged MTU MT881 Ka-500 diesel engine that develops upwards of 1,000 horsepower
The MTU system is tied to a Renk HSWL 284C transmission
When the main engine is off, a small auxiliary engine is provided to operate command-and-control systems
as well as systems required for crew comfort
The engine and transmission are fitted towards the front of the hull for improved forward protection while the turret is mounted towards the rear
In cross-country conditions PzH-2000 reaches maximum speed of 45 km/h
On the road maximum speed is 60 km/h. It manages 30º slopes, 1.1 m vertical steps, 3 m wide trenches
It fords unprepared 1.5 m depth water obstacles
PzH-2000 is fitted with automatic fire extinguishing system, NBC protection system, navigational and topographical complexes
Modern radio equipment provide data exchange in the battlefield between field artillery units
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
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
The vehicle has also been selected by the armies of Italy
Netherlands, Greece, Lithuania, Hungary, Qatar and Croatia, mostly replacing older systems like the M109 howitzers