Non-Subscriber Extract
PzH 2000 exceeds 40km range
- Article Tools
| 31 May 2001 |
CHRISTOPHER F FOSS JDW Land Forces Editor
London
Krauss-Maffei
Wegmann's PzH 2000 155mm/52-cal self-propelled artillery system achieved
a maximum range of over 40km during recent trials carried out by company
and German Army personnel on the government's Putios firing range in northern
Germany. The trials were carried out with a standard production PzH 2000 firing a South African Naschem M2000 BB (Base Bleed) Assegai high-explosive projectile and the Rheinmetall DM72 Modular Charge System. Six of the latter modules were used.
A
maximum range of 41.8km was achieved with a total of 20 155mm projectiles
and DM72 Modular Charge Systems being used. According to Krauss-Maffei Wegmann,
the extended range of 40km was the fulfilment of the last mandatory key
requirement for the Hellenic Army, which is scheduled to order 24 systems
within the next four to eight weeks. Firing a standard 155mm L15A1 high-explosive projectile, originally developed many years ago for the 155mm/39-cal towed FH-70, the PzH 2000 has a maximum range of 34.5km or 37km using a standard base bleed projectile.
The M2000 Assegai (or Spearhead) family of 155mm artillery projectiles has been developed as a private venture by the Naschem Division of Denel for use with towed and self-propelled 155mm/52-cal weapons.
The complete Assegai family includes the M2000 high-explosive, M2000 low-fragmentation, M2000 practice, M2001 cluster (42 bomblets), M2002 smoke, M2003 illuminating, M2004 smoke red phosphorous and the M2005 VLAP (Velocity Enhanced Artillery Projectile). All of these have been designed to meet NATO's Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding and can be fitted with a base bleed unit. The German Army has ordered 185 PzH 2000s, of which just over 120 have been delivered with final deliveries due in 2002. It was the first army in the world to deploy a 155mm/52-cal self-propelled artillery system.
Italy is to build 68 under a co-production programme, with an additional two coming from the German production within the next year, to replace its 155mm/39- cal M109L howitzers. Production will be undertaken at the Otobreda facility at La Spezia. The PzH 2000 has also been selected by the Netherlands which, following negotiations, is expected to place a contract for 57 units, although the original requirement was for 60 units to replace the current M109 series.
Through Otobreda of Italy, the PzH 2000 is also being marketed to selected countries in the Middle East on a case by case basis and subject to the approval of the German and Italian governments.
 |
| A troop of three German Army PzH 2000 155mm/52-cal
self-propelled artillery systems ready to fire (Source: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann) |
 |
| German Army PzH 2000 155mm/52-cal self-propelled
artillery system shortly after firing (Source: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann) |