The German government continues to study the possibility of delivering self-propelled howitzers from the Bundeswehr’s arsenal to Ukraine.
Lambrecht on possibility of getting howitzers to Ukraine
On Wednesday, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht told a cabinet meeting at Schloss Meseberg near Berlin that talks are underway with allies on the possibility of supporting Ukraine with five of the approximately 40 German PzH 2000 type self-propelled howitzers ready for deployment. The SPD politician stressed, however: “It was not me who made the decision to deliver such howitzers.”
Germany will train Ukrainian soldiers
A decision has already been made that the Bundeswehr will teach Ukrainian soldiers how to operate howitzers in Idar-Oberstein in Rhineland-Palatinate. Initially, the weapons in question are those already firmly promised by NATO partner the Netherlands.
Last week, the German government for the first time authorized the export of heavy weapons directly from Germany. Ukraine is initially to receive 50 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks.
High firing rate
The German 155 mm caliber self-propelled howitzer was developed for the Bundeswehr by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, MAK System Gesellschaft and Rheinmetall. The PzH 2000 is characterized by its high rate of fire: 3 shots can be fired in 9 seconds, 10 shots in 56 seconds (from 10 to 13 shots per minute depending on how hot the barrel is). In April 2006, on the firing range in South Africa, the PzH 2000 fired a missile with auxiliary rocket propulsion to a record distance of 56 km.
source: bild.de