According to a Tweet published by the German Ministry of Defense on October 12, 2022, in the next few weeks, more German PzH 2000 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers and MARS II MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) will be handed over to Ukraine.
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Germany to deliver Ukraine with more PzH 2000 155mm self-propelled howitzers and MARS II Multiple Launch Rocket Systems.
During a North Atlantic Council meeting that was held on October 12-13, 2022, in Brussels, as well as a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein-6) under the auspices of the United States, the German Ministry of Defense announced the delivery to Ukraine of more PzH 2000 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers and MARS II MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System).
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Germany has delivered to Ukraine four PzH 2000 155mm howitzers and two multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition which are now deployed by the Ukrainian armed forces to fight the Russian army.
The PzH 2000 is German-made 155mm self-propelled howitzer and is considered a state-of-the-art artillery system. The howitzer is armed with a Rheinmetall 155 mm L52 caliber cannon equipped with the matching Rheinmetall Modular Charge System (MTLS), giving the required range and rate of fire. The gun has a maximum firing range of 30 km with the standard L15A2 projectile and up to 40 km with extended-range ammunition. The artillery system is fitted with an automatic electrically driven projectile loading system enabling loading and firing to take place within the full traverse and elevation range. The 60-round projectile magazine as well as the complete shell handling system is controlled by an automatic data management system. It has a crew of five.
The MARS II is an upgraded version of the American-made M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) which is in service with the German army. According to the military balance 2021, before the war in Ukraine, the German armed forces had a total of 41 MARS II MLRS.
The German M270 has been upgraded to the standard MARS II/MLRS-E to fire guided rockets at a maximum range of 70 km. It keeps the original two pods of six launcher tubes able to fire guided and unguided 230 mm rockets.
The MARS II/MLRS-E has a crew of three including the driver, commander and gunner who are seated in the fully enclosed cab at the front of the vehicle offering protection against the firing of small arms and artillery shell fragments by aluminum armor and louvered windows. All the firing operations can be performed from inside the crew cabin which is fitted with an overpressure ventilation system to prevent rocket fumes from entering the cab. Equipment capabilities permit a reduced crew, or even one person, to accomplish a complete fire mission including the loading and unloading operations.
