PzH 2000 Armored Howitzers For Iron Wolves

Germany will transfer 21 Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 155 mm armored howitzers and support vehicles to Lithuania under a contract signed between the two countries Sept. 29.

The contract also includes the transfer of 150 155 mm rounds for the PzH 2000, 26 M577 command post vehicles and six Bergepanzer-2 armored recovery vehicles.

Four of the PzH 2000s are ready for operations, 12 must be modernized at the cost of Lithuania, three will be used for training, and two for spare parts.

Five M577s will be used for spare parts.

The transferred materiel will equip the General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion of Lithuania's Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

The Bundeswehr will train Lithuanian soldiers on the operation and maintenance of the equipment in Lithuania and the German army's artillery school in Idar-Oberstein.

The Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade is hosting a seminar to discuss the organization of a self-propelled artillery battalion, training standards and requirements, unit training, tactics and logistics.

The first PzH 2000s are expected to be delivered to Lithuania in 2016 and the remainder by 2019.