Panzerkampfwagen 2000

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The Panzerkampfwagen 2000 (PzKW 2000) was an armament project of the German armed forces that was carried out between 1988 and 1992. From 1999, following the half-generation change, the aim was to replace the Leopard 1 . Contrary to the classic design of battle tanks , a crew of two was planned and most of the functions were to be automated. The vehicle was part of the Kampfpanzer 3 project, which started back in 1970.

development

After the failure of the German-British battle tank 80 in 1976, in which the double-barreled casemate tank ( VT1-1 and VT1-2) was developed, and the Franco-German battle tank 90 in 1982, in which flat tower concepts were tested, the decision was made Germany 1983 to discard a replacement of the Leopard 1 by a new development. The aim now was to modernize and increase combat value based on the Leopard 2 .

In an extended concept phase for the Kampfpanzer 3 from 1983 to 1984, different feasibility studies were carried out in which different tower concepts and crew sizes were examined. At the same time, technology programs were run to further develop ammunition and armor protection. In 1984 the introduction of the new main battle tank was postponed until 1999. Due to the tight budget and the costs of the extended concept phase (99 million DM), the Federal Ministry of Defense (BMVg ) doubted whether a project based on phase documents from 1972 should be implemented.

On October 4, 1984, State Secretary Timmermann instructed the Armaments Department of the BMVg and the Army Inspector to bring the "Leopard 3" project to a qualified conclusion as quickly as possible, to delete all funds for the project from the annual development program and start a new one Tactical Demand (TaF) to be drawn up to prove that a new battle tank can be used sensibly on the battlefield at the turn of the millennium. The previously made findings were thus completely discarded. At the same time, the working group of the system officer in the BMVg (SBWS) defined an increase in combat value for the Leopard 2.

According to the new TaF from 1988 for the PzKW 2000, the firepower and survivability should be increased compared to the Leopard 2. The upper weight limit of MLC 60 forced the designers to do without the classic main battle tank with turret and three-man crew. Such a design with consideration of the protection requirement would lead to a weight beyond the MLC 70.

The main requirements included: two core crew members plus two alternating crew members, large-caliber powder cannon (140 mm) that can be directed independently of the hull, digital fire control system with multi-sensor technology for the reconnaissance equipment, digital radio data transmission, a command and information system (IFIS), digital on-board network, MTU 880 engine Series and a balanced protection concept. A vertex mounted main weapon like the VTS1 was also possible. The total requirement was given as 1,300 vehicles.

From 1990 field tests were carried out in Munster with the test vehicles VT 2000 in order to examine the practical suitability of a 2-man crew. Ultimately, this concept turned out to be unfeasible. The technology of the time and the possibilities of automation required a crew of three to allow the crew to carry out the basic tactical functions of driving, target observation, target assignment and target attack.

Although the project was still included in the Bundeswehr plan in January 1992, it fell victim to budget cuts shortly afterwards. In the context of the new global political situation - especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union - a new type of battle tank was no longer considered to be contemporary.

The New Armored Platform project, launched in 1995, continued to pursue many of the approaches.

VT 2000 / KampfRaumContainer

The construction of the two test vehicles was kept quite simple. Instead of the tower, there was a rigid KampfRaumContainer (KRC) with two operator stations on the Leopard 2 chassis. The optics for driving and conducting the fire fight were on a mast outside the KRC. Self-stabilized and usable independently of one another, these provided the only images, because the testing basically took place under a closed hatch. The firing of the on-board weapons was simulated. There was a so-called documentation sergeant in the driver's seat, who followed the entire test phase and made notes. The behavior of the crew was recorded on video.

In the interior there were three monitors on the left and right, the electronic driver's angle mirror in the middle and the IFIS touchscreen below. On the latter, maps on a scale of 1: 50,000 were reproduced as well as corresponding symbols for one's own vehicle, ally or enemy. A vehicle navigation system made it easier to determine the position.

Both commanders had a steering wheel and pedals for steering. Two joysticks attached to the seats were used to control the optics, fire the weapons, and move your seat up and down. When reversing, soldiers in first place could turn the seat by 180 ° and use the third control unit.

A foot switch was used to send radio messages.

Combat system container

The two K ampf S ystem C ontainer (KSC) on the Leopard-1-chassis used in the first few weeks solely to make the crew with the optics, and the guidance and information system familiar. The control elements were identical to the VT, only the container itself was self-stabilized and pivoted.

literature

  • Friends of the officers of the armored forces: 50 years of armored forces of the Bundeswehr 1956–2006 . Verlag Schneider, ISBN 3-935107-05-6 .
  • Rolf Hilmes: Main battle tanks today and tomorrow: Concepts - Systems - Technologies . 1st edition, Motorbuchverlag, December 6, 2007, ISBN 978-3-613-02793-0 .
  • Frank Lobitz: Leopard 2 main battle tank, development and use in the Bundeswehr . Verlag Jochen Vollert-Tankograd Publishing, Erlangen 2009, ISBN 978-3-936519-08-2 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Circle of Friends of the Officers of the Armored Troop: 50 Years of the Armored Troop of the Bundeswehr 1956-2006 , page 174; Verlag Schneider, ISBN 3-935107-05-6