The procurement contract for acquisition of self-propelled PzH2000 howitzers for the Lithuanian Armed Forces having been signed by the Ministries of Defence o Germany and Lithuania on 29 September, representatives of Lithuanian and German militaries are already holding consultations on the ways of integrating the new capability into the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf which will be using the German howitzers now hosts a seminar where specialists of both countries are discussing organisation of a self-propelled artillery battalion, and requirements and standards for specialists and their training. The experts are also discussing combat training of units of different levels, the tactics used, logistics at different levels, and other points concerning artillery.
"Towed 105mm howitzers currently used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the self-propelled 155mm howitzers procured perform the same artillery fire missions, however, there are considerable differences between the two types. This seminar aims at identifing such differences with expert assistance so as to pave the way for a fluent integration of the new howitzers into army units and staffs. Different command and control systems, tactics of operation, differences in combat training or new logistical challenges amounts to only a part of the variety of topic discussed in this seminar," Chief of Staff of the Artillery Battalion Major Marijus Jonelis says.
On Lithuanian side, representatives of the Ministry of National Defence, Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Lithuanian Land Force HQ, Training and Doctrine Command, and combat fire support units are taking part in the seminar.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces will obtain 21 155mm self-propelled howitzers from the German Armed Forces under the contract. 16 of them will be usable for combat purposes, 2 will be used for training firing and driving skills, and 3 more - for spare parts. The Lithuanian Armed Forces will also receive 26 M577 V2 armoured command vehicles and 6 BPZ2 recovery tanks. All of the procured equipment was formerly used by the German Armed Forces.
Representatives of the German Armed Forces will also instruct Lithuanian soldiers on technical maintenance and servicing and operation of the equipment, and its employment in operations at operational planning level. Lithuanian soldiers will attend courses, meet with German experts and learn from their experience both, in Lithuania and the artillery school of Germany.
The first of the howitzers are expected to be brought to Lithuania in 2016, with the rest to come until the deadline of 2019.
POC: Captain Rimvydas Švedas, Head of Public Affairs Division, General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion HQ, 00370 706 71751, 00370 616 06 402
E-mail: rimvydas.svedas@mil.lt
