FH-2000

2024-11-14T14:04:57Z

2406:3003:2077:1E60:A227:389:FD6F:9027: infobox: variants → developed_from

{{Short description|Singaporean 155 mm towed howitzer}}

{{Infobox weapon
|name=FH-2000
| image= File:FH-2000 AOH 2022 300522.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=The FH-2000 155mm/52calibre Howitzer
|origin= [[Singapore]]
|type=[[Howitzer]]

|is_ranged=yes
|is_explosive=
|is_artillery=yes
|is_vehicle=yes

|service=1993 – present
|used_by=See [[#Operators|''Operators'']]
|wars=

|designer=[[ST Kinetics]]<ref name= "Brochure">[http://www.stengg.com/upload/188COa4mAjeDLUG9OC2.pdf FH-2000 Brochure.] Stengg. {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110928071030/http://www.stengg.com/upload/188COa4mAjeDLUG9OC2.pdf |date= 2011-09-28}} Retrieved on August 27, 2008.</ref>
|design_date=1990
|manufacturer=[[ST Kinetics]]<ref name="Brochure"/>
|unit_cost=
|production_date=1993–1995
|developed_from=[[FH-88]]

|weight={{convert|13,200|kg|abbr=on}}
|length={{convert|12.90|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (firing)
|part_length={{convert|8.06|m|ftin|abbr=on}} L/52
|width={{convert|9.73|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (firing)
|height=
|diameter=
|crew=6

|cartridge=
|caliber= [[155 mm]] NATO
|action=
|rate=6 rpm for 3 minutes <br />2 rpm for 30 minutes
|velocity=
|range={{convert|19|km|abbr=on}} (with M107)<ref name="Brochure"/>
|max_range={{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} (with ERFB BB round)<ref name="Brochure"/>
|feed=hydraulically powered flick rammer assisted loading
|sights=

|breech=Semi-automatic [[Interrupted screw]] with electronic rammer
|recoil=
|carriage=6 wheeled [[Gun carriage#Modern gun carriages|split trail]]
|elevation=-3°/+70°
|traverse=±20° from centerline

|armour=
|primary_armament=
|secondary_armament=
|engine=Air-cooled turbo charged diesel
|engine_power={{convert|75|hp|abbr=on|lk=in}}
|pw_ratio=
|suspension=
|vehicle_range=
|speed={{convert|10|km/h|abbr=on}}
|guidance=
}}

The '''FH-2000''' or '''Field Howitzer 2000'''<ref>{{Cite web | publisher = NAS |url= https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/20051027985.htm|title = Army Unveils Locally Designed and Built Light Weight Howitzer}}</ref> was developed by [[ST Engineering|Singapore Technologies]] for the [[Singapore Army]]. It is a [[155 mm]]/52-calibre towed howitzer gun. It fires projectiles to a maximum range of 42 kilometers using special extended range ammunition, that was field tested in New Zealand. It has a crew of eight and uses a 75 hp diesel [[auxiliary power unit]] to give it a self-propelled speed of 16 kilometers an hour movement without towing.

It's reported that the FH-2000 will be replaced over time by the Next Generation Howitzer project.<ref name= "janes.com">{{Cite web|url= https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/singapore-outlines-next-generation-armed-forces-in-latest-transformation-roadmap | work = Jane’s |title = Singapore outlines next-generation armed forces in latest transformation roadmap}}</ref>

==Development==
[[Image:FH-2000 towing config.jpg|thumb|left|The '''FH-2000''' in towing configuration]]
The FH-2000 is a development of the [[FH-88]] gun system, which was first produced in 1983 and uses many of the same components. Development of the FH-2000 began in 1990, with the first prototype produced in 1991. The initial prototype was developed further, and acceptance tests were completed in December 1993. The gun differs in a number of ways from the earlier FH-88 most notable is the longer 52 calibre barrel as compared to the 39 calibre barrel of the FH-88.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Foss|editor-first=Christopher F.|title=Janes Armour and Artillery 2007–2008|year=2007|edition=28th|publisher=Janes Information Group|location=Coulsdon, Surrey|isbn=978-0710627940|page=908}}</ref>

Additionally, ST Kinetics assisted Turkey in the design and manufacture of its own 155mm/52calibre [[Panter howitzer|Panter towed howitzer]] system, which is understood to be based on the FH-2000 design but upgraded locally with an uprated diesel [[Auxiliary Power Unit]] (APU) of 160 hp instead of the original 75 hp, thus giving it a self-propelled speed of 18 km/h as compared to 10 km/h for the FH-2000.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Foss|editor-first=Christopher F.|title=Janes Armour and Artillery 2007–2008|year=2007|edition=28th|publisher=Janes Information Group|location=Coulsdon, Surrey|isbn=978-0710627940|page=922}}</ref>

==Design==
The firing platform, when fully deployed, support the howitzer using a tripod mechanical structure. Firing loads are transmitted to the ground through this tripod, isolating the hydraulic cylinders of the platform, which provides for greater reliability. The FH-2000 shares compontents with the FH-88, including the sighting system and APU.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jaa/jaa_0540.html |title=Singapore Technologies Kinetics 155 mm FH-88 gun-howitzer (Singapore) - Jane's Armour and Artillery |website=www.janes.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924155322/http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jaa/jaa_0540.html |archive-date=24 September 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The FH2000 can be fitted with a series of sighting systems from optical to electro-optical, which are linked to the fire control computers. The breech mechanism is semi-automatic and it opens automatically during counter recoil.

An electronically controlled and hydraulically powered flick rammer rams the projectile into the barrel chamber with high consistency.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/fh2000.htm | title=FH2000 | publisher=Federation of American Scientists | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015012456/http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/fh2000.htm | archive-date=2006-10-15 }}</ref>

==History==

===Deployment===
By 1995, 18 guns were deployed with the 23rd Singapore Artillery Battalion in three batteries of six guns. The gun has been offered for export, and the Indonesian army has taken delivery of a number of these units.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

===1997 incident===
On 9 March 1997, a 155mm artillery round [[Explosion|exploded]] in the barrel of a FH-2000 gun howitzer during a [[Live fire exercise|live firing exercise]] conducted by the 23rd Battalion of Singapore Artillery at the artillery range of [[Waiouru Army Camp]], near [[Waiouru]] in New Zealand. This resulted in the deaths of two [[full-time national servicemen]], [[Third Sergeant]] Ronnie Tan Han Chong and [[Lance Corporal]] Low Yin Tit. 12 other servicemen were injured in the incident, including a [[Staff Sergeant]] from [[New Zealand Army]], who was acting as the [[New Zealand Defence Force]] liaison officer/observer to the visiting SAF battalion.

A Committee of Inquiry found that the most probable cause of the incident was a faulty [[artillery fuze]] that was fitted to the 155 mm projectile which, when loaded into the gun howitzer, [[detonated]] prematurely by action of the [[flick rammer]]. Subsequently, [[Chartered Industries of Singapore]] conducted an [[X-ray]] check on the same batch of fuzes from where the faulty fuze was taken from and found that approximately 1.3% of these fuzes were faulty.

The families of the two deceased SAF servicemen, as well as other injured servicemen, were compensated. Various SAF and New Zealand personnel were also awarded, in recognition of their acts of bravery and professionalism during the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/MINDEF_19970628001.pdf|title=The 155mm Gun Howitzer Chamber Explosion on 9 Mar 97 in New Zealand|date=1997-06-28|publisher=NAS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509031437/http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/MINDEF_19970628001.pdf|archive-date=2018-05-09|url-status=live|access-date=2018-05-09}}</ref> Lieutenant-Colonel Toh Boh Kwee, First Warrant Officer Mohinder Singh, First Sergeant Teo Boon Hong and Lieutenant Leroy Forrester NZDF received the [[Awards for Singapore National Serviceman#Pingat Jasa Perwira .28Tentera.29.2FThe Singapore Armed Forces Medal for Distinguished Act .28Military.29|Pingat Jasa Perwira (Tentera)]] for risking their lives to help injured soldiers immediately after the explosion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/MINDEF_19970714002.pdf|title=SAF Medal for Distinguished Act|date=1997-07-14|publisher=MINDEF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509031436/http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/MINDEF_19970714002.pdf|archive-date=2018-05-09|url-status=live|access-date=2018-05-09}}</ref>

==Operators==


[[File:FH-2000 operators.png|thumb|220px|right|Map with FH-2000 operators in blue]]

* {{flag|Singapore}}: Singaporean Army<ref name="janes.com"/>
* {{flag|Indonesia}}: [[Indonesian Army]]<ref name ="Sejarah Artileri">{{cite web|url=http://pussenarmed.kodiklat-tniad.mil.id/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=57|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403151144/http://pussenarmed.kodiklat-tniad.mil.id/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=57|title=Sejarah Armed|archive-date=3 April 2014}}</ref>

===Failed Exports===

* {{flag|India}}: The FH-2000 was competing to win a contract against BAE's FH77 worth Rs 9,000 crore (USD$2 Billion), but ST Kinetics was being investigated by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] for alleged corruption links against former Ordnance Factory Board chief Sudipto Ghosh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/under-scanner-firm-eyes-army-tender-for-guns/story-UruW6j1eXdom7feCD1Yk8M.html|title=Under scanner, firm eyes army tender for guns|date=16 January 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[FH-88]]
*[[SLWH Pegasus]]
*[[SSPH Primus]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|FH-2000 howitzer}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081219032649/http://www.stengg.com/CoyCapPro/detail.aspx?pdid=141 Singapore Technologies official site]

===Video clip===
*{{YouTube|uI8n0J55524|FH 2000 52 Calibre 155mm Field Howitzer video clip}}

{{Singapore-designed weapons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fh-2000}}
[[Category:155 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Artillery of Singapore]]

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FH-2000