Synopsis
The NATO multinational battlegroup in Lithuania recently conducted live-fire drills to test its readiness involving the German Army’s Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) artillery system.
The PzH 2000 is a 155 mm self-propelled artillery gun capable of firing several shells a minute. It’s currently in service with several NATO Allies, including Lithuania.
The German Army’s Panzerhaubitze 2000 worked alongside artillery units from the Lithuanian Iron Wolf Brigade and multinational forward observer teams to conduct “shoot and scoot” drills, in which the PzH 2000s emerge from cover, execute a fire mission, and shift location before they can be hit with a counter-attack. The exercise held at Pabrade Training Grounds ensures that the NATO multinational battlegroup in Lithuania remains ready to respond to any threats.
Footage includes live-fire drills and an interview with Lieutenant Colonel Lars Neitzel, commander of the NATO multinational battlegroup in Lithuania.
Transcript
---SHOTLIST—
(00:00) CLOSE UP SHOT - GERMAN SOLDIER LOADING SHELLS INTO BACK OF PzH 2000
(00:09) CLOSE UP SHOT - GERMAN SOLDIERS HANDLING ARTILLERY CHARGES
(00:11) SLOW MOTION SHOT (NO SOUND) - GERMAN SOLDIERS HANDLING ARTILLERY ROUNDS
(00:17) SLOW MOTION SHOT (NO SOUND) - GERMAN SOLDIER HANDLING ARTILLERY ROUNDS
(00:37) SLOW MOTION SHOT (NO SOUND) - SHELL BEING LOADED INTO BACK OF PzH 2000
(00:43) SLOW MOTION SHOT (NO SOUND) - GERMAN SOLDIER HANDLING ARTILLERY ROUNDS
(00:52) GO PRO SHOT - GERMAN PzH 2000 DRIVING ALONG FOREST TRACK
(00:59) MEDIUM SHOT - GERMAN PzH 2000 DRIVING PAST FOREST
(01:03) MEDIUM SHOT - LITHUANIAN PzH 2000 DRIVING ALONG FOREST TRACK
(01:11) SLOW MOTION SHOT (NO SOUND) - GERMAN PzH 2000 DRIVING ALONG FOREST TRACK
(01:18) DRONE SHOTS (NO SOUND) - GERMAN PzH 2000 DRIVING ALONG FOREST TRACK
(01:36) DRONE SHOT (NO SOUND) - LITHUANIAN PzH 2000 DRIVING ALONG FOREST TRACK
(01:45) DRONE SHOT (NO SOUND) - GERMAN PzH 2000 STATIC
(01:51) DRONE SHOTS - GERMAN PzH 2000 LIVE-- FIRING
(02:30) MEDIUM SHOT - GERMAN PzH 2000 FIRING
(02:49) CLOSE UP SHOTS - GERMAN PzH 2000 FIRING
(03:00) GO PRO SHOT - INTERIOR OF GERMAN PzH 2000 FIRING
(03:33) MEDIUM SHOT - GERMAN PzH 2000 FIRING
(03:38) MEDIUM SHOT - GERMAN PzH 2000 FIRING
(03:44) MEDIUM SHOT - GERMAN PzH 2000 FIRING
(03:51) SLOW MOTION SHOT (NO SOUND) - GERMAN PzH 2000 FIRING
(03:58) SLOW MOTION SHOT (NO SOUND) - GERMAN SOLDIER CARRYING SHELL
(04:07) SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH
German Army Lieutenant Colonel Lars Neitzel, Commander, NATO multinational battlegroup in Lithuania
‘Militarily, a live-- firing exercise is always the highlight of every training cycle. So you train to conduct a live-firing exercise. And part of the reassurance, but also of deterrence, is also always to be credible. So credibility, from my perspective, means that you have to show your capabilities, you have to underline the capability that they are effective and they can be used if they are needed. And that's why, from our perspective, militarily, the live-firing exercise is very important.’
(04:40) SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH
German Army Lieutenant Colonel Lars Neitzel, Commander, NATO multinational battlegroup in Lithuania
‘In a wartime scenario, and also on exercises, we need to be ready to support the Lithuanians with our indirect fire means and obviously also the other way round. So in order to improve the interoperability of the howitzers, but also the maintenance, the supply of ammunition, of fuel and so on, this needs to be trained, this needs to be coordinated. And this is what we are going to do here.’
(05:03) SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH
German Army Lieutenant Colonel Lars Neitzel, Commander, NATO multinational battlegroup in Lithuania
‘I think the enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup initiative, so the intention of NATO to reassure the Baltics and the eastern Allies has been taken seriously all the time. But since the war in Ukraine started, you can feel that there's a huge effect on the population or the populace here in the Baltics and also in our home countries, from the Allies that are part of the enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup here in Lithuania.
(05:29) SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH
German Army Lieutenant Colonel Lars Neitzel, Commander, NATO multinational battlegroup in Lithuania
‘The thankfulness from my perspective of the Lithuanian military and also the Lithuanian population is very high and we feel also thankful to be part of that community, and to support and reassure the population by our presence.’
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