war in Ukraine
Caesar – that’s what France’s super cannon does in Ukraine
The cannon sits at the rear of the frame and is also supported there.
© Nexter / PR
The Howitzer Caesar is mounted on a 4WD truck and is highly maneuverable. Their precision and range help Kiev’s troops hold their own against Russian superiority.
The Ukraine will receive the Panzerhaubitze 2000 from Germany, and the mobile howitzer Caesar is already in use from France. Both are modern artillery systems and not leftovers from the Cold War. And both are hugely different. The Panzerhaubitze 2000 follows tradition: the oversized cannon is housed on the hull of a tank. In order to still be able to move their weight, the armor is reduced to a minimum – it still protects the crew from shrapnel. Unlike the models of the Second World War such as “Hummel” and “Wespe” the structure is closed. In addition to protection, this design has the advantage that the howitzer can follow tanks and armored personnel carriers in any terrain thanks to the chain drive.
Caesar, on the other hand, follows a newer design. The gun will be mounted on a four-wheel drive truck. It no longer looks like a tank with an oversized gun, more like a trucker loaded a turret. The whole structure is different. At the front is the truck cabin with the driver, at the back the gun sits on the loading area. As with the self-propelled howitzer, it is not fully rotatable. Before firing, the truck can and should be hydraulically supported.
modern weapons
Compared to the old Cold War field artillery, the guns are computer controlled, more accurate and have a higher rate of fire and range. And they are more mobile. Once fired, the enemy can pinpoint the turret’s location precisely. Caesar is then already further, the return fire is in vain. Towed field artillery must be dismantled again and hung behind a tractor. With a well-trained operator, this can be done in a few minutes, but it is still a serious disadvantage.
A Ukrainian commander confirms this. He told AFP the weapon is helping make Ukraine’s defenses more agile. “Above all, this system is very manoeuvrable and mobile.” Nexter Caesar howitzers have been used in combat in Afghanistan, Iraq and Mali. Being mounted on the truck makes it far more maneuverable than a self-propelled howitzer. Despite being 10 meters long, the 6×6 trucks weigh “only” 19.5 tons and can therefore be moved by plane. Although the engine has only 245 hp, they can reach a speed of 50 km/h off-road and 100 km/h on the road. The next generation will get a more powerful engine, an armored cabin and some anti-mine protection.
Less expensive than a tracked chassis
The chassis can move the gun independently over long distances, the range is 600 kilometers. A tracked vehicle, on the other hand, is a diva, it wants to be driven on a trailer for longer distances and in motion it always requires attention and maintenance. Maintenance and costs for the chassis are much lower than for a tracked vehicle. It can be assumed that the future belongs to the truck gun. Because of the size of the cannon, a modular system is conceivable, but complicated. Then the cannon and its technology would be mounted on the floor of a standard container, it could then be placed on any truck frame.
The crew consists of three to six soldiers. In 60 seconds the cannon is ready for use. Then she can fire six 155mm/52 caliber shells in such a way that they hit the target at the same time. The truck can be moving again 40 seconds after the last shot. This speed and the range of 40 to 50 kilometers results in a great effect on the battlefield.
12 Caesars have already been delivered, and Macron has promised six more. After all, the reputation is so great that Russian accounts have already circulated manipulated images intended to show captured howitzers.