Gepard-class fast attack craft
![]() S79 Wiesel | |
Class overview | |
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Operators: |
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Preceded by: | Albatros-class |
In service: | 1982–present |
In commission: | 1982–present |
Planned: | 10 |
Completed: | 10 |
Active: | 6 |
General characteristics | |
Type: | Fast Attack Craft |
Displacement: | 390 t (380 long tons; 430 short tons) |
Length: | 57.6 m (189 ft) |
Beam: | 7.8 m (25 ft 7 in) |
Draught: | 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) |
Propulsion: | 4 × diesel engines, totalling 13,235 kW (17,748 hp) |
Speed: | 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) |
Complement: | 5 officers, 31 enlisted |
Electronic warfare and decoys: | Decoy launcher HOT DOG Chaff launcher DAG 2200 Wolke |
Armament: | 1 × Otobreda 76 mm gun 4 × MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles |
The Type 143A Gepard class is a class of missile bearing fast attack craft (German: Schnellboot) and the only one still in service with the German Navy since 1990.
It is an evolution of the Albatros-class fast attack craft, the main difference is the replacement of the second 76mm-gun by the RAM system. It is planned that Gepard class vessels will gradually be supplemented by Braunschweig-class corvettes and to be replaced by a new class of corvettes in the 2020s.
The ships in class are named after small to medium sized predatory animals.
List of ships
NATO pennant number |
German pennant number |
Name | Call sign |
Commissioned | Decommissioned |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
P6121 | S 71 | Gepard | DRCE | 7 December 1982 | 12 December 2014 |
P6122 | S 72 | Puma | DRCF | 17 February 1983 | |
P6123 | S 73 | Hermelin | DRCG | 28 April 1983 | |
P6124 | S 74 | Nerz | DRCH | 14 July 1983 | 31 March 2012 |
P6125 | S 75 | Zobel | DRCI | 28 September 1983 | |
P6126 | S 76 | Frettchen | DRCJ | 16 December 1983 | |
P6127 | S 77 | Dachs | DRCK | 22 March 1984 | 31 March 2012 |
P6128 | S 78 | Ozelot | DRCL | 25 May 1984 | 18 December 2014 |
P6129 | S 79 | Wiesel | DRCM | 12 July 1984 | |
P6130 | S 80 | Hyäne | DRCN | 13 November 1984 |
The "S" and the number are part of the ship's full name. When the ships were first commissioned, their designation included only the number; however, the crews petitioned for full names, and the decision was made to combine the original names with the additional animal name.
Since 1 July 2006, all ships are part of the 7. Schnellbootgeschwader (7th Fast Patrol Boat Squadron), whereas for the eight years prior the flotilla was split into (hulls S 76–S 80) 2. Schnellbootgeschwader (2nd Fast Patrol Boat Squadron), and a smaller (hulls S 71–S 75) 7. Schnellbootgeschwader. The squadron is stationed in Warnemünde, where both predecessor squadrons were also based
Gallery
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S71 Gepard
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Exocet launchers onboard S74 Nerz
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RAM launcher onboard S74 Nerz
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S 75 Zobel
Notes
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gepard class. |
- "Schnellboot GEPARD-Klasse" (in German). German Navy. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
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