Gepard class fast attack craft

S79 Wiesel
Class overview
Operators:	German Navy
Preceded by:	Type 143 Albatros class
In service:	1982-present
In commission:	1982-1984
Active:	10
General characteristics
Type:	Fast Attack Craft
Displacement:	391 tonnes
Length:	57.60 m
Beam:	7.80 m
Draft:	2.60 m
Propulsion:	13,235 kW
Speed:	> 40 knots
Complement:	30 crew + 4 officers
Electronic warfare and decoys:	Decoy launcher HOT DOG Chaff launcher DAG 2200 Wolke
Armament:	1 x OTO-Melara 76mm gun 4 x MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles 1 x GDC Rolling Airframe Missile launcher, 21 cells 2 x MG50-1 machine guns Mine laying capability

The Type 143A Gepard class is Germany's last class of missile bearing fast attack craft (Schnellboot in German) and the only one still in service with the German Navy since 1990.

It is an evolution of the Type 143 Albatros class. 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 class is named after small, wild animals often of a ferocious nature named respectively cheetah, puma, stoat, mink, sable, ferret, badger, ocelot, weasel and hyena.

List of ships

NATO pennant number	Name	Call sign	Commissioned
P6121	S 71 Gepard	DRCE	December 7, 1982
P6122	S 72 Puma	DRCF	February 17, 1983
P6123	S 73 Hermelin	DRCG	April 28, 1983
P6124	S 74 Nerz	DRCH	July 14, 1983
P6125	S 75 Zobel	DRCI	September 28, 1983
P6126	S 76 Frettchen	DRCJ	December 16, 1983
P6127	S 77 Dachs	DRCK	March 22, 1984
P6128	S 78 Ozelot	DRCL	May 25, 1984
P6129	S 79 Wiesel	DRCM	July 12, 1984
P6130	S 80 Hyäne	DRCN	November 13, 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 8 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

References

• "Schnellboot GEPARD-Klasse" (in German). Deutsche Marine. http://www.marine.de/portal/a/marine/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLNzKODwzwAcmB2d5mIfqRcNGglFR9X4_83FR9b_0A_YLciHJHR0VFAG67nUs!/delta/base64xml/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS80SVVFLzZfMjNfUVE0?yw_contentURL=%2F01DB070000000001%2FW2698L2F467INFODE%2Fcontent.jsp. Retrieved 5 August 2008.