3. INTRODUCTION
The Type 143A Gepard class is Germany's last class of missile
bearing fast attack craft 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: cheetah, puma, stoat, mink, sable, ferret, badger, ocelot,
weasel and hyena.
4. NATO
pennant
number
Name
Call
sign
Commissioned Decommissioned
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
March 31, 2012 -
transferred to Ghana
P6125 S 75 Zobel DRCI September 28, 1983
P6126 S 76 Frettchen DRCJ December 16, 1983
P6127 S 77 Dachs DRCK March 22, 1984
March 31, 2012 -
transferred to Ghana
P6128 S 78 Ozelot DRCL May 25, 1984
P6129 S 79 Wiesel DRCM July 12, 1984
P6130 S 80 Hyäne DRCN November 13, 1984
5.
6. 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
