Gepard class fast attack craft

The Type 143A Gepard class is Germany's last class of missile bearing Fast Attack Craft (FAC, Schnellboot in German) and the only one still in service with the Deutsche Marine (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 from 2008 on and later be replaced by a new class of corvettes around 2015.

List of ships

NATO pennant number	Name	Call sign	Commissioned
P6121	S 71 Gepard	DRCE	December 71982
P6122	S 72 Puma	DRCF	February 171983
P6123	S 73 Hermelin	DRCG	April 281983
P6124	S 74 Nerz	DRCH	July 141983
P6125	S 75 Zobel	DRCI	September 281983
P6126	S 76 Frettchen	DRCJ	December 161983
P6127	S 77 Dachs	DRCK	March 221984
P6128	S 78 Ozelot	DRCL	May 251984
P6129	S 79 Wiesel	DRCM	July 121984
P6130	S 80 Hyäne	DRCN	November 131984

The boats are named after big cats and other mammal predators. The "S" and the number are part of the ship's full name i.e the "S 71 Gepard". When the ships were first commissioned, they were originally numbered (eg just "S 71"); 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 FPBs 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

References

• Schnellboot GEPARD-Klasse. Deutsche Marine. Retrieved on 5 August., 2008.