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Gepard class fast attack craft
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S71 Gepard
S79 Wiesel
Exocet launchers onboard S74 NerzThe 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's an evolution of the Type 143 Albatros class. It's planned that Gepard class vessels will gradually be supplemented by Braunschweig class corvettes starting in 2007.


Specifications
Length: 57.6m
Beam: 7.8m
Draft: 2.6m
Displacement: 391 tonnes
Propulsion: 13.235 kW
Speed: 40+ knots
Armament:
1 OTO-Melara 76mm gun
4 MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles
1 GDC Rolling Airframe Missile launcher, 21 cells
Mine laying capability
Countermeasures:
Decoy launcher HOT DOG
Chaff launcher DAG 2200 Wolke
Complement: 35

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 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 previously 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.