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Puma
Class overview
Operators	German Navy  Ghana Navy
Preceded by	Albatros class
Succeeded by	Braunschweig-class corvette
In commission	1982-present
Planned	10
Completed	10
Active	2
Retired	8
Preserved	1
General characteristics
Type	Fast attack craft
Displacement	390 t (380 long 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 & decoys	Decoy launcher HOT DOG Chaff launcher DAG 2200 Wolke
Armament	1 × Otobreda 76 mm gun 4 × MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles 1 × GDC RAM launcher, 21 cells 2 × MG50-1 machine guns Minelaying capability

The Type 143A Gepard class was a class of missile bearing fast attack craft (German: Schnellboot) and the last one in service with the German Navy before the remaining four operational ships were decommissioned on 16 November 2016. The Ghana Navy operates two such ships.

It is an evolution of the Albatros class, the main difference being the replacement of the second 76 mm gun by the RAM system. The Gepard-class vessels were gradually supplemented by Braunschweig-class corvettes and later replaced completely by them.

The ships in class were named after small to medium-sized predatory animals; Gepard is German for "cheetah".

List of ships

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 had formed 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 (hulls S 71–S 75) 7. Schnellbootgeschwader. The squadron was stationed in Warnemünde, where both predecessor squadrons had been based.

Gallery

• S71 Gepard
• Exocet launchers onboard S74 Nerz
• RAM launcher onboard S74 Nerz
• S 75 Zobel

Notes

1. ^ "Germany retires last fast attack craft". Naval Today. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.

References

• "Schnellboot GEPARD-Klasse" (in German). German Navy. Retrieved 10 July 2013.

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