This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(January 2013) |
Puma | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Operators | |
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 | |
Armament |
|
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".
NATO pennant number | German pennant number | Name | Call sign | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P6121 | S 71 | Gepard | DRCE | 7 December 1982 | 12 December 2014 | Museum ship in Wilhelmshaven |
P6122 | S 72 | Puma | DRCF | 17 February 1983 | 14 December 2015 | |
P6123 | S 73 | Hermelin | DRCG | 28 April 1983 | 16 November 2016 [1] | |
P6124 | S 74 | Nerz | DRCH | 14 July 1983 | 31 March 2012 | Transferred to Ghana Navy |
P6125 | S 75 | Zobel | DRCI | 28 September 1983 | 16 November 2016 [1] | |
P6126 | S 76 | Frettchen | DRCJ | 16 December 1983 | 16 November 2016 [1] | |
P6127 | S 77 | Dachs | DRCK | 22 March 1984 | 31 March 2012 | Transferred to Ghana Navy |
P6128 | S 78 | Ozelot | DRCL | 25 May 1984 | 18 December 2014 | |
P6129 | S 79 | Wiesel | DRCM | 12 July 1984 | 14 December 2015 | |
P6130 | S 80 | Hyäne | DRCN | 13 November 1984 | 16 November 2016 [1] |
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.
The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) use a hull classification symbol to identify their ships by type and by individual ship within a type. The system is analogous to the pennant number system that the Royal Navy and other European and Commonwealth navies use.
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs were steam-powered craft dedicated to ramming enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes. Later evolutions launched variants of self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes.
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, USS Carl Vinson is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class.
E-boat was the Western Allies' designation for the fast attack craft of the Kriegsmarine during World War II; E-boat could refer to a patrol craft from an armed motorboat to a large Torpedoboot. The name of E-boats was a British designation using the letter E for Enemy.
Skjold-class corvettes are a class of six light, superfast, stealth missile corvettes in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy. The boats were formerly classed as MTBs but, from 2009, the Royal Norwegian Navy has described them as corvettes (korvett) because their seaworthiness is seen as comparable to corvettes, and because they do not carry torpedoes. They were built at the Umoe Mandal yard. With a maximum speed of 55 knots (102 km/h), the Skjold-class corvettes were the fastest combat ships afloat at the time of their introduction., as of 2023 beaten by the Abu Dhabi MAR WP-18 Interceptor.
A missile boat or missile cutter is a small, fast warship armed with anti-ship missiles. Being smaller than other warships such as destroyers and frigates, missile boats are popular with nations interested in forming a navy at lower cost. They are similar in concept to the torpedo boats of World War II; in fact, the first missile boats were modified torpedo boats with the torpedo tubes replaced by missile tubes.
The OTO Melara 76 mm gun, being marketed as the OTO 76/62 Gun Mount, is a naval autocannon built and designed by the Italian defence company OTO Melara. It is based on the OTO Melara 76/62C and evolved toward 76/62 SR and 76/62 Strales.
A fast attack craft (FAC) is a small, fast, agile, offensive, often affordable warship armed with anti-ship missiles, gun or torpedoes. FACs are usually operated in close proximity to land as they lack both the seakeeping and all-round defensive capabilities to survive in blue water. The size of the vessel also limits the fuel, stores and water supplies. In size they are usually between 50–800 tonnes and can reach speeds of 25–50 knots (46–93 km/h).
The Type 143 Albatros class was a class of missile bearing fast attack craft. Each vessel is named after a bird of prey including the albatross, condor and cormorant. Constructed by German shipbuilders Lürssen and Kröger, the vessels were intended to replace the Type 141 Seeadler class. The German Navy retired the class in 2005 and sold the boats off to Tunisia and Ghana.
The Type 142 Zobel class was a German class of torpedo bearing fast attack craft. They were in service with the Bundesmarine during the Cold War to protect the Baltic sea coast. The class was designed by Lürssen.
The Type 140 Jaguar-class fast attack craft is an evolution of the German torpedo boats (E-boats) of World War II. The design was developed by Lürssen and designated Schnellboot 55. The 20 boats that were built for the German Navy were in service from 1957 to 1975. Then the Jaguar-class boats were replaced in service with the Bundesmarine by the Tiger class.
Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG is a German weapon manufacturer headquartered in Überlingen. It operates as a division of Diehl Stiftung and specializes in the production of missiles and ammunition.
The Ghana Navy (GN) is the naval warfare organizational military branch of the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF). The Ghanaian Navy, along with the Ghanaian Army (GA) and Ghanaian Air Force (GHF), make up the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF) which are controlled by the Ghanaian Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The 4th Fast Attack Flotilla is a force element flotilla of the Sri Lanka Navy. The flotilla's mission is to provide heavily armed and fast patrol boat capability to counter sea tiger movements along the coast and to protect naval and civilian shipping from sea tiger suicide crafts.
The Roussen class is a seven-strong class of British-designed fast attack missile boats improved and customized for the Hellenic Navy, also known as Super Vita. The class is named after its lead ship, which in turn is named after Lt Nikolaos Roussen, a World War II submarines officer who was killed in the suppression of the Navy mutiny in April 1944.
Markus Krause-Traudes is a Flottillenadmiral of the German Navy, who has served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, at the Multinational Joint Headquarters Ulm since April 2012.
For other ship classes of the same name see Nasty-type patrol boat
The Qatari Emiri Navy (QEN), also called the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces (QENF), is the naval branch of the armed forces of the State of Qatar.