Gepard


Cheetah, PRTL


Overview


Gepard 1A2

A German army Gepard with its radars in the firing position.
Source: Hans-Hermann Bühling - © GNU Attribution - Share Alike license

Origin
Germany
Type
Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Entered service
1976
Status
In service
Development
1965 - 1973
Developer
Germany - Rheinmetall, Kraus-Maffei, AEG-Telefunken
Production
1976 - 1980
Producer
Germany - Kraus-Maffei Wegmann
Number produced
570, plus 19 pre production vehicles
Unit cost
DM 2.85 million in 1973
Designations
Flakpanzer Gepard
Official name in German service
PRTL / Pantser Rups Tegen Luchtdoelen
Dutch military service, Dutch for "tracked armored vehicle for use against aerial targets"
Pruttel
Dutch nickname, derived from PRTL
5PFZ-B2
Development name
Cheetah / CA 1
Dutch service

Description


Introduction

The Gepard is a late Cold War era self-propelled anti-aircraft gun of German origin. It was developed in the late 1960's in response to the increased Soviet frontal aviation threat, including the well armored Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter. The Gepard is a very capable anti-aircraft gun with enormous firepower and good fire control equipment. The name "Gepard" is German for "cheetah".

Layout

The Gepard is based on the Leopard 1 chassis, which is lengthened and has less armor. The driver is seated at the front, the two man turret in the middle and the engine and drivetrain at the rear. The turret is unusual since the two 35mm autocannon are mounted on each side of the turret. The search radar is mounted on top of the turret at the rear and the tracking radar is mounted in front of the turret. When on the move the search radar is lowered behind the turret and tracking radar rotates 180 degrees.

Firepower

The Gepard is armed with two 35mm Oerlikon KDA autocannon, making it one of the most powerful self-propelled anti-aircraft guns in existence. Each gun fires at 550 rpm and is supplied with 320 HE rounds plus 20 AP rounds for use against ground targets. The effective AA range is 3.5 km with standard rounds and up to 4.5 km with FAPDS rounds. In a normal engagement 20 to 40 rounds are fired at a single target.

Sensors and fire control systems

The Gepard is fitted with a S-band search radar at the rear of the turret and a Ku-band Doppler tracking radar fitted at the front of the turret. Both have a range of 15 km. Some vehicles also have a laser range finder. The Dutch vehicles have Philips radars and can be idenfied by the bar shaped search radar instead of the trough shaped radar on the original vehicles. The Dutch radars allow for higher resolution images. The X-band Doppler search radar has a 15 km range and the X-band monopulse tracking radar 13 km.

Protection

The Gepard is protected by steel armor on the hull and turret. The hull armor is slightly thinner than on the Leopard 1, but the Gepard is still protected from 14.5mm rounds, small arms fire and shell splinters. The Gepard is operated under full armor protection and an NBC system and smoke grenade dischargers are fitted.

Mobility

Since the Gepard is based on the Leopard 1 chassis it posesses a good cross country mobility and it can keep up with the armored forces it is designed to protect. The chassis is fitted with the same MTU 830 hp diesel as used in the Leopard 1. An APU powers the systems when the engine is not running.

Users

The Gepard was adopted by Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Due to the high costs the Gepard did not see any export sales, the Gepard is about three times more expensive than a Leopard 1 tank. In all three nations it has been replaced by short range surface to air missiles such as the Stinger. Obsolete units have been sold to Romania and Chile.

Details


Variants of the Gepard

Gepard

The Gepard is a large and powerful self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Leopard 1 chassis. Gepard 1: Original serial production model. A total of 214 built for Germany and 55 for Belgium. Gepard 1A1: Improved model with laser range finder. A total of 206 were produced new. Gepard 1A2: Extensive refit for service until 2015 and final improvement with ability to fire FAPDS-T rounds. A total of 147 vehicles refitted.

Cheetah

The Cheetah is the Dutch version of the Gepard. Originally it was called the CA1 but the nickname Cheetah painted on the first operational CA1 stuck. It differs in radar suite and other minor details. The Dutch version has a more capable and expensive radar suite. It can be identified by its bar type search radar and more pointed tracking radar. Most Cheetahs were upgraded with the ability to fire FAPDS-T rounds.

Facts Gepard
General
Origin
Germany
Type
Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Crew
3 (commander, driver, gunner)
Dimensions
Weight
47.3 t combat load
44.8 t empty
Length
6.85 m hull
7.73 m guns forward
Width
3.37 m
Height
3.29 radar down
4.03 m radar up
Main armament
Type
2x 35mm Oerlikon KDA autocannon
Mount
One gun on either side of turret
Ammunition
640 HE, 40 AP, all ready to fire
Elevation
-10 to +85°, powered, 45°/s
Traverse
360°, powered, 90°/s
Stabilizer
Yes, both axis
Fire control system
Search radar
15 km range
Tracking radar
15 km range
Chassis
Chassis type
Tracked chassis, 7 roadwheels
Chassis layout
Idler front, sprocket rear
Ground pressure
0.95 kg/cm²
Track width
0.55 m
Tread
2.7 m
Suspension
Torsion bar
Automotive
Engine
MTU MB 838 Ca M500 10-cylinder multifuel diesel
Power output
830 hp at 2.200 rpm
Transmission
4 forward, 2 reverse
Fuel
985 L
Mobility
Speed
65 km/h
Range
550 km on road
400 km cross country
Power to weight ratio
17.5 hp/t
Obstacle crossing
Ground clearance
0.44 m
Wall
1.15 m
Trench
3 m
Gradient
60 %
Fording
2.5 m
Protection
Armor type
Steel
Armor thickness
Up to 70 mm
NBC system
Yes
Smoke system
2x4 76mm smoke grenade dischargers
Fire suppression
Yes
Equipment
Night vision
Yes
Radio
Yes

Media


Related articles


Type 87 AW

The Japanses Type 87 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun looks rather similar to the Gepard. A turret with similar armament and layout is fitted onto a Type 74 tank chassis.

35mm Oerlikon KDA

The Gepard is armed with two powerful 35mm KDA autocannon.