- Yes
- No
Description: The FlakPanzer Gepard is a German anti-aircraft vehicle based on the Leopard 1 hull. It’s development began in 1966, when the Bundeswehr started to look for a new platform that could replace the old American M42 Duster. The German companies proposed two different projects: the Matador (developed by Rheinmetall, AEG, Siemens, and Krauss-Maffei) and the 5PFZ-A (developed by Oerlikon, Contraves, Siemens-Albis, Hollandse Signaalapparaten, and Krauss-Maffei/Porsche). In 1971, the chosen one happened to be the second choice, and soon a contract for four prototypes designed as B1 was signed. After 12 more preserie units, the Bundeswehr was satisfied and proceeded to order 420 serial units. After the first batch of 195 B1, the Bundeswehr decided to upgrade the remaining 225 units with a laser rangefinder by Siemens-Albis. The second batch was called B2. It was heavily used by Germany and some other nations in 2010, when they started to retire. The main offensive weapon of the Gepard is a pair of 35 mm Oerlikon cannons, armed with APDS, HE, and HE-VT rounds. The cannons have an effective range of 4 km and are guided by the MPDR-12 Doppler radar capable of locking an enemy target 15 km away. It is also equipped with 8 x 76 mm smoke grenades. Even though most of the troops in the German army were destroyed, some units were donated to Ukraine, which uses them as anti-drone and anti-missile platforms. In the Italian army, the Gepard is a rather unknown machine. Indeed in 1971, the Italian army showed interest in the new platform, but it declined three years later. Regardless, a single 5 PFZ unit was purchased to test the characteristics of the platform. Any detail regarding it’s fate after 1974 is completely void.
Why it should be in game: It could replace the SIDAM at 8.3 (that could maybe go down to 7.7) and add a new anti aircraft vehicle in the Italian TT.
Specifications
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