Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer 1 Gepard B2L

Type: Anti-Aircraft Vehicle
Nation: Germany
Period: Cold War
Location: Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster, Germany

An expensive piece of kit

The Gepard was Post-War Germany‘s only indigenous gun-based anti-aircraft vehicle. In 1976 the Bundeswehr received the first of about 400 units. The system was based on the lengthened chassis of the Leopard 1, but because of its very sophisticated technology a Gepard cost about three times as much – one one of the main reasons why Germany decided to remove it from active service in 2012 without ever fielding a successor. The Gepard had never been used in active combat until late July 2022, when the German government delivered some decommissioned vehicles to Ukraine for the war against the Russian invasion – along with other western equipment such as the MLRS rocket launcher and the Panzerhaubitze 2000.

Like something from a sci-fi film

The Flakpanzer Gepard has three crew members and two independent radar systems. The commander is in charge of the rotating search radar dish on the back of the turret, which is capable of identifying targets within a range of 15 km. Once a target is acquired, the gunner takes over with the tracking radar on the turret front and locks on to the enemy‘s position. Two targets can be followed simultaneously – by day and by night, in all weather conditions. The twin 35 mm cannons fire at a combined rate of 1,100 rounds per minute, but the ammunition boxes only hold about 680 shells. Since the guns have to be able to elevate and traverse very rapidly to follow an aircraft‘s flight vector, the Gepard has a separate 90 hp Daimler-Benz 4-cylinder diesel engine which is located next to the driver, where the Leopard normally would have an ammo rack. This auxiliary engine powers the turret‘s movements and electronic systems through five electric generators. Because of the vehicle‘s complexity, crew training has always been exceptionally long and thorough. Back in the day when the Bundeswehr still was a conscript army, being a Gepard gunner was one of the most challenging positions a „Wehrdienstleistender“ could have – and it certainly required the longest training time. 

Modernised cat

Throughout its service life the Gepard received several upgrades called „Kampfwertsteigerungen“ (= fighting capability improvements). This particular vehicle is a Gepard B2L, which was the first major upgrade from the series model. It has a digital fire control system, a laser rangefinder, better radios and improved ammunition. The rectangular opening above the first return roller on the left hull side is the auxiliary engine‘s exhaust.  The search radar dish on this vehicle is folded down to the travelling position. Continuing Germany‘s traditional fixation on cat names for armoured vehicles, „Gepard“ means „cheetah“.