History[]
The Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard ("anti-aircraft cannon tank Cheetah", better known as the Flakpanzer Gepard) is an autonomous, all-weather-capable German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (S PAAG). It was developed in the 1960s and fielded in the 1970s, and has been upgraded several times with the latest electronics. It constituted a cornerstone of the air defense of the German Army (Bundeswehr) and several other NATO countries.
In-Game Use[]
The Flakpanzer Gepard behaves similarly to a Leopard 1 in respect to speed and agility, but those are the only similarities to its tank counterpart. Instead, the Gepard has 2 fast-firing antiaircraft cannons which can be used to defend the skies against enemy helicopters, although it being an anti-air does not deter the fact that most of its engagements will be ground vehicles. The Gepard is equipped with both AP and APDS but unlike other auto-cannoned vehicles it lacks HE, still, it can quite easily shred most lightly armored vehicles with AP and thickly armored tanks with APDS. The main disadvantage of the vehicle is its extremely poor health consisting of 211 being usually one-shot by most vehicles which do not suit it well alongside its already poor armor protection.
Despite its poor health, the Gepard is more superior surprisingly than the proceeding Marder 1a1 in statistics even out damaging it. It is best to use the Gepard as a support role vehicle to suppress the enemy team and finish off weakened targets.
Pros[]
- High rate of fire
- Highest damaging anti-aircraft ingame in comparison to other anti-air vehicles ingame.
- Can travel across the map at high speeds
- Useful for engaging enemy air support (namely helicopters)
- Fast turret rotation
Cons[]
- Mediocre armor
- Extremely poor health, being capable of being one-shotted by most guns at that level
- High profile
- As with any auto cannoned damage will be very small per shot