Guépard

13.3

Guépard

Destroyer | France | Tier VI

Tech Tree Position

stock

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General

Research price35500 exp

Purchase price3,200,000

Hit Points14,200

Main Battery

139 mm/40 Mle 1923 on an Mle 1924 mount5 х 1 pcs.

Rate of Fire10.71 shots/min.

Reload Time5.6 sec.

Rotation Speed8 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time22.5 sec.

Firing Range11.86 km.

Maximum Dispersion112 m.

HE Shell139 mm HE OEcl M1925

Maximum HE Shell Damage2,000

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell9 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity700 m./s.

HE Shell Weight40.2 kg.

AP Shell139 mm AP OPf Mle 1924

Maximum AP Shell Damage2,600

Initial AP Shell Velocity700 m./s.

AP Shell Weight40.4 kg.

Torpedo Tubes

550 mm tube lance-torpilles2 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire0.67 shots/min.

Reload Time90 sec.

Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.

Torpedo550 mm 23DT Mle 1

Maximum Damage14,833

Torpedo Speed68 knot

Torpedo Range7.98 km.

AA Defense

37 mm/50 Mle 1925 on a CA Mle 1925 mount4 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second6.4

. . . Firing Range3 km.

13.2 mm Hotchkiss Mle 1929 on a single mount4 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second10

. . . Firing Range1.2 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed36 knot

Turning Circle Radius680 m.

Rudder Shift Time5.8 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range7.51 km.

Air Detectability Range3.57 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

13.3

Guépard

Destroyer | France | Tier VI

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price35500 exp

Purchase price3,200,000

Hit Points17,200

Main Battery

139 mm/40 Mle 1923 on an Mle 1924 mount5 х 1 pcs.

Rate of Fire10.71 shots/min.

Reload Time5.6 sec.

Rotation Speed8 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time22.5 sec.

Firing Range13.05 km.

Maximum Dispersion112 m.

HE Shell139 mm HE OEcl M1925

Maximum HE Shell Damage2,000

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell9 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity700 m./s.

HE Shell Weight40.2 kg.

AP Shell139 mm AP OPf Mle 1924

Maximum AP Shell Damage2,600

Initial AP Shell Velocity700 m./s.

AP Shell Weight40.4 kg.

Torpedo Tubes

550 mm tube lance-torpilles2 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire0.67 shots/min.

Reload Time90 sec.

Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.

Torpedo550 mm 23DT Mle 1

Maximum Damage14,833

Torpedo Speed68 knot

Torpedo Range7.98 km.

AA Defense

37 mm/50 CAIL Mle 1933 on a CAD Mle 1933 mount4 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second9.2

. . . Firing Range3 km.

13.2 mm Hotchkiss Mle 1929 on a single mount2 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second5

. . . Firing Range1.2 km.

13.2 mm Hotchkiss Mle 1929 on a CAD Mle 1929 mount2 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second7

. . . Firing Range1.2 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed36 knot

Turning Circle Radius680 m.

Rudder Shift Time4.1 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range7.51 km.

Air Detectability Range3.57 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

VI

3,200,000

Guépard — French Tier VI destroyer.

Armed with 139 mm artillery guns, the Guépard-class ships were, to a greater extent than their predecessor, in line with the concept of large destroyers — half cruiser, half destroyer.

Guépard first appeared in the tech tree on 24 Aug 2019.

Modules

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Dispersion (m)	Maximum HE Shell Damage (HP)	Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell (%)	Maximum AP Shell Damage (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
139 mm/40 Mle 1923 on an Mle 1924 mount	10.7	22.5	112	2,000	9	2,600		0	170,000

	Hit Points (HP)	Armor (mm)	Armor (mm)	Main Turrets (pcs.)	Secondary Gun Turrets (pcs.)	AA Mounts (pcs.)	Torpedo Tubes (pcs.)	Hangar Capacity (pcs.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Guépard (A)	14,200	6	16	5		4/4	2			0	380,000
Guépard (B)	17,200	6	16	5		2/2/4	2			12,500	840,000

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	Torpedo Tubes Reload Time (sec)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Damage (HP)	Torpedo Speed (knot)	Torpedo Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
550 mm 23DT Mle 1	0.7	90	7.2	14,833	68	8		0	250,000

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
PCA n° 6 Mle 1		0		0	180,000
PCA n° 6 Mle 2		0		6,500	510,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 64,000 hp	36		0	150,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4

Player Opinion

Performance

It is at Tier VI that French destroyers fully different themselves by embodying a uniquely French characteristic. Starting with Guépard, French destroyers receive access to Main Battery Reload Booster (MBRB), a consumable currently found only on the French cruiser and destroyer tech tree lines from Tier VI to X and select French premium ships. Main Battery Reload Booster reduces the reload time of Guépard's main battery guns by 50% for 15 seconds with a cooldown time of 100 seconds. The short duration increase in DPM afforded by this consumable can be used as just that - a DPM boost - but is significantly more valuable when used at especially crucial times, such as when dueling enemy destroyers, shooting AP shells into the broadsides of enemy cruisers, or attempting to stack fires on enemy battleships that have recently used Damage Control Party.

Another strength of the French destroyer line that starts with Guépard is her upgraded 139mm main battery gun. (While the rest of the line also equips 139mm guns, earlier destroyers from Tier II to V use 100mm or 130mm guns.) Guépard's 139mm gun is the second largest caliber gun currently found on any destroyer and is unique as the largest caliber gun that can be improved with the Basic Firing Training and Advanced Firing Training commander skills. Guépard's higher caliber guns have higher penetration, greater maximum damage, and faster reload speed as compared to her predecessor. However, though not terrible at Tier VI, the turret traverse speed decreases to 8°/s from the 10°/s of her predecessor. Other Tier VI destroyers have a turret traverse anywhere between 15°/s and 6°/s (higher is better). Combined with MBRB, Guépard is very competitive in duels and enemies should fear her. Starting with a loaded gun and assuming an (unrealistic) 100% HE hit and penetration rate, Guépard can deal 20,000 damage in the span of 14 seconds with MBRB active. Without MBRB, Guépard will deal 10,000 damage in that same time span.

However, Guépard's torpedoes are the same as her predecessors. She has the same number of them (two triple launchers) with the exact same parameters. As other destroyers have torpedoes that are improved from their predecessors', Guépard's torpedo range and damage are merely average. Nonetheless, Guépard can still stealth torp without Concealment Expert, though only barely with a 0.3 km window.

With Guépard, a clear focus on guns over torpedoes becomes evident. This emphasis continues with subsequent French destroyers. While Guépard does have two main weaknesses - her high detectability and lack of smoke - her impressive maximum speed of 45 knots and high health pool allows her to stay alive and redeploy to wherever she is needed in the endgame. If captains can resist the initial allure of caps and avoid charging in at the start, Guépard performs her support role well.

Pros:

• First tech tree French destroyer with access to Main Battery Reload Booster .
• When upgraded, highest health pool and largest main battery range among all Tier VI destroyers.
• Hard-hitting 68 knot (fastest at tier) torpedoes that don't need to be researched.
• High speed of 45 knots with Engine Boost  and Sierra Mike (fastest at tier).

Cons:

• No Smoke Generator, making it hard to disengage and increasing vulnerability to carriers.
• Largest detectability range among Tier VI destroyers (tied with Aigle).
• Torpedoes are exactly the same as Tier V Jaguar's with relatively long 90 second reload.
• Mediocre torpedo arcs, especially towards the bow.

Optimal Configuration

Commander Skills

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Endurance		Attack		Support		Versatility
1	Priority Target Situational Awareness indicator will show the number of opponents currently aiming at you with main battery guns. ★★★	Preventative Maintenance -30% to the risk of incapacitation of main turrets, torpedo tubes, steering gear, engines. ★	Expert Loader -50% to reload time when shell type is switched. ★	Air Supremacy -5% aircraft restoration time. Χ	Direction Center for Fighters +1 fighter to carrier fighter squadrons or catapult fighters. Χ	Improved Engine Boost +10% Aircraft engine boost time. Χ	Incoming Fire Alert Indicator of long-range enemy artillery fire. ★	Last Gasp Completely restores the engine boost for the last attack flight of the carrier's planes. Χ
2	High Alert -10% to reload time of Damage Control Party consumable. ★	Jack of All Trades -5% to reload time of all consumables. ★★	Expert Marksman +2.5 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber up to 139mm. +0.7 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber above 139mm. ★★	Torpedo Acceleration +5 knots to torpedo speed. -20% to torpedo range. ★	Smoke Screen Expert +20% to the radius of the smoke screen. Χ	Improved Engines +2.5% Squadron speed. Χ	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% to reload times of all types of armament for each 1% of total health lost. +0.2% squadron speed for each 1% of total health lost. ★★★	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated. ★★★
3	Basics of Survivability -15% to time of repair, fire extinguishing, and recovery from flooding. ★	Survivability Expert +350 ship HP for each ship tier. +15 aircraft HP for each ship tier. ★★★	Torpedo Armament Expertise -10% to reload time of torpedo tubes. ★★	Aircraft Armor Reduces continuous damage to aircraft in all AA defense zones. -10% continuous damage. Χ	Basic Firing Training -10% to reload time of main battery guns with a caliber up to and including 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +10% to continuous damage from AA guns. ★★★	Superintendent +1 additional charge to all consumables mounted on a ship. ★★	Demolition Expert +2% chance of HE shells causing a fire on target. +1% chance of rockets causing a fire on target. +5% chance of HE bombs causing a fire on target. ★	Vigilance +25% to detection range of enemy torpedoes. ★
4	Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament Tightens dispersion of secondary batteries. -15% for Tier I-VI ships. -60% for Tier VII-X ships. Manually selected target only.	Fire Prevention -10% to the risk of fire. The maximum number of fires on a ship is reduced to three.	Inertia Fuse for HE Shells +25% to the armor penetration of HE shells. -50% to base chance of fire caused by HE shells. ★★★	Sight Stabilization Speeds up the aiming of a carrier's aircraft. +7.5% attack aircraft and torpedo bomber aiming speed. +15% dive bomber aiming speed. Χ	Advanced Firing Training +20% to firing range of main battery guns with a caliber up to 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +15% AA flak burst damage. ★★	Massive AA Fire +100% instantaneous damage. No boost to continuous damage in a reinforced sector. Shorter effective cooldown.	Radio Position Finding Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken. ★★	Concealment Expert -10% to the detection radius of all ships and aircraft. ★★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful      ★★ - Frequently Useful      ★ - Occasionally Useful     No stars - Meh      Χ - Not recommended

Consumables

Guépard equips the following consumables:

• Slot 1: Damage Control Party 
• Slot 2: Main Battery Reload Booster 
• Slot 3: Engine Boost 

  Gallery

Historical Info

Guépard, 1929

Construction

Builder: Arsenal de Lorient; Lorient, France

Laid down: 14 March 1927

Launched: 19 April 1928

Commissioned: 1 July 1929

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Specifications

2,436 tons displacement, standard

3,220 tons displacement, full

130.2m length

11.5m beam

4.3m draft

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Machinery

Four (4) Du Temple boilers

Two (2) Parsons geared steam turbines

572 tons oil

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Performance

35.5 knots at 64,000 shaft horsepower

3,000 nm at 14.5 knots

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Armament

Main

Five (5x1) 138.6mm/40 Mle 1923

Anti-aircraft

Four (4x1) 37mm/50 Mle 1925

Four (4x1) 8mm Hotchkiss MG Mle 1914

Torpedoes

Six (2x3) 550mm 23DT

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Complement

236 (12 officers and 224 sailors)

History

Guépard was the lead ship of her class of destroyers (contre-torpilleur) built for the French Navy during the 1920s.

Design

Three years after the Jaguar-class, the Marine Nationale came back to the contre-torpilleur-types with a revised design. Key in the design points was improving over the initial class, in particular an improved main battery using a 138.6mm gun. As a result, displacement increased substantially, to 2,690 tonnes (3,220 tonnes at full load), requiring machinery power to increase once more – this time to 64,000 shp – to maintain a design speed of 35.5 knots.

Despite the increased power of the machinery, the Guépard-class used only four boilers (reducing weight considerably), made possible by newer and improved types working at a pressure of 20 kg/cm²/215°C. Additionally, lessons from cruiser construction were applied, with the machinery adopting a ‘unit’ arrangement – previously, all turbines were aft of the boiler rooms, which made it possible for the ship to be immobilized by a single hit. A unit arrangement alternated placement – a boiler room, then turbine room, followed by a boiler room, and another turbine room. Thus, no one hit could completely disable the ship, and one shaft would always (in theory) be operational.

The main armament adopted a considerably more powerful gun – the 138.6mm/40 Mle 1923. The gun fired a 39.9 kg SAP shell at a velocity of 700 m/s, allowing for a maximum ballistic range at +35° elevation of 18,200 meters. However, like the 130/40, effective range was lesser, only 12-13 km (especially with the early 3-meter rangefinders, which could not spot fall of shot over 13 km). Rate of fire on the guns was a little higher – 5-6 rpm – although still less than designed, as the gun rammers were too weak and the shells too large to be effectively handled by gun crew. The amidships gun benefited with a much larger ready rack, of 48 shells. Fire control arrangements were largely the same, although unlike earlier ships the Mle 1923B fire control computer was installed when the ships were built, not after. Anti-aircraft armament was also altered - the 75mm guns were disposed of and replaced by four 37mm/50 Mle 1925 semi-automatic cannons, designed to be similar to the Vickers 40mm pom-pom used by the British and Italian navies (the latter produced by Terni under license). The guns were relatively ineffective, due to a horrendously slow rate of fire for the caliber (15-21 rpm, versus 50-75 rpm on the 40mm pom-pom). These were backed up by two twin 8mm machine gun mounts, eventually replaced by 13.2mm machine guns.

Torpedo armament was more capable than the prior types – although it still used two triple banks, it used an improved 550mm Mle 1924T launcher, which was capable of using the new 550mm Mle 1923DT torpedo. Warhead power was increased considerably, as was range – now 9,000 meters at 39 knots. Fire control methods remained the same as previous classes.

Overall, the ships were a considerable improvement over the Jaguar-class. Although they still had stability issues, they were far more stable than their troubled predecessors. They exceeded their design speeds in trials, and were much faster in service than their predecessors. However, like both the prior destroyer classes, turbine machinery was still not particularly reliable, and fuel consumption was much greater than predicted, reducing operational utility.

Service

After France surrendered to Germany in June 1940 during World War II, Guépard served with the navy of Vichy France. She was among the ships of the French fleet scuttled at Toulon, France, on 27 November 1942. Her wreck later was salvaged and scrapped.

Historical Gallery

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  Guépard at anchor

Video



References

1. French destroyer Guépard - Wikipedia
2. Guépard-class destroyer - Wikipedia
   

Ships of France

Destroyers