Difference between revisions of "Roland 1"

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=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
<!-- "Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour." -->
+
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
The armor of the Roland 1 is average compared to other SPAAGs of the same battle rating, such as the [[FlaRakPz 1]] or the [[FlaRakRad]], which still means that the user will have a hard time surviving an encounter against an MBT or other SPAAGs equipped with cannons with at least 30mm of penetration, such as the [[SIDAM 25 (Mistral)|SIDAM 25]] if one is using an APDS belt. Because the Roland is in the 9.7 battle rating and it is the only top tier SPAAG currently available for France, it will be very common for the user to face against 10.7 jets such as the [[MiG-21bis]] or the [[MiG-21MF (Germany)|MiG-21MF]]. These jets (and many more) have no problem shredding trough the roof (and the top as a whole) of the tank with ease.
+
The armour of the Roland 1 is average compared to other SPAAGs of the same battle rating, such as the [[FlaRakPz 1]] or the [[FlaRakRad]], which still means that the user will have a hard time surviving an encounter against an MBT or other SPAAGs equipped with cannons with at least 30 mm of penetration, such as the [[SIDAM 25 (Mistral)|SIDAM 25]] if they are using an APDS belt. Because the Roland is the only top tier SPAAG currently available for France, it will be very common for the user to face against top-tier jets such as the [[MiG-21bis]] or the [[MiG-21MF (Germany)|MiG-21MF]]. These jets (and many more) have no problem shredding through the top of the tank with ease.
  
Almost every MBT in the game will have absolutely no problem destroying you with a single shot into the front of the tank, as the 30mm thick front plate is inadequate for protection and the spall created from APFSDS shells will be more than enough to wipe out your crew. The user should also bear in mind that this vehicle can be hull broken with chemical shells, meaning shells of the HE, HEAT or HESH type for example, will instantly destroy their vehicle. However due to the large interior of the tank and the spacing of the crew, one might survive an APFSDS shot to the side provided it does not hit the munitions (or very rarely) a fuel tank, or the driver and the commander at the same time. Due to the tank being larger, the modules such as the engine or the transmission won't be enough to stop a shot from the back. Because of this, one should avoid direct confrontation with a hostile MBT at any given time.
+
Almost every MBT in the game will have absolutely no problem destroying you with a single shot into the front of the tank, as the 30 mm thick front plate is inadequate for protection and the spall created from APFSDS shells will be more than enough to wipe out your crew. The user should also bear in mind that this vehicle can be hull broken with chemical shells, meaning shells of the HE, HEAT or HESH type for example, will instantly destroy their vehicle. However due to the large interior of the tank and the spacing of the crew, one might survive an APFSDS shot to the side provided it does not hit the munitions, a fuel tank, or the driver and the commander at the same time. Due to the tank being larger, the modules such as the engine or the transmission won't be enough to stop a shot from the back. Because of this, one should avoid direct confrontation with a hostile MBT at any given time.
  
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
+
'''Armour type:'''
<!-- Example: * Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Hull roof)
+
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, turret)
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area) -->
 
 
 
* The front, sides, the whole turret and the rear are made from rolled homogeneous armor
 
* Additional armor in the front and in the back is made from structural steel
 
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
Line 27: Line 23:
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
| Hull || 30 mm (30°) Upper glacis
+
| Hull || 30 mm (30°) ''Upper glacis'' <br> 30 mm (40°) ''Lower glacis'' <br> 15 mm (75°) ''Driver's port''
30 mm (40°) Lower glacis 15 mm (75°) Driver's port  
+
| 15 mm || 15 mm || 10 mm <br> 5 mm ''Radiator''
| 15 mm Top <br>15 mm Bottom || 15 mm || 5 mm Radiator
 
10 mm Roof
 
 
|-
 
|-
| Turret || 10 - 15 (0° - 30°) mm Turret front <br>10 mm Optics || 10 - 15mm || 15 mm || 10 mm
+
| Turret || 15 (0° - 30°) mm ''Turret front'' <br>10 mm ''Optics'' || 10 - 15 mm || 15 mm || 10 mm
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
'''Notes:''' <!-- Any additional notes which the user needs to be aware of -->
+
'''Notes:'''
<!-- Example: * Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick, and torsion bars are 60 mm thick. -->
+
* Tracks are 20 mm thick
 
+
* Suspension wheels are made from structural steel and are 15 mm thick
* Tracks are 20mm thick
+
* Additional armour in the front of the hull, consists of spare tracks 20 mm thick and a single structural steel block 4 mm thick
* Suspension wheels are made from structural steel and are 15mm thick
+
** There is also additional armour placed on the rear of the vehicle albeit only 4 extra millimetres in the form of structural steel
* Additional armor in the front of the hull, consists of spare tracks 20mm thick and a single structural steel block 4mm thick
 
** There is also additional armor placed on the rear of the vehicle albeit only 4 extra millimeters in the form of structural steel
 
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
Line 128: Line 120:
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
<!-- "Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB)." -->
+
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
Always scan the clouds for enemy jets. Since you cannot engage hostile MBTs, there is no point trying to get into positions where MBTs may be lurking. Your best bet would be to stick to cover from where you can constantly scan the sky for enemy jets while also being safe from hostile MBTs. Due to your size, you won't be able to find cover all that easily, so if needed, you can stay behind a hill and wait until your team advances so that you can reposition and find new cover that is way more effective.
 
Always scan the clouds for enemy jets. Since you cannot engage hostile MBTs, there is no point trying to get into positions where MBTs may be lurking. Your best bet would be to stick to cover from where you can constantly scan the sky for enemy jets while also being safe from hostile MBTs. Due to your size, you won't be able to find cover all that easily, so if needed, you can stay behind a hill and wait until your team advances so that you can reposition and find new cover that is way more effective.
  
Your missiles have no problem catching even the fastest of the jets, but speed is not everything. Try to strike down jets which are crippled or in the middle of a maneuver. There is no point in wasting a missile on a jet that has plenty of energy and time to react and dodge your missile. This plays a major factor in your performance because you can only carry 10 missiles and getting to a capture point to refill your missiles might not be an easy task to accomplish in some maps.
+
Your missiles have no problem catching even the fastest of the jets, but speed is not everything. Try to strike down jets which are crippled or in the middle of a manoeuvre. There is no point in wasting a missile on a jet that has plenty of energy and time to react and dodge your missile. This plays a major factor in your performance because you can only carry 10 missiles and getting to a capture point to refill your missiles might not be an easy task to accomplish in some maps.
  
If you encounter helicopters, they are an easy target as long as you manage to spot them first. If they spot you first and you do not notice it, it is very likely your tank is gonna get hit by an AGM, which due to Roland's not so good armor, results in an instant KO. If you are not sure if the hostile team has a helicopter, wait behind cover that protects you from the spawning helicopters and scout around or wait till your teammates call out the enemy helicopter. You should also bear in mind that the range of your missiles is roughly 6300m, which might not be against certain helicopters in some cases, such as the [[Ka-52]]/[[Ka-50|50]] or the [[EC-665 Tiger UHT]].
+
If you encounter helicopters, they are an easy target as long as you manage to spot them first. If they spot you first and you do not notice it, it is very likely your tank is gonna get hit by an AGM, which due to Roland's thin armour, results in an instant KO. If you are not sure if the hostile team has a helicopter, wait behind cover that protects you from the spawning helicopters and scout around or wait till your teammates call out the enemy helicopter. You should also bear in mind that the range of your missiles is roughly 6,300 m, which might not be enough against certain helicopters in some cases, such as the [[Ka-52]]/[[Ka-50|50]] or the [[EC-665 Tiger UHT]].
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
<!-- "Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective"." -->
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
* The Roland 1 and the Roland 3 SAM is more than enough to take down any aircraft if they hit center mass
+
* Roland 1 and Roland 3 SAM are more than enough to take down any aircraft if they hit center mass
* The fast turret rotation coupled with the 2 missiles per reload (which is only 5 seconds long) allows the user to take down jets in quick succession
+
* Fast turret rotation coupled with the 2 missiles per reload (which is only 5 seconds long) allows the user to take down jets in quick succession
 
* Radar can be used to guide the missile towards the target
 
* Radar can be used to guide the missile towards the target
 
* Pretty fast, allows for quick repositioning
 
* Pretty fast, allows for quick repositioning
Line 151: Line 143:
 
* Lacks any sort of weaponry against MBTs, Roland missiles will only damage tracks/cannons if used against MBTs
 
* Lacks any sort of weaponry against MBTs, Roland missiles will only damage tracks/cannons if used against MBTs
 
* Crewmates are positioned in a row, allows for easy one shot kills from the front and the back
 
* Crewmates are positioned in a row, allows for easy one shot kills from the front and the back
* The reloading process can't start until all missiles have blown up
+
* Reloading process can't start until all missiles have blown up
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
<!-- Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable). -->[[File:AMX-30R Roland.jpg|thumb|500x500px|AMX-30R 'Roland' formerly of the 401e Régiment d'Artillerie (401e RA) on external display at the Musée des Blindés, Saumur.]]
+
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
[[File:AMX-30R Roland.jpg|thumb|500x500px|AMX-30R 'Roland' formerly of the 401e Régiment d'Artillerie (401e RA) on external display at the Musée des Blindés, Saumur.]]
 
The Roland 1 is a Franco-German designed anti-aircraft missile system, serving primarily with the German and French armies. Designed in the late 1960s, the Roland 1 was accepted for service in the late 1970s and served with the French Army. An improved version, the [[FlaRakPz 1|Roland 2]], was accepted for service a short time later, with improved capability including all-weather operations. The Roland system has been widely exported to a variety of nations, and has been used during the Falklands Conflict and Iran-Iraq war.
 
The Roland 1 is a Franco-German designed anti-aircraft missile system, serving primarily with the German and French armies. Designed in the late 1960s, the Roland 1 was accepted for service in the late 1970s and served with the French Army. An improved version, the [[FlaRakPz 1|Roland 2]], was accepted for service a short time later, with improved capability including all-weather operations. The Roland system has been widely exported to a variety of nations, and has been used during the Falklands Conflict and Iran-Iraq war.
  
Line 174: Line 167:
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
<!-- "Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
+
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
+
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
reference to the series of the vehicles;
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees." -->
 
  
 
* [[FlaRakPz 1]]
 
* [[FlaRakPz 1]]
 
* [[FlaRakRad]]
 
* [[FlaRakRad]]
  
== External links ==<!-- Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
+
== External links ==
 +
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 +
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 +
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
 +
* ''other literature.'' -->
  
topic on the official game forum;
+
=== References ===
encyclopedia page on the tank;
 
other literature. -->
 
 
 
=== References: ===
 
  
 
* Missilery Missile Database. (2006). Roland-1 anti-aircraft missile system. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://en.missilery.info/missile/roland-1
 
* Missilery Missile Database. (2006). Roland-1 anti-aircraft missile system. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://en.missilery.info/missile/roland-1
 
* Tanks Encyclopedia. (2011). AMX-30 Roland. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/France/AMX-30-Roland-SAM.php
 
* Tanks Encyclopedia. (2011). AMX-30 Roland. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/France/AMX-30-Roland-SAM.php
 +
 
{{France anti-aircraft vehicles}}
 
{{France anti-aircraft vehicles}}

Revision as of 17:41, 28 January 2021

Rank VI | Premium | Golden Eagles
Chinese A-5C Pack
Roland 1
fr_amx_30_roland.png
GarageImage Roland 1.jpg
Roland 1
AB RB SB
9.7 9.7 9.7
Class:
Research:260 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:710 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The AMX-30 Roland 1 is a rank VII French self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle with a battle rating of 9.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.89 "Imperial Navy".

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull30 / 15 / 15
Turret15 / 15 / 15
Crew3 people
Visibility-600 %

The armour of the Roland 1 is average compared to other SPAAGs of the same battle rating, such as the FlaRakPz 1 or the FlaRakRad, which still means that the user will have a hard time surviving an encounter against an MBT or other SPAAGs equipped with cannons with at least 30 mm of penetration, such as the SIDAM 25 if they are using an APDS belt. Because the Roland is the only top tier SPAAG currently available for France, it will be very common for the user to face against top-tier jets such as the MiG-21bis or the MiG-21MF. These jets (and many more) have no problem shredding through the top of the tank with ease.

Almost every MBT in the game will have absolutely no problem destroying you with a single shot into the front of the tank, as the 30 mm thick front plate is inadequate for protection and the spall created from APFSDS shells will be more than enough to wipe out your crew. The user should also bear in mind that this vehicle can be hull broken with chemical shells, meaning shells of the HE, HEAT or HESH type for example, will instantly destroy their vehicle. However due to the large interior of the tank and the spacing of the crew, one might survive an APFSDS shot to the side provided it does not hit the munitions, a fuel tank, or the driver and the commander at the same time. Due to the tank being larger, the modules such as the engine or the transmission won't be enough to stop a shot from the back. Because of this, one should avoid direct confrontation with a hostile MBT at any given time.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, turret)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 30 mm (30°) Upper glacis
30 mm (40°) Lower glacis
15 mm (75°) Driver's port
15 mm 15 mm 10 mm
5 mm Radiator
Turret 15 (0° - 30°) mm Turret front
10 mm Optics
10 - 15 mm 15 mm 10 mm

Notes:

  • Tracks are 20 mm thick
  • Suspension wheels are made from structural steel and are 15 mm thick
  • Additional armour in the front of the hull, consists of spare tracks 20 mm thick and a single structural steel block 4 mm thick
    • There is also additional armour placed on the rear of the vehicle albeit only 4 extra millimetres in the form of structural steel

Mobility

Reverse gearbox
Forward and backward movement is possible at the same maximum speed
Speedforward / back
AB71 / 71 km/h
RB and SB66 / 66 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
5 back
Weight34.0 t
Engine power
AB1 374 hp
RB and SB720 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB40.4 hp/t
RB and SB21.2 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 71 71 34 1,023 1,374 30.09 40.41
Realistic 66 66 637 720 18.74 21.18

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 682 → 6 723 Sl icon.png
RB4 477 → 6 428 Sl icon.png
SB4 939 → 7 092 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications208 500 Rp icon.png
352 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 800 Ge icon.png
Crew training200 000 Sl icon.png
Experts710 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 080 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
160 / 190 / 240 % Sl icon.png
232 / 232 / 232 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement fr.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
163mm_roland_3_aam_ammo_pack
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank rangefinder.png
Rangefinder
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Roland SAM
Autoloader
Automatically feeds projectiles into the breech. The speed does not depend on the skills of the loader
Ammunition10 rounds
Belt capacity2 rounds
Reload5.0 s
Fire rate145 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 35°
Fire on the moveup to 5 km/h
Main article: Roland
Roland SAM (x2) Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 10 (2) 145 -10°/+35° ±180° N/A 74.9 __._ __._ __._ __._ 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00
Realistic 50.6 __._ __._ __._ __._

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Roland 1 SAM 39 39 39 39 39 39
Roland 3 SAM 54 54 54 54 54 54
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Range
(m)
Projectile
Mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive Mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Roland 1 SAM 900 6,300 65 0 0.1 4,590
Roland 3 SAM 900 8,500 77 0 0.1 6,810

Ammo racks

Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
10 __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __

Usage in battles

Always scan the clouds for enemy jets. Since you cannot engage hostile MBTs, there is no point trying to get into positions where MBTs may be lurking. Your best bet would be to stick to cover from where you can constantly scan the sky for enemy jets while also being safe from hostile MBTs. Due to your size, you won't be able to find cover all that easily, so if needed, you can stay behind a hill and wait until your team advances so that you can reposition and find new cover that is way more effective.

Your missiles have no problem catching even the fastest of the jets, but speed is not everything. Try to strike down jets which are crippled or in the middle of a manoeuvre. There is no point in wasting a missile on a jet that has plenty of energy and time to react and dodge your missile. This plays a major factor in your performance because you can only carry 10 missiles and getting to a capture point to refill your missiles might not be an easy task to accomplish in some maps.

If you encounter helicopters, they are an easy target as long as you manage to spot them first. If they spot you first and you do not notice it, it is very likely your tank is gonna get hit by an AGM, which due to Roland's thin armour, results in an instant KO. If you are not sure if the hostile team has a helicopter, wait behind cover that protects you from the spawning helicopters and scout around or wait till your teammates call out the enemy helicopter. You should also bear in mind that the range of your missiles is roughly 6,300 m, which might not be enough against certain helicopters in some cases, such as the Ka-52/50 or the EC-665 Tiger UHT.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Roland 1 and Roland 3 SAM are more than enough to take down any aircraft if they hit center mass
  • Fast turret rotation coupled with the 2 missiles per reload (which is only 5 seconds long) allows the user to take down jets in quick succession
  • Radar can be used to guide the missile towards the target
  • Pretty fast, allows for quick repositioning

Cons:

  • Pretty large, it is a big target for enemy jets and MBTs alike
  • Radar lock can be broken fairly easily if one is positioned near trees
  • Lacks any sort of weaponry against MBTs, Roland missiles will only damage tracks/cannons if used against MBTs
  • Crewmates are positioned in a row, allows for easy one shot kills from the front and the back
  • Reloading process can't start until all missiles have blown up

History

AMX-30R 'Roland' formerly of the 401e Régiment d'Artillerie (401e RA) on external display at the Musée des Blindés, Saumur.

The Roland 1 is a Franco-German designed anti-aircraft missile system, serving primarily with the German and French armies. Designed in the late 1960s, the Roland 1 was accepted for service in the late 1970s and served with the French Army. An improved version, the Roland 2, was accepted for service a short time later, with improved capability including all-weather operations. The Roland system has been widely exported to a variety of nations, and has been used during the Falklands Conflict and Iran-Iraq war.

Design and development

In the late 1960s, the first surface-to-air missile systems began to emerge as potent anti-aircraft defence systems. As a result, in 1964, representatives of the French and German governments signed an agreement to jointly develop a new self-propelled anti-aircraft missile launcher system (SPAAML), named Roland. The work was conducted by Messerchmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB) on the German side, and Aerospatiale-Matra on the French side. The first prototype for the system was rolled out in 1967, and in 1977, the French government accepted the first Roland 1 SAM system into service.

The French Roland 1 SPAAML was based off of the AMX-30 Chassis. It was operated by 3 crew members, and was fitted with a large central turret carrying two Roland SAMs, along with the corresponding search radar. The Roland 1 was limited to clear-weather operations, and was semi-automatic, unlike the fully-automatic Roland 2 and Roland 3 systems. The Roland 1 missiles themselves had a maximum firing range of 6.5 kilometres, with a top speed of 900 m/s (Mach 2.5).

Operational History

The Roland 1 first entered service with the French Army in 1977, with a total of 83 Roland 1 missile batteries being produced. These served as the primary French SPAA system, though they were quickly supplemented by more advanced Roland 2 and Roland 3 systems. The Roland missile system has now been removed from French service, being replaced by more advanced, modern missile systems such as the Mistral.

The Roland missile system was widely exported, serving with multiple nations including Argentina, Brazil, Qatar, Spain, Nigeria and Venezuela. As well, it was one of the few foreign missile systems used by the United States. Roland missiles were used during the Falklands conflict of 1982, and reportedly shot down four British Sea Harriers. However, there is conflicting data on this claim, which cannot be confirmed. Iraq also used the Roland system during the Iran-Iraq war, shooting down an F-4E Phantom and a F-5 Tiger. Most Roland SAM batteries have now been phased out, replaced by more modern weapons.

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France anti-aircraft vehicles
Wheeled/Half-tracked  P.7.T AA · CCKW 353 AA · TPK 6.41
AMX-13 Derivatives  VTT DCA · AMX-13 DCA 40
Radar SPAAG  AMX-30 S DCA
Missile SPAA  SANTAL · Roland 1 · ▄ItO 90M
Other  AMX-10P