The Roland 1 anti-aircraft missile system is a Franco-German-designed anti-aircraft missile system that has played an important role in military defense since its development. Developed during the late 1960s, and entering into service during the late 1970s, it has mainly served with the German and French armies. A further development of this system was the Roland 2, with which the system received all-weather operational capability. The Roland system has been widely exported and seen service in conflicts such as the Falklands Conflict and the Iran-Iraq War.
Roland 1, added in Update 1.89 “Imperial Navy” to War Thunder, is a SPAAML built upon the chassis of an AMX-30. It has a relatively capable radar system; however, it tends to be plagued by ground clutter when trying to operate over trees. Compared with other SPAAGs within its battle rating, the vehicle’s armor is just about average and should not be relied upon to protect it from MBTs and other SPAAGs with cannons during encounters.
The Roland 1 armor consists of rolled homogeneous armor, with a front plate of 30 mm that can’t stop most MBTs. Its large size and linear placement of the crew compromise its survivability even more, where often a single shot from the front and rear can knock the vehicle out. Mobility is quite good, going up to 71 km/h in Arcade and up to 66 km/h in Realistic, allowing fast re-positioning.
The Roland 1 is fitted with two surface-to-air missiles per reload, at a rate of five seconds. The SAM of the Roland 1 could penetrate 39 mm; for the Roland 3, this has been increased to 54 mm. The missiles have a maximum range of 6,300 meters and 8,000 meters, respectively. In the system, missiles can be guided to the target by radar, but the lock of a radar easily breaks when positioned near trees.
Of course, the Roland 1 performs excellently in combat when engaging hostile jets and helicopters. Ground targets are a real problem for this aircraft since there are no weapons against MBTs. The size of the vehicle makes it hard to find a cover, and the missiles are best used against the jets which are crippled or in the middle of a maneuver. Helicopters are easier targets provided they were spotted first.
History The Roland system began during the late 1960s when the French and German governments agreed to develop a new SPAAML. The prototype was rolled out in 1967 and the French government accepted the Roland 1 into service in 1977. The system was based on the AMX-30 chassis and operated by three crew members. The Roland 1 system was semi-automatic, hence restricted to clear-weather operations; therefore, the fully automatic systems of Roland 2 and Roland 3 would be manufactured.
The main French SPAA system was the Roland 1; a total of 83 missile batteries were built. Later, more advanced Roland 2 and Roland 3 systems supplemented it. The Roland missile system has been exported to a large number of countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Qatar, Spain, Nigeria, and Venezuela. The system also saw service during the Falklands and Iran-Iraq War; however, its performance in both conflicts is controversial.
The Roland 1 was fitted with a twin-arm missile launcher, and it has a solid propellant rocket motor fitted with a booster charge. The missile is fitted with contact and radar proximity fuses. In the Roland 1, there is an optical tracker manually operated by the gunner, while in the Roland 2, it has added the capability for automated tracking via fire control radar, therefore making it an all-weather system.
Despite its rich history, Roland 1 has received its share of criticism when it comes to performance issues within the simulated environment. Indeed, there have been several complaints regarding its ability to track radar and missiles, especially against helicopters and targets moving at great speeds. Another point of contention is the smoke plume of the system, wherein many identify that Western SAM systems are not reflected realistically as they would be in real life.
Conclusion: Despite a few shortfalls, the Roland 1 remains a striking example of Franco-German military cooperation in the expression of ingenuity in anti-aircraft defense. Its broad application and historic function certainly underpin its status concerning the development of surface-to-air missiles.