German army Roland system launching a Roland 2 missile.
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The Marder Roland is a self-propelled SAM system of German origin. It one of several systems that uses the German/French Roland surface to air missiles. The Roland system on Marder chassis was intended for German army use. The navy and air force acquired the Roland system on a truck chassis. Initially 340 vehicles were intended to replace the towed 40mm Bofors. This requirement was later reduced to 144 vehicles.
The Marder Roland is a combination of the Marder chassis and the Roland SAM system. All systems on the Marder chassis are of the Roland 2 type. This means that it is an all weather system. The crew of three is seated in the hull. The launcher has two missiles ready to fire and eight more missiles are carried.
Targets are acquired using the rotating search radar. This has a 16.5 km range and provides an update every second. The Roland missiles use radio command guidance. There are two engagement modes, which can be switched even during an engagement. These are manual guidance using an optical tracker and automated guidance via the fire control radar. An IFF system is present.
The Marder Roland is designed to engage helicopters and jet aircraft in order to support frontline forces. Using the Roland 2 missile targets with speeds of up to Mach 1.2 can be engaged between 10 m and 5.5 km altitude at a range between 500 m and 6.3 km. One target can be engaged at a time.
The Marder Roland provides the same protection level as the Marder mechenized infantry combat vehicle. The welded steel armor protects from small arms fire and shrapnel all around. Over the frontal arc the armor resists autocannon rounds fired from a distance. The launcher, radar and guidance systems are probably more vulnerable than the chassis.
The tracked Marder chassis provides good all terrain mobility. The maximum road speed is 70 km/h. The Marder Roland is not amphibious.
The main user of the Roland system was the German army. A total of 140 were produced for Germany, plus 4 for export to Brazil. In Brazilian service the Marder Roland was retired from service in 2001. In German service the Marder Roland lasted until 2005.
The Marder Roland is a launch vehicle for the Roland 2 surface to air missile.
The Marder Roland is based on the chassis of the Marder mechanized infantry combat vehicle.
The Marder Roland was used in conjunction with the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
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