Disclaimer: There are very little sources on the S-10 CRO/A1. If anyone has additional sources, please share in the comments.
SLRS S-10CRO/A1 anti-air system used by the Croatian Army.
Description:
Role: Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD)/Self-propelled Rocket Launcher Vehicle
Origin: Croatia
Manufacturer: KONČAR-Spezijalni pojadija i sistemi (SUS)
Summary:
The SRL S-10 CRO/A1 is a short range air defense vehicle developed by KONČAR-Spezijalni pojadija i sistemi beginning in 1991 under the project name ‘Strjela’ or ‘Arrow’. The S-10 CRO A1 faced a significant uphill development plan, having 3 different prototypes produced before producing a further 3 production vehicles. The first two prototypes were dubbed the S-10 CRO 001 and S-10 CRO 002; they are equipped with many unique electronics and equipment that was manufactured locally. The S-10 CRO was developed from the TAM 150 6x6 utility vehicle that was equipped with 150hp Deutz F 6L 413 F Diesel Engine which was produced locally under license and a Z5-35 S Transmission which offered a speed of up to 90km/h on roads and 35km/h off-road. This chassis was used due to simplicity as well as being widespread. The hull of the vehicle was designed to be angular, featuring a ‘wedge’ shaped front to allow increased armor protection against small arms ammunition. The vehicle is controlled by a crew of 3, featuring a Driver, Commander, and Operator/Gunner. The Driver and Commander are located in the front of the vehicle with the Operator located underneath the turret. The Driver has access to a bullet proof window as well as 2x day periscopes, and a passive IR periscope and the Commander having access to 2x day periscopes and can operate an optionally installed machine gun mount for self-defense purposes. The Gunner’s station houses the computer and TV Camera display, allowing use of the RADAR rangefinder. Later modernization upgraded the TV camera to a thermal imager w/ an integrated laser rangefinder. The vehicle is capable of firing a wide variety of missiles such as the Soviet era 9K31M, 9K37, and 9K37M. These were selected due to the large stockpile left over from the former Yugoslavian Army. Later modernization would occur with the development of the S-10 CRO/A2 variant, allowing the vehicle to fire the Soviet 9K333 missile which featured IRCCM capability to be able to defeat some countermeasures. The vehicle is capable of equipping 4x of the same missile or 2 different types of missiles for a total of 4 ready-to-fire. 4 additional missiles are stored inside the rear of the vehicle for a total of 8 missiles. The S-10 CRO/A1 features other types of equipment such as encrypted radios operated by the Commander, fire fighting equipment, GPS, and more. The 3x S-10 CRO/A1 in Croatian service continued to receive upgrades throughout the 1990’s and continue to serve today. There were plans to integrate the launchers of the S-10 CRO/A1 into the Finnish Patria AMV to increase overall capability and crew survivability.
Armament:
Primary: Quad-SAM Launcher
Note: The launcher can equip 2 different types of missiles at the same time.
Driver: Day Periscope/Night Vision Periscope (Passive IR)
Gunner/Commander:
Electro-optical Thermal Sight
2x Day Periscopes (Commander)
In-game:
The S-10 CRO/A1 is a unique anti-air missile vehicle that can equip 4 powerful missiles. The S-10 CRO/A1 can equip 4 missiles at once with 4 of all the same missiles or 2 different types due to its unique fire control system. It can also hold 4 inside, giving the operator a total of 8 missiles, allowing the operator plenty of opportunities to knock out low flying helicopters or aircraft. Not to mention, the 9M333 is IRCCM capable allowing it to bypass some countermeasures employed by various aircraft. These missiles can should be selectable similarly to how aircraft are able to modify there loadouts, allowing operators some level of customizability. The S-10 CRO/A1 can also receive a well needed thermal sight for night operations. The S-10 CRO/A1 should be able to receive the S-10 CRO/A2 modification, allowing it to fire the 9K333 missile which is superior to all other missiles the vehicle is able to fire. The S-10 CRO/A1 has a solid home within the game, and should be represented through an independent Yugoslavian Ground Forces Tree.
Here’s a fun Croatian Lineup from any Yugoslavian Ground Forces Tree:
(MBT) M-84D (a.k.a. M-84A5)
Bonus image of it with an extra remote 7.62mm M86 on the barrel.
(MBT) M-95 'Degman' (Prototype vehicle and precursor to the M-84D)
(MBT) M-84A4 'Sniper'
(IFV) CRO 30L
(IFV) M2A2 ODS Bradley (Being refurbished by Đuro Đaković spezialna vozila dd)
(IFV) BVP M-80A
(ATGM Carrier) BOV-1 M83 POLO (Currently in storage but on standby)
(SAM) SLRS S-10CRO/A1
(Attack Helicopter) OH-58D(R) 'Kiowa Warrior'
(Multi-role Jet) Rafale C F3-R
Additional Notes:
Croatian Main Battle Tanks are currently hampered by access to modern APFSDS-T rounds with its best rounds being 3BK14M HEAT-FS, LAHAT GL-ATGM, or the 3VBM-9 APFSDS-T. This can be corrected with the addition of rounds like P99 TAPNA APFSDS-T.
There are other vehicles in-service with the Croatian military like the BOV 20/3 A4, PzH 2000, and the eventual Leopard 2A8.
Estimated BR’s based on GRB and if modern munitions were given:
Croatia would just be best suited as part of the Yugoslavia/post-yugo tree and there are plenty of good proposals for it. Also degman and M-84 are hardly 11.0 worthy as they are woefully outdated aside from some proposed versions. M-84s were damn good in their time.
Also i gotta correct you , M-95 was based on the M-91 “vihor” prototype which was a separate development intended to replace the aging M-84s and take over as the domestically produced Yugo tank.
Now they did reuse a couple components that were originally intended for the M-95 for sake of cutting costs(for example the FCS) but at the same time the D variant is far removed from what the M-95 was intended to be and would have been in terms of its development and components.
But yeah, the BR’s I gave the two vehicles would be based on them having modern rounds, the M-84D having LAHAT, and how the vehicles themselves would play in-game vice real life where they’re outdated sadly. The M-84D itself is closer to 10.7 with modern ammo or would be significantly lower based on its IRL ammo. Same for the M-95, it would be 11.0 with modern ammunition.
The M-84D was the ‘successor’ to the M-95 Degman due to costs involving the program and capabilities that were unsustainable which would make the M-95 the ‘precursor’ to the M-84D, so essentially taking some of the upgrade ideas of the M-95 and incorporating them into the M-84D, like you said they’re not directly related of course but the M-84D is related in concept. The M-95 is the actual direct successor to the M-91.
They’re some of my favorites, come check out my suggestions for them:
The book talks about the vehicle’s history and the differences between all the variants. The most interesting part to me is the proposed addition of Hellfire AGMs and Hydra 70 rocket pods (last page). Sadly this project remained on paper.