SA-13 Gopher
The 9K35 Strela-10, or SA-13 Gopher, as known by it's NATO designation, is a Soviet surface-to-air missile platform, which was designed to replace the aging SA-9 Gaskin. Unlike the Gaskin, the Gopher uses a modified chassis of the MT-LB APC, which while making it slower, allowed it to traverse terrain better thanks to it's tracks, and its design as an APC meant that it had a fairly large empty compartment, allowing it to store more ammunition. The vehicle is still in-service in many former Communists/Soviet states.
It's weaponry consist of a rack containing four 9M37 missiles, each of which is capable of engaging targets within a 5000m radius, and can reach an altitude of 3500m, while attaining a maximum speed of mach 2. The missiles use a combination of optical and infrared homing, so it locks on to an image of the target, plus it's heat signature, to allow the missile to track its target more efficiently. As is the norm with SAM-carriers, it has no means of ground-defense, beyond the crew either running someone over, or the crew stepping out to brandish their guns at the target (both of which is tantamount to suicide), and so the launcher relies on friendly combat units around it to support it during a firefight.
In Team Yankee[edit]
The SA-13 Gopher, or 9K35 Strela-10 is a dedicated anti-air unit which fills the middle ground between the SA-9 Gaskin and the SA-8 Gecko.
The Gopher throws out a pair of FP4+ Strela missiles up to 56 inches, enough to touch any point of the board where aircraft may come from a corner. Each vehicle has about a 17% chance to splash the average aircraft with a 5+ save, very respectable when you consider how cheap these things are and how expensive air power is in Team Yankee. A pair might be enough to pick off a plane or two in low point games, but 8 Strela shots WILL mess up any pilot's day very messily. Compared to the SA-8, this unit occupies the middle ground between affordable (and ineffective) air defence versus very deadly, but very expensive air defence. Always remember that the best air defence units can become dead weight against a list without any aircraft: you need them to be cheap such that you can effectively play with a point disadvantage or have them serve other roles (which make the Shilka, Sergeant York, ADATS and Gepard such powerful units in their respective lists.)
The Gopher can be brought up by the Soviets and their PACT comrades as battalion level air defence for one point per vehicle in a platoon of 2 or 4, competing with the Gaskin in that slot. However, the Czechs may purchase a platoon of 4 vehicles for three points. In addition, the Gopher may also be purchased as Division level support if desired.
IRL[edit]
The SA-13 Gopher aka the Strela-10 (arrow) short-range air defense missile system that is essentially what happens when the USSR comes up with their own METAL BOXES known as the MB-TL. Users of this system can essentially be found anywhere on the planet in she space between Poland and California given the US Army looted some of these in the first gulf war. The SA-13 is one of the few SAM units to actually shoot down an A-10 in the Gulf War the other was the SA9 Gaskin.
| Soviet Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T55AM2 - T-62M - T-64 - T-72 - T-80 - T-72B - T-64BV |
| Transports: | BTR-60 - BMP-1 - BMP-2 - BMP-3 -BMD-1 - BMD-2 - BTR-D |
| Troops: | Motor Rifle Company - Hind Assault Landing Company - Afghansty Air Assault Company - BMP Shock Motor Rifle Company - BMD Air Assault Company - Afghansty BMD Air Assault Platoon |
| Artillery: | 2S1 Carnation - 2S3 Acacia - BM-21 Hail - TOS-1 Buratino - BM-27 Uragan - 2S9 Nona - BM-37 82mm mortar platoon |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU 23-4 Shilka - SA-13 Gopher - SA-9 Gaskin - SA-8 Gecko - 2S6 Tunguska - BTR-ZD |
| Tank Hunters: | Spandrel - Storm - BTR-RD - ASU-85 |
| Recon: | BMP-1 OP - BRDM-2 |
| Aircraft: | SU-22 Fitter - SU-25 Frogfoot - MI-24 Hind |
| East German Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T-55 - T55AM2 - T-72M - T-72B |
| Transports: | BTR-60 - BMP-1 - BMP-2 |
| Troops: | Mot-Schützen Kompanie - Hind Assault Landing Company |
| Artillery: | 2S1 Carnation - BM-21 Hail - RM-70 - 2S3 Acacia |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU 23-4 Shilka - SA-13 Gopher - SA9 Gaskin - SA-8 Gecko |
| Tank Hunters: | Spandrel |
| Recon: | BMP-1 OP - BRDM-2 |
| Aircraft: | MI-24 Hind - SU-22 Fitter |
| Soviet Support: | SU-25 Frogfoot |
| Polish Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T-55 - T55AM2 - T-72M - T-72B |
| Transports: | SKOT-2A - BMP-1 - BMP-2 |
| Troops: | Zmotory Kompania - Hind Assault Landing Company |
| Artillery: | Dana SpGH - BM-21 Hail |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU 23-4 Shilka - SA-13 Gopher -SA-8 Gecko |
| Tank Hunters: | Spandrel |
| Recon: | BMP-1 OP - BRDM-2 |
| Aircraft: | MI-24 Hind - SU-22 Fitter |
| Soviet Support: | SU-25 Frogfoot |
| Czech Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T-55 - T55AM2 - T-72M - T-72B |
| Transports: | OT-64 - BMP-1 - BMP-2 |
| Troops: | Motostrelci |
| Artillery: | 2S1 Carnation - Dana SpGH - RM-70 |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU 23-4 Shilka - SA-8 Gecko - SA9 Gaskin - SA-13 Gopher - M53/59 Praga |
| Tank Hunters: | Spandrel |
| Recon: | BMP-1 OP - BRDM-2 |
| Aircraft: | MI-24 Hind - SU-25 Frogfoot - SU-22 Fitter |
| Iraqi Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T-55 - T-62 - T-72M |
| Transports: | BTR-60 - OT-64 - AMX-10P - BMP-1 |
| Troops: | Motor Rifle Company |
| Artillery: | 2S1 Carnation - 2S3 Acacia - AMX Auf1 - BM-21 Hail |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU 23-4 Shilka - SA-13 Gopher - SA9 Gaskin - SA-8 Gecko - Roland AA |
| Tank Hunters: | Spandrel - VCR/TH |
| Recon: | BRDM-2 - BTR-60 OP |
| Aircraft: | MI-24 Hind - Gazelle HOT |
| US Support: | A-10 Warthog - AV-8 Harrier |