Well that is the point. You need more firepower to melt that HP down. It is simply unfair if it will take me 2 panthers to take down a tank. (Which also can be easily countered by brit at guns).
So in a realistic scenario you have a croc + 2 at guns and plenty of tommies and i got 2 panthers 1 pak 2 pgrens and some grens. You run onto me with your croc, rape my infantry or atg. Then i try to hunt you with panthers. Now i have to dive a 1000+ HP tank with 2 panthers which will be slammed by atgs.
I am not asking for an overnerf for a unit. Just make it less no brainer and punishing when you give your rear to enemy (Spoiler alert : Just like any other heavy tank)
In your scenario, if the croc run toward you, 2 panther and a pak can handle it event from the front since panther have enough pen, put your pak far behind and the croc will have a hell of a ride to touch it since it have to face 2 panther fist. Meanwhile, try to close in with infantry from the side, since croc's flame gun can only fire to the front, by doing this, you can get pgren to shoot in the croc's side, or force the croc to expose it side to panther/pak if it want to use flame again your inf, add a faust and the croc will not going any where. Those above are what i can recommend in your scenario but it not necessary the principal of any engagement.
Also, if your enemy support his croc with plenty of AT an infantry then i think he is doing combine arm pretty well, so "no brainer" is not a suitable description.