Merkava Mk 3/Mk 4, Israel

Merkava Mk 1/Mk 2

Israel

The Merkava (Chariot) MET design is the brainchild of the legendary Israeli Armoured Corps officer Major General Israel Tal and is based on the concept that the survivability of the tank crew is the prime factor rather than the more usual trade-off areas of armour protection, firepower and mobility. Using this starting point General Tal and his design team made every part of the Merkava play its part in providing protection for the crew. The engine was placed at the front of the tank, the most suitable ballistic armour shapes and structures were found for the low profile turret and hull and the protected fuel tanks, ammunition bins and equipment stowage areas were used to provide 'spaced armour' type protection around the crew compartment. The commander's position even has a special collapsible umbrella type top protection armour device to allow for the classic Israeli 'open hatch' combat operation. A rear two-piece crew escape/ammunition loading hatch/ troop embarkation-disembarkation system is also fitted.

This crew safety concept was validated in the 1982 Peace for Galilee War as only 7 Merkava Mk 1 tanks were totally destroyed (compared to 8 Sho't and 37 Mag'ach) in Lebanon. None of the Merkava losses resulted from secondary ammunition explosions due to enemy fire and, more importantly, no Merkava had any of its crewmen killed.

In combat against the Syrian tanks the Merkava destroyed a large number of Soviei supplied T-55 and T-62 medium tanks as well as several T-72 vehicles. It also proved to be quite a useful vehicle for fighting in built-up areas by providing both a mobile firepower base and a means to safely transport troops.

The main armament is the Israeli made 105 mm M68 rifled gun firing HEAT, HESH, canister and APFSDS-T ammunition. The Matador Mk 1 computerised fire control system is fitted.

The Merkava Mk 2 introduced additional special passive armour protection on the turret front and sides and hull front, new special armour side skirts and powerpack transmission

system, a MK2 Matador PCS and an hanging chain steel ball protection system for the turret rear.

Both Merkava marks have command tank variants with additional radios and can be fitted with the Track Width Mine Plough (TWMP) and the KKM mineclearing roller system for the combat engineer role. All MK1 and Mk 2 vehicles are being brought up to near the Merkava Mk 3 production standard with the fitting of selected components as they undergo deep base maintenance. However, they retain their 105 mm main armament.

It is interesting to note that large numbers of Merkava (all marks) are given individual names. All crewmen also carry their own small arms for self defence and have a wide range of squad defence weapons available.

The only known variant of the Merkava is the 155 mm Slammer self-propelled artillery vehicle using a locally designed and built turret (mounting a 155 mm Soltam gun-howitzer) and a modified Merkava chassis. As far as it is known the Israeli Army has not yet placed any orders for the Slammer.

Specification:

First prototype: -Mk 1 1974; Mk2 1982 First production: Mk 1 1979-83 (approx 330 built); Mk2 1983-89 (approx 600 built) Current user: Israel Crew: 4 (plus infantry/sapper squad) Combat weight: 63 000 kg Ground pressure: 0.9 kg/cm2

Length, gun forwards: 8.63 m Width (with skirts): 3.7 m

Height (without AA gun): 2.75m

Ground clearance: 0.47 m

Max. road speed: 46 km/h Maximum range: Mk 1 400 km; Mk 2 500 km Fording: unprepared 1.4m

Gradient: 60% Side slope: 40% Vertical obstacle: 0.95 m Trench: 3 m

Powerpack: Mk 1 - TCM AVDS-1790-6A V-12 air-cooled turbo-charged diesel developing 908 hp and coupled to an Allison CD-850-6B powershift crossdrive transmission; Mk 2 - same diesel engine but with an Ashot transmission Armament: (main) 1 x 105 mm gun (62 rounds); (coaxial) 1 x 7.62 mmMG; (anti-aircraft) 1 x 12.7 mm and 2 x 7.62 mm MG; (anti-personnel) 1 x 60 mm light mortar (Mk 1 external, Mk 2 internal)

Merkava Mk2