Merkava
| General Characteristics | |
| Length: | 7,6 m |
| Width: | 3,7 m |
| Height: | 2,7 m |
| Weight: | 69 tons |
| Speed: | 60 km/h (road) 55 km/h (off-road) |
| Range: | 500 km |
| Primary armament: | 120-mm smoothbore gun (50 roundsammunition) Lahat anti-tank missile (when operational) |
| Secondary armament: | Three 7.62-mm machine guns (two onturret, one co-axial) One 60-mm internal mortar |
| Power plant: | 1,500 hp diesel (Mk 4)
1,200 hp diesel (Mk 3) 900 hp diesel (Mk 1Mk 2) 1400 liters fuel capacity |
| Crew: | 4 |
The Merkava isseriestanks developedmanufactured by Israel forIsrael Defence Forces.
The Merkava ("Chariot") has been designedcrew survival. For example,power plantplaced infront oftank, which provides additional crew protection.
Itproduced attank production factory atTel Hashomer Armoured Corps base.
Merkava Mk 1
The Israeli government decided1970 thatneeded an indigenous tank-building capacity. General Israel Tal leddevelopment team which took into consideration Israel's unique battlefield characteristicslessons learned from previous wars.
The Merkava was first introduced into service April 1979.
Merkava Mk 2
The Merkava Mk 2 was first introduced into service1983. It introduced serveral improvement focusing on urban warfarecrew survivability, following Israel's incursion into Lebanon1982 andbattlesBeirut.
Merkava Mk 3
Following information gainedIsrael's incursion into Lebanon1982,Merkava Mk 3 was introduced1990. The Mark 3 introduced1200-horsepower engine,new suspensiontransmission system, andnew 120-mm smooth-bore gun.
A 1995 version,Mk 3B (also known as Merkava Baz), had an improved fire-control system andbuilt-in NBC protectionair-condition system.
Merkava Mk 4
The Merkava Mk 4 has improved mobility, enablingtankmove more easily inGolan Heights, whose terrain can limit tank movements. It also hascapacityengageshoot down anti-tank helicopters, such asFrench SA342L Gazelle anti-tank helicoptersRussian Mil Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters ofSyrian Air Force.
In addition,Merkava has improved armor onfrontsides oftankeven ontop ofturret. It also has 0.5 caliber co-axial machine gun (MAG Refael) which enablestank crewshoot soft targets fromturret without getting out. The internal 0.5 machinegun andrear doorprovedbe usefulurban warfare.
Yet another improvement isdevelopment ofBattle Management System designed by Elbit Systems, which uses digital informationupdate planning, navigation,briefingcrews. The Battle Management System can record data gained duringmission.
A video system givesdriver 360 degree visibility aroundtank at all times.
Like any other tank,Merkavavulnerablecommand-detonated mines. Two Merkavas have been destroyed inGaza Strip by Palestinians.
External Links
See also: IDF, Israel, Tank, MBT, Armor.
- IDF overviewMerkava's historyvariants (including picturesMerkavas Mk 1, 23)
- Merkava Mk 1,2,3
- Army Technology: Merkava Mk3 Baz (tank featurespictures from different angles)
- Army Technology: Merkava Mk4 (tank featurespictures from different angles)
