Merkava

Merkava
	Merkava IV with Trophy Hardkill System (Windbreaker - original Hebrew name: מעיל רוח Meil Ruach )
General properties
crew	4 (driver, commander, gunner, loader)
length	7.60 m (with cannon: 9.04 m)
width	3.72 m (without side skirts)
height	2.66 m (tower top)
Dimensions	63 t (I and II) ; 65 t (III and IV)
	Armament
Main armament	1 × 105 mm L7 cannon (I and II) ; 1 × IMI 120 mm smoothbore cannon (III and IV)
Secondary armament	1 × 7.62 mm bezel MG ; 1 × coaxial 12.7 mm MG (optional) ; 2 × 7.62 mm MG ; 1 × 60 mm mortar
Protection systems
Armor	modular bulkhead and composite armor
Distance-active systems	Windbreaker (IV)
agility
drive	Diesel engine ; 660 kW (I and II) ; 880 kW (III) ; over 1100 kW (IV)
suspension	helical spring-loaded support roller drive
Top speed	64 km / h (Merkava IV)
Power / weight	10.5 kW / t (I and II) ; 13.4 kW / t (III) ; 16.8 kW / t (IV)
Range	500 km

Merkava ( Hebrew מרכבה" Chariot ") is a series of Israeli battle tanks that have been in production since 1978. The latest model (Merkava IV) has been delivered to the Israeli armed forces since 2003 . A special feature of the main battle tank is the installation of the drive train in the front of the hull in order to provide additional protection for the crew. With a vehicle mass of 65 tons, the Merkava IV is currently the heaviest mass-produced tank in the world. The chassis is also used in the Namer personnel carrier.

history

Prototype of the Merkava based on the Centurion tub

After the Six Day War at the latest , it was clear that little Israel could not afford great losses in the war. During the war fighting the IDF with AMX-13 -Panzern, Centurion , and M50 Super Sherman (a significantly combat performance enhanced variant of the original model M 4), while the opponents with equivalent vehicles such as T-34 -85, SU-100 or M48 Patton attacked . In order to achieve at least technological parity in future conflicts, Israel signed an agreement with Great Britain in 1966 to jointly develop the Chieftain main battle tank . Shortly before, France, the most reliable arms supplier to date, failed when Charles de Gaulle imposed an arms embargo on Israel on June 2, 1967, just before the outbreak of the Six Day War. Britain demanded that Israel buy obsolete Centurions from British stocks, in return the Zahal would be involved in the development of the tank. The British also agreed to set up a Chieftain production line in Israel. However, after pressure from Arab countries, Great Britain withdrew from this agreement in 1969 after two prototypes of the tank had been delivered.

Israel realized that it had to make itself independent of the arms and spare parts deliveries from the allied states. Another reason for an in-house development were the specific requirements of the Israeli army . While the models of the NATO countries were designed to work anywhere on earth and under all climatic conditions, the Merkava represents a response to the narrowly limited operational area of the armed forces as well as to their characteristic tactics. Thus began 1970 under the direction of General Israel Tal developed a tank in which special attention was paid to protecting the crew, but which should also be as simple and inexpensive as possible. This resulted in a number of special features: Since the armor technology available at the time did not offer any reasonable protection against shaped charge projectiles , it was decided to install the drive train in the front of the vehicle as additional protection for the crew. The turret was designed to be very narrow, as it is the only hit surface in a partially covered position, and the armor on the front of the turret was very strongly inclined. The bulk of the ammunition is stored in the tub to reduce the risk of fire if the tower is hit. Compared to the main battle tanks of other countries, new concepts have also been implemented for the components that determine mobility: For example, a high value was placed on protection against mines and booby traps and the underbody was correspondingly heavily armored. The chassis uses swing arms, the tops of which press against coil springs. By dispensing with torsion bars, the bottom of the tub could be cleaned, and damaged chassis parts can be repaired quickly and inexpensively. As a consequence, the engine's air filters have been optimized for the desert and no rubber pads have been used on the tracks. Since there is no need to cross any damp, muddy areas, the specific ground pressure and thus the vehicle weight play a subordinate role. Understandably, no Merkava tank is deep-wading . The transportability by rail or air was also not taken into account.

The first Merkava Mark I was handed over to Zahal in April 1979. MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office), which is subordinate to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, is responsible for production. The first combat use of a Merkava Mk I took place in the Lebanon War in 1982 , when the unusual design proved itself against Syrian T-72 tanks. The experience flowed into the successor model Mk II, which was produced from 1983. This was followed in 1989 by the Mk III model with modular composite armor, a better fire control system and 120 mm smoothbore cannon from Israel Military Industries . The latest Mark IV model has been in production since 2003. The hull and tower have been completely redesigned to achieve better performance parameters.

technology

The Merkava is a main battle tank with a crew of four. The driver sits in the front left of the vehicle next to the engine. The remaining crew members are housed in the tower. The loader is to the left of the main weapon, the commander and gunner to the right. The relocation of the drive train to the front part of the hull opened up further possibilities for using the rear hull. Normally, the Merkava is where the ammunition is stored in fireproof containers and a 60-liter water tank for the crew. However, the number of projectiles can be reduced in order to transport a small group of infantry soldiers or to set up a command post. There is even a "tankbulance" equipment with two stretchers in the rear as well as medical equipment and staff for first aid. If your own tank was shot down, another exit is available through the tailgate. This can also be used to add ammunition to the vehicle during the battle.

Armament and fire control

Merkava IIID when firing

120mm ammunition exhibits: M324, M322, M329 and M325

The Merkava Mk I and Mk II versions are equipped, like other western main battle tanks of the time, with a license production of the Royal Ordnance L7 drawbar cannon M68 in caliber 105 mm. The elevation range is + 20 ° to −8.5 °. APDS , HEAT , HESH , Phosphorus and APFSDS ammunition can be fired with the weapon . The total stock of ammunition is 62 rounds, six of which are stored in the turret as ready-to-use ammunition, the rest in containers in the rear of the hull. Both versions are equipped with the Matador Mk 1 digital fire control system, which uses a laser range finder and other sensors to calculate ballistics. It is possible to calculate reserves for up to six different types of ammunition. The commander has a periscope with either 4 or 20 times magnification, which automatically rotates in the opposite direction to the tower movement (pseudo stabilization). The gunner can choose between 1 and 8x magnification. A thermal imaging device is available from version Mark IIB; otherwise a shooting light must be used at night to target the following types of ammunition:

M111 APFSDS: Balancing ammunition made of tungsten alloy, which was adapted in Germany as DM 23 for the 120 mm cannon
M426 APFSDS: modern sub-caliber bullet made of a tungsten alloy, adaptation of the German DM 63

M117 APAM: releases air- igniting submunitions to combat infantry or helicopters over a large area; if it is impacted, the submunition in the grenade explodes

M152 HEAT: Multipurpose grenade with a shaped charge

M494 APERS-T: Canister ammunition with 5,000 flechettes

M156 HESH: Squeeze- head grenade, against tanks and buildings

M158 SMOKE: Smoke grenade to block enemies from sight

M436 STUN: non-lethal weapon, effect like stun grenade
M420 KE-Üb-Mun: simulates the M426 projectile

The main weapon was replaced from the Mk III version by a 120 mm smoothbore cannon from IMI , which is 44 caliber lengths long. The elevation range sank to + 20 ° / −7 °; the amount of ammunition to 48 projectiles. The fire control system has been replaced by the more modern Knight Mk 3 , which enables precise shooting while driving. The system is also equipped with Automated Target Tracking (ATT) , which automatically sets the breakpoint on the target. The commander's periscope was magnified 4 and 14 times, and it was also given the opportunity to access the gunner's vision systems. Its visor is stabilized around both axes and has a 5-fold magnification in infrared and 12-fold in daylight. Only the latest version Mk IV is fully Hunter / Killer capable; here, the commander was also given a fully stabilized vision system with thermal imaging device, while the gunner used the new Knight Mark 4 fire control system . The Mk IV also has a drum with ten rounds of ready-to-use ammunition in the turret rear to make the loader's work easier. In the Mk III Baz version, a similar system is attached to the bottom of the tower cage. Since the weapon was designed according to the NATO standard for 120 mm smoothbore cannons ( STANAG 4385 ), all types of 120 mm ammunition can be fired. The following types of ammunition are used by Zahal:

M322 APFSDS: Sub- caliber bullet made of a tungsten alloy, main ammunition of the Merkava against main battle tanks

M338 APFSDS: the most modern sub-caliber bullet with tungsten tetrator, based like the M426 on the DM 63; the temperature-independent propellant charge is here as a low vulnerability propellant (LOVA) referred

LAHAT : laser-guided anti-tank missile with a range of up to 8 km

M329 APAM: releases air- igniting submunition to combat infantry or helicopters over a large area; if it is impacted, the submunition in the grenade explodes

M339 HE-MP: programmable high explosive grenade , selectable between delay ignition , impact ignition and air ignition

M337 STUN: non-lethal weapon, effect like stun grenade
M324 KE-Üb-Mun: simulates the KE projectile

A FN MAG with a caliber of 7.62 × 51 mm is installed as a shield MG , which is supplied with 2000 rounds via an ammunition belt. More machine guns of the same caliber are set up on the roof in front of the hatch for the commander and the loader. A total of around 10,000 rounds of machine-gun ammunition are carried. If required, from the Mk III LIC version, a Browning M2 can be mounted on the bezel, in order to be used as a second coaxial machine gun against better protected targets. This means that technicals can also be destroyed at greater distances.

As an addition, the Merkava is also equipped with a 60 mm mortar. In the case of the Mark I, this still had to be loaded from the muzzle, which exposed the crew member to enemy fire. From the Mk II version the mortar can also be loaded from the inside. About 30 rounds are carried, consisting of HE, smoke and flare grenades. This should allow concealed anti-tank positions to be shot at from a safe position.

Chassis and drive

Swing arm with coil spring

Gearbox of the Merkava Mk IV

The Merkava has a support roller drive with six rollers and two support rollers on each side and external coil springs. The first and last pairs of rollers are fitted with hydraulic rotary shock absorbers. The springs are only attached to the top of the tub, the swing arms can turn down as far as you want when driving fast off-road. The ground clearance is 470 mm. The construction has proven itself in practice, as the suspension is inexpensive and can be quickly replaced in the event of mine damage. The design of the rollers with a diameter of 790 mm was adopted from the Centurion . A living chain with hinges without rubber pads was chosen as the chariot chain. The advantage lies in the simple design and the relatively low procurement costs. Compared to other tanks, the ride comfort and the maximum speed in the field of the Merkava are lower because the drive was uncompromisingly designed for low costs and easy repairability.

The Mk I version is equipped with a V12 diesel engine AVDS-1790-6A made by Teledyne Continental (today General Dynamics Land Systems) with 900 hp (662 kW) and the semi-automatic CD-850-6BX transmission from Allison Transmission . The engine is a performance-enhanced version of the M60 engine , the reversing, manual and steering gear have also been adopted. The exhaust is located on the right side of the tub next to the unit. The engine transfers its power to a torque converter , which however has no mechanical lock-up at similar input and output speeds, which results in a relatively high fuel consumption of the vehicle. The power is passed on to a gearbox, which has two forward gears and one reverse gear. The power is then transferred to the left and right of the gearbox via the zero shaft to the drive wheels. In between, on each side, is the single-radius superposition steering gear to steer the tank. It consists of two couplings each, which either grip on both sides (straight ahead) or only on one side (cornering). The final speed after the superimposed steering gear is transmitted to the drive wheels via side gears. The engine can be changed in the field in around 60 minutes.

The Merkava Mk II version was equipped with an Ashot Ashkelon hydromechanical automatic transmission. The number of gears increased to four forward and three reverse gears. However, the planned installation of a gas turbine in the Mk II was dispensed with. The gearbox was also retained in the Mk III, but a more powerful Teledyne Continental AVDS-1790-9AR V12 engine with 1200 PS (880 kW) was installed here. Like the previous model, this unit is also air-cooled for reasons of simplicity. Only the version Mk IV was equipped with a water-cooled MTU engine from the 883 series with 1500 hp (1100 kW) and the hydromechanical shift, reversing and steering gear RK 325 from Renk due to the higher power requirement . On the one hand, it enables power transmission and steering and, on the other hand, ensures that the vehicle comes to a safe standstill thanks to the integrated service brakes and retarders . The drive train works here like in the Leopard 2 : the engine transfers its power to a torque converter, which is mechanically bridged at similar input and output speeds. The torque then goes to an automatic transmission with five forward and reverse gears, which also contains the hydrostatic pumps, and from there to the zero shaft. The power of the motor is passed on to the left and right of the gearbox with the same speed via the zero shaft to the summing gearbox, where it is combined with the speed of a hydraulic motor to enable cornering and turning around the vertical axis. The driver determines the oil flow rate of each hydraulic motor by steering. As with the Leopard 2, additional hydrodynamic couplings are used to distribute the power flow in the event of strong steering movements in order to relieve the hydraulic motors. The final speed after the summing gears is sent to the drive wheels via side gears. The entire drive unit weighs 4.9 tons. The engine coolers are to the right of the driver's hatch. As with all Merkava versions, the tank volume is around 1400 liters.

Armor and protection systems

Merkava IIID with composite armor

AESA radar and launch unit with blue training ammunition. The sheet metal is supposed to protect the crew from splinters.

Merkava IV with wedge armor on the turret. Compared to versions I to III, the tub front has also been changed.

Due to the Israeli experience with asymmetrical warfare , all Merkava tanks have good mine protection. The centimeter-thick tub floor is V-shaped in order to divert the force of the explosion to the sides. The crew seats are decoupled from the vehicle and have no contact with the vehicle floor. In addition, the fuel is housed in self-sealing fuel tanks . A great deal of attention was paid to preventing fires. From 1981 the Automatic Fire and Explosion Detection and Suppression System (AFEDSS) , which is built into all Merkavas, is available. Optical sensors monitor the fighting area, they detect a HEAT or KE penetration in 2 ms and a fire or an explosion in 3 ms. As soon as the system detects a bullet or a fire, the extinguishing process with Halon is initiated within 100 ms . The operating mode can be selected between normal and combat , manual triggering is also possible. The machine room is monitored by thermistors that sound an alarm in the event of overheating or fire. An automatic extinguishing process is only initiated in the event of a fire. If the extinguishing process is initiated manually, the engine is also switched off.

The armor protection of the Merkava is comparable to vehicles of a similar military load class of the respective time, although the Merkava of the first series lagged behind the state of the art . The Mark I (from 1978) and Mark II (from 1983) versions, for example, were made entirely of armor steel, while modern main battle tanks of the time such as the M1 Abrams and T-64 or T-72 had long relied on composite armor . The tower front of the Merkavas was designed to be highly bulletproof. The sides of the tower were designed as spaced armor, with the cavity being accessible from above via hatches so that these can also be used as storage space. To shorten the deficit in protection technology, modular panels with composite armor were mounted on the vehicle in the Mark IID version. Only the version Merkava Mk III, which was produced from December 1989, had modern composite armor with the modular armor Kasag . Since this version was also equipped with the new 120 mm smoothbore cannon, the turret had to be redesigned. The massive armor wedges on the front of the turret and the "jaws" on the left and right of the turret can be exchanged in the event of battle damage, as can the four armor modules for the front turret roof. The hull was hardly changed, which was particularly noticeable in the protection of the front of the vehicle: At the time, when there was no effective armor protection against shaped charges , the front installation of the engine was a way of moving the "sacrificial mass" in the form of the engine to the front (ie to increase the passage distance of incoming projectiles) in order to increase the protection of the crew. With the advent of composite armor and fiber composite materials, almost any armor protection can be implemented without excessive weight, which, however, is associated with a high structural depth. Ultimately, the tray of the Merkava Mark IV was redesigned to accommodate the new water-cooled MTU unit or its cooler. The top of the hull front was heavily thickened to improve armor protection. However, the overall depth is limited by the space required by the drive. The Mark IV also has a redesigned turret to which wedge-shaped armor modules are attached in the front 180 ° area. On pictures of damaged armor modules from the Lebanon War 2006 it can be seen that the depth of the modules is at least 0.5 m, with the outer ≈ 0.3 m as laminate armor with metal plates (possibly steel) and white fiber composite panels (possibly GRP) are manufactured. The thickness of the roof armor is at least 15 cm. Since modern composite armor also uses ceramics, these will be attached to the basic steel armor of the tower. All Merkava versions have side skirts, although there are different variants. Depending on the thickness, the armor protection can be adapted to the expected flank threat.

The smoke throwing system is attached to the tower front of all Merkavas and usually has six throwing cups on each side. The tank can also be misted by injecting diesel into the exhaust jet. The Mark IV version is still equipped with Rafael's Trophy-HV hardkill system , which the Israeli armed forces refer to as a windbreaker ( ASPRO-A ). This consists of four splinter-proof radar systems of the type Elta ELM-2133, which enable a 360 ° all-round view of air targets. When the Active Electronically Scanned Arrays have located a target, the azimuth and elevation angles, the speed and distance of the target, the probable point of impact, the time to impact and the starting point of the target are calculated. This allows the shooter to fight the opponent immediately. If a projectile is on a collision course with your own vehicle, this information is passed on to the distance-active protection systems. Trophy-HV then aligns a rotating projectile-forming charge at the threat. The charge is ignited when the attacking projectile is a few meters in front of the tank. The explosion of the charge creates a cone of splinters designed to destroy the attacking weapon. There is a launching unit on each side of the tower; after the shot, the unit is reloaded by an autoloader. On March 1, 2011, an anti-tank weapon was shot down for the first time on the border with the Gaza Strip using the hardkill system. A little later, on March 20, an anti-tank weapon flew past another Merkava IV. The system calculated the starting point as intended so that the crew could immediately direct fire at the attackers. In addition, the Mk III BAZ and Mk IV are equipped with the LWS-2 laser detector from Amcoram.

	Merkava I	Merkava IID	Merkava IIID	Merkava IV
Tub front vs KE	380 mm	480 mm	760 mm	≈800 mm
Bathtub front vs HEAT	470 mm	600 mm	1380 mm	≈1400 mm
Tower front vs KE	550 mm	760 mm	790-820 0mm	600-1030 mm
Tower front vs HEAT	800 mm	1150 mm	1530-1650 mm	750-1340 mm

The estimates of the armor protection of the different versions of the Merkava are summarized in the following table in RHA equivalent against shaped charge and KE projectiles . The values for the tub front also include the drive train. For the Merkava IV, a thickening of the hull front by about ten centimeters is assumed. The armor protection of the Merkava III and IV is almost as high on the turret sides as on the turret front, as the same modules are used. Due to the more homogeneous distribution of the armor mass of the vehicle, the maximum values of comparable models such as Leopard 2A5 or M1A2 Abrams are not achieved. The specified protection values of the Merkava IIID on the tower front against shaped charges are higher than those of the Merkava IV, as the Mark IV has a tower front that is only inclined by about 50 ° to the side, while the tower front of the Merkava IIID is much more favorable due to the lowered roof. Since the vehicle weight remained the same, the armor protection could only be improved insignificantly. To protect against mines and booby traps, mine scooters can be mounted on the front of the vehicle on all Merkavas.

Versions

Merkava Mark I.

Mark I at a gun show in the Czech Republic

The Mark I has been in service since 1978 and can still be found in the army reserve today . The vehicle weighs 63 tons and is powered by a 662 kW engine, which, like the Chieftain, results in a power-to-weight ratio of only 10.5 kW / t. The armament consists of a 105 mm M68 barrel cannon with 62 rounds, six of which are in the turret as standby ammunition, the remaining ammunition is stored in the hull. Battlefield lighting is required for night combat . In addition to the main weapon, a total of three 7.62 mm machine guns are attached to the turret for defense against infantry. The 60mm mortar can only be loaded externally, which puts the loading crew member at risk. The first use took place in the Lebanon war 1982 , where the Merkavas shot down T-72 tanks of the Syrians. Experience led to further small improvements, such as the attachment of bullets hanging on chains to the rear of the tower as protection against the relatively slow-flying projectiles of reactive anti-tank rifles as spacers.

Merkava Mark II

This version entered service in April 1983 and received improvements that took into account the combat experience in the Lebanon war of the previous year. The vehicle was slightly better equipped for low-intensity conflicts , with the vehicle weight remaining at 63 tons. The relatively inefficient engine of the previous model was retained, but a new Ashot Ashkelon gearbox was installed to increase the number of gears. The main weapon and fire control equipment remained the same, but the mortar could now be loaded and fired from inside the vehicle. The Merkava II are still in use in the Israeli army today . There are three variants:

Mark IIB: Has been upgraded with a thermal imaging device and improvements to the fire control system
Mark IIC: with additional armor on the tower roof
Mark IID: uses modular composite armor on the turret and hull

Merkava Mark III

Mark III BAZ with heavy machine gun on the faceplate

The Merkava Mark III has been in use by the Israeli army since December 1989. The engine was replaced by a more powerful model with 880 kW, which is also air-cooled. This made it possible to increase the power-to-weight ratio of the now 65-ton tank to 13.5 kW / t, which also benefited the top speed, which rose from 50 km / h to 60 km / h. The main innovation was the 120 mm smoothbore cannon from Israel Military Industries with 44 caliber lengths, smoke evacuators and 48 cartridges. The fire control system has been modernized and now allows precise shooting while driving. For the first time, composite armor was used as standard in a tank from the Merkava series . Other small improvements include a phone on the rear of the hull to communicate with dismounted infantry, improved ammunition containers, and air conditioning . To reduce the risk of fire, the hydraulic tower rotating system was replaced by an electric one. The following sub-versions of the Mark III exist:

Mark IIIB: with improved armor
Mark III BAZ: has been available since 1995, innovations are an automatic target tracker , an improved NBC protection system, air conditioning, improved armor and a rear view camera for the driver
Mark III LIC: Mk III BAZ, which is equipped for Low Intensity Conflicts ; These include an axially parallel M2 Browning , the M337 STUN grenade, protected optics, external cameras and a spherical cover in the tailgate
Mark IIID: is also known as Dor-Dalet; Version with new modular composite armor on the turret and hull, improved tracks and remote-controlled weapon station

Merkava Mark IV

Merkava Mk IV

The current version has been in production since 2003. The tub was redesigned to accommodate the more powerful MTU engine with around 1100 kW output and the RK 325 gearbox, reversing and steering gear from Renk . The power-to-weight ratio has been improved from 65 tons to 17 kW / t thanks to the constant vehicle weight. The vehicles will also be equipped with the more robust Mazkom crawler tracks to reduce chain wear caused by the basalt rock of the Golan Heights. The armament did not change compared to the predecessor Mark III, only the more modern fire control system Knight Mark 4 was scaffolded. Thanks to the commander's independent thermal imaging device, the vehicle can also be hunter-killer at night . In order to be network compatible, the BMS (Battle Management System) from Elbit Systems was installed. The system shows, among other things, the position of its own units and detected opponents on a screen. The Merkava IV is equipped with four cameras mounted on the outside, which allow the crew a panoramic view. Due to the bad experiences with anti-tank missiles in the Lebanon War 2006 , all Mark IVs are equipped with the hardkill system Windbreaker , which can also locate the starting point of enemy missiles.

Platforms

Thanks to the front engine, all types of combat vehicles can be implemented on the basis of the Merkava hull, of which only the Merkava main battle tank itself and the Namer personnel transport version have so far been built in series. The principle of better protecting combat vehicles against mines and flank threats and using a common armored chassis for different combat vehicles is now also being pursued by other countries. One example of this is the US Army's GCV program , which aims to create a modular vehicle family of comparable load classes.

Main battle tank

Merkava IV in the field

The Merkava main battle tank version has been in production since 1978 and is now available in the fourth generation. Its task is to fight enemy tanks and fortified positions with the 120 mm smoothbore cannon and numerous machine guns. When fighting in urban areas, it supports the infantry with its firepower and armor protection. Compared to the main battle tanks of other countries, the turret of the Merkava IV is quite homogeneously armored, the sides are almost as well protected as the turret front. This is to take into account the frequent use in house-to-house combat . In addition to its tasks as a battle tank, the Merkava can also transport a small group of infantry soldiers or a command post in its rear. For the evacuation of the wounded there is also a tankbulance equipment with medical equipment and personnel for first aid.

Personnel carriers

Troop carrier Namer

The Namer personnel carrier was presented to the public for the first time at Eurosatory 2005. At that time , the vehicle already had a remote-controlled weapon station that could be operated from inside the vehicle. After the experiences of the Lebanon War in 2006 , it was decided to completely rebuild the vehicles using the Merkava IV chassis; Among other things, the tailgate was enlarged. Since 2008 the tank has been delivered to Zahal by the state company MANTAK. The vehicle weighs 60 tons, can transport eight soldiers in addition to the three-person crew and is intended to replace the M113 troop transporter. Although the hull is based on the Merkava IV, the 880 kW power train was taken over from the Merkava III. There is also a version with two stretchers and medical equipment, which is also called namerbulance.

Self-propelled howitzer

Sholef in the Beyt ha-Totchan Museum

Only two prototypes of the Sholef self-propelled howitzer were built between 1984 and 1986. The 45-ton vehicle was developed on the basis of the Merkava I hull and equipped with a 155 mm L / 52 cannon with a muzzle brake. The howitzer has a loading machine that holds 60 projectiles including propellant charges. Another 15 projectiles can be transported in the vehicle if necessary and fed to the loader during the course of the firefight. The loading process of the gun is similar to that of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 , so that only the propellant charges have to be inserted manually. Only two people are required in the tower for operation (commander and loader), but three were provided to relieve the commander. The fire control system uses GPS and inertial navigation to determine its own position in space. A special feature is the ability to fight targets while in motion with a direct shot. The hydraulic turret rotating mechanism was adopted from the Mark I. Despite better performance data, the vehicle was not produced in series, presumably because the M109 Doher can be obtained and maintained more cheaply thanks to the US military aid .

Armored recovery vehicles

The Merkava ARV armored recovery version , sometimes also referred to as Nemmera , is the newest member of the family and offers space for the driver, commander and a team of eight mechanics. The tailgate has been enlarged to improve comfort. The tub was taken over from the Merkava III and fitted with a 50 t / m crane and a 35 ton winch at the rear on the right chain shoulder. An auxiliary power unit was installed to drive the systems . An engine block of the Merkava IV can be transported on the vehicle for a change in the field. Instead of the team of mechanics, there should also be two stretchers and medical staff and equipment in the rear. A decision has not yet been made about the introduction of the troops.

Calls

Due to the ongoing conflict with Israel's neighboring countries, only the largest tank operations are described. In general, the Merkavas are used anytime and anywhere, for example to secure at checkpoints .

Lebanon War 1982

In order to weaken and partially smash the PLO, which had grown stronger in Lebanon, Israel under its Prime Minister Menachem Begin began an attack on Lebanon on June 6, 1982. The aim was to smash the military PLO organization by advancing to Beirut , from where the PLO coordinated its actions. The Zahal first advanced along the coast, crossed the River Awall and entered Beirut. The ground forces then turned east into the Bekaa plain in order to advance further north from there. Several T-62s were also shot down en route. In the Bekaa Plain, the Merkava I met outnumbered Syrian T-72 and T-72M. While the Israelis lost around 50 tanks in the entire conflict, the Syrians lost between 350 and 400 tanks. In total, the Syrians lost about 19 T-72s to Merkava-I tanks, others were destroyed by TOW systems , while no Merkava was destroyed by a T-72. In addition to the Merkava, Israel also used the most modern equipment in the air, such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 , which won air supremacy. The advancing ground forces were also supported by Bell AH-1 Cobras , so that the occupation could already be completed on August 23. At the end of August, under pressure from Israel, the PLO had to withdraw from Lebanon and set up its new headquarters in Tunis. During the siege of Beirut until the withdrawal into the security zone in southern Lebanon in June 1985, first experiences with asymmetrical warfare were made, which were incorporated into the improvement of the successor model, which went into production from 1983.

Gaza Strip

Since the Intifada from 1987, the Merkavas have always been used in built-up areas to support the infantry in their advance. As a rule, the target building is pushed forward from the Israeli heartland in a flash in order to carry out arrests or targeted killings, to dig up weapons depots and production facilities or to occupy key positions. The procedure usually consists of sending an armored Caterpillar D9 to clear booby traps out of the way or to detonate them prematurely. The clearance work of the caterpillar is secured by infantry, which accompanies the advance in Achzarit or Nagmachon team transport tanks. If the house-to-house fight is unavoidable, the bulldozer rams a hole into a building, into which an Achzarit drives to dismount the infantry. This now breaks into walls in order to advance from house to house and to clean it without having to use regular entrances and exits, which are usually secured with booby traps . As a result, the number of fallen Israeli soldiers can be kept relatively low despite the deployment in a hostile environment. Merkava battle tanks provide the necessary fire protection throughout the entire mission. The Merkava III and IV developed at this time are therefore strongly optimized for use in this scenario with a fairly homogeneous armor on the turret. The installation of camera systems for all-round observation and the attachment of the 12.7 mm machine gun are also due to this.

Four Merkavas were destroyed during the Al-Aqsa Intifada : In February 2002, a Merkava III hit a bomb near Netzarim when it was about to encounter an attack on a convoy of settlers. The vehicle was completely destroyed, all four occupants were killed. In the same region, on March 14, 2002, another Merkava II / III hit an explosive device, killing three soldiers and destroying the tank. A third Merkava II / III was destroyed in September 2002 near Gusch Katif by an explosive charge weighing more than 100 kg, one soldier died and three were wounded. Another Mark III followed at Dugit in February 2003, killing all inmates.

In the early morning of June 25, 2006, several attackers entered Israeli territory through a self-dug tunnel near Kerem Shalom and ambushed an army post. A Merkava stationed there was hit by a missile in the stern hatch, which ignited the ammunition. Two crew members were killed and another soldier was wounded. The loader Gilad Shalit was also kidnapped.

Lebanon War 2006

Merkava II and III at the technical stop at the roadside

After kidnapping two soldiers, Israel launched a large-scale offensive on July 12 against Hezbollah, which operates from Lebanon . On July 23, Israeli ground troops crossed the border with Lebanon and advanced to the town of Marun ar-Ras on a mountain overlooking the area. On July 25, the city of Bint Jubail , which is considered to be the Hezbollah stronghold near the border, was attacked. The fighting lasted for several days. The Israeli army initially withdrew from the area on July 29. The main burden of the attacks was borne by the Israeli Air Force , which in retrospect proved to be overly optimistic. During the war the Mark IV, the Mark IID and the Merkava Mk III BAZ were used. The standard version of the Merkava II was also used by reservists, although it is only protected by armored steel. The Merkava II fired several hundred M117 APAMs. The Merkava III and IV fired M494 canister ammunition with a larger 120 mm sabot because the 120 mm APAM projectile was not yet available. Due to budget cuts, some Merkavas were also used without smoke grenades and laser detectors. During the war, the artillery used up its entire supply of smoke ammunition so that enemy anti-tank positions could no longer be blinded . This is probably why suspected anti-tank guided missile positions were covered with cluster munitions as a precaution. In total, the Zahal deployed several hundred tanks, of which, according to official information, around 10% were hit. The armor was penetrated in 44% of the hits. A total of 50 Merkavas were damaged, eight of which could be repaired in the field. Only two tanks had to be written off, at least one of which had hit a very large explosive device. A total of 23 crew members were killed and more than 100 injured. As a result of the war, the introduction of the Namer was accelerated and the integration of hardkill systems in Merkava IV and Namer was decided.

Web links

Commons : Merkava-Panzer - album with pictures, videos and audio files

defense update: Merkava Mk-4 Detailed

Individual evidence

↑ hairetz.com

↑ imi-israel.com

↑ idfblog.com

↑ ^a ^b ^c israeli-weapons.com: Merkava

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Army Guide: MERKAVA Mk-1

↑ ^a ^b israeli-weapons.com: Merkava Mk 3

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Army Guide: MERKAVA Mk-3

↑ ^a ^b Army Guide: MERKAVA Mk-4

^ Rolf Hilmes: Main battle tank: The developments of the post-war period. Verlag Soldat und Technik im Umschau Verlag, 1980, ISBN 3-524-89001-6 .

↑ Army Guide: AFEDSS

↑ Image of the laminate armor

↑ Image of the overall depth of the composite armor

↑ IAI Elta ELM-2133 ( Memento of the original from February 24, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 254 kB) @1@ 2

↑ Haaretz: IDF armor-defense system foils attack on tank for first time

↑ Tank Protection Levels (accessed on February 12, 2012) ( Memento from December 2, 2001 in the Internet Archive )

↑ defense update: LIC Modeled Merkava Mk-3 Baz / Mk 4 ( Memento of the original from June 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
^ Army Guide: Slammer / Sholef
^ Army Guide: Merkava ARV / NAMER
↑ Kenneth Michael Pollack: Arabs at war: military effectiveness 1948–1991. University of Nebraska Press, 2002, ISBN 0-8032-3733-2 , pp. 536, 545.
^ Syria A Country Study. Federal Research Division, Kessinger Publishing, 2004, ISBN 1-4191-5022-7 , pp. 257 and 258.
↑ Steven Zaloga : T-72 Main Battle Tank 1974-1993. P. 36 f.
^ Israel investigates Gaza tank blast , BBC . February 15, 2002. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
↑ THREE ISRAELIS KILLED IN BOMB ATTACK. In: Israeli Embassy in Berlin . March 14, 2002, accessed August 9, 2019 .
^ Victims of Palestinian Violence and Terrorism since September 2000 , MFA. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
↑ Gaza bomb kills four Israeli soldiers , BBC. February 18, 2003. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
^ Soldier kidnapped and two killed in Gaza tunnel attack - Telegraph
↑ Why did Armored Corps Fail in Lebanon?
↑ defense update: Assessing the performance of Merkava Tanks ( Memento of the original from February 13, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2

[1] retz.com

[2] -israel.com

[3] .com

[iw-4] sraeli-weapons.com: Merkava

[mk1-5] Army Guide: MERKAVA Mk-1

[iw_mk3-6] sraeli-weapons.com: Merkava Mk 3

[mk3-7] Army Guide: MERKAVA Mk-3

[mk4-8] Army Guide: MERKAVA Mk-4

[9] Rolf Hilmes: Main battle tank: The developments of the post-war period. Verlag Soldat und Technik im Umschau Verlag, 1980, ISBN 3-524-89001-6 .

[10] Army Guide: AFEDSS

[11] Image of the laminate armor

[12] Image of the overall depth of the composite armor