מידע ותמונות רבות על טנק המרכבה  
       
MERKAVA'S
       Mk I, Mk II, Mk III & Mark IV
Reviewed by Senior Lecturer London's Imperial War College R. M. Ogorkiewicz

To fully appreciate the Israeli Main Battle Tank 'Chariot' which is more popularly known by it's Hebrew name
MERKAVA, it is necessary to reviewing it's roots, history and military origins. It's production basically stemmed
from the common practice of denying the Jewish State before, during and after it's 1948 war of independence 
any current armament especially a supply of main battle tank armor. During the 1940's it would be out casts of
WWI battlefield refuse. In the 1950's it was leftovers from WWII. In the 1960's it would be out dated Korean
War battle scarred equipment. However her neighbors had no such problems and both Jordan and Egypt during
this period got the latest in British army material. The Soviet entrance on the scene during the Egyptian take
over the SUEZ canal from the French owners and the British builders & operators brought an end to the West
supplying unlimited weaponry only to be replaced by state-of-the-art Warsaw Pact MBT's among other items.

Israel got it's first chance at modern battlefield weaponry Thanks to the French and a plot to retake the Suez
canal. Under the brilliant leadership of John Foster Dulles and his State Department we joined with Soviets
and the wonderful Chinese and forced the Brits and French to retreat. The Israelis balked but in the end Dulles 
slammed them as well. Maybe now we can understand why the French turn their backs on everything USA.
The Brits, we just turn the other cheek as usual. But some did NOT forget. What a disaster and we are all
paying for this American stupidity to this very day... Like OIL, 9-11 and the whole Arab World anti USA.

 BELOW MERKAVA 3 BAZ
 

 

BELOW MERKAVA 3 BAZ

   
 


BELOW MERKAVA 3 BAZ

 

Israel’s MoD-administered Merkava Tank Production Authority is running its own remote-weapons competition,
which will include Rafael’s Katlanit, Elbit’s Overhead Remote Control Weapon System and an offering by Israel
Military Industries.  In an early 2007 interview, Brig. Gen. Amir Nir, Merkava program manager, said the remote-

                                 See Mantak's director BG Nir Video HERE

control turret and other urban warfare modifications are transforming the main battle tank into a true multipurpose
combat vehicle for low-intensity conflicts. Nir said the new Merkava Mk4 BAZ and earlier models will have  a new
underbelly protection, added armor and new rubberized tracks. It will be able to fire 50mm machine guns & 40mm
grenade launchers safely from within the Chariot's hull. Bezhalel Machlis, Elbit corporate vice president & general
manager for land systems / C4I, said his firm’s remote-control system has been tested and now certified for the
Merkava Mark IV BAZ series and will be made available to the IDF for other platforms. Elbit is offering 2 systems:
a lightweight version capable of firing 690 7.62mm rounds for integration on armored personnel Namer carriers, MBT
tanks, tactical vehicles, new unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and a larger caliber system for 25 or 30mm rounds.

According to Machlis, the larger system converts armored personnel carriers into armored fighting vehicles, without
having to penetrate the vehicle deck and sacrifice crew space. Moreover, the 25-30mm system can be now folded
down to fit in C-130 cargo aircraft or to reduce MBT visibility in a LIC environment. As for the remote-control
weapon offered by Israel Military Industries, company President Udi Ganani said final development would be all
completed by August 2008, after which he intends to compete for several programs in Israel, USA and NATO.
Ganani said the system is designed to precisely target & strike moving targets from platforms that are on the move.

“Our edge will be in our unique ability to identify and lock onto targets while in motion. The system will provide
visual warning on a computer screen or audible warning when it identifies moving targets,” Ganani said. “The
whole system can be operated from the inside without exposing crews to dangers.” In response to IDF requirements
for standoff, precision strike capabilities, Ganani noted that Israel Military Industries and Israel Aircraft Industries
have been jointly developing the Extended Range Artillery, or EXTRA.  This was part of the secret TERM project.

 

Two Merkava Mk III BAZ Tank Commanders  2006 Vets
Their Words on their Merks...  Lt. Amos

I will talk about my first Merkava the Mark III BAZ that I had in the last conflict and I will add any differences to those conclusions with our new Merkava
Mark IV BD (BAZ Dor Daleth). First I and my crew are only three years out from tanker school and was originally posted to the Gaza frontier and LIC
type combat conditions and training. We were not prepared nor was our equipment set up initially for armor warfare especially Lebanon. Having said that
we were quick to adapt and in less than the four weeks of the war we were up to speed with tank company and battalion formations and operations. My
crew and I have been serving in the IDF 401 armor brigade since we received our Mark IV Merks last year. Most of my knowledge is based around the
Mark III BAZ LIC from daily actions in the Gaza sectors. Namely the Merkava 3 BAZ D model. I have tried reading up on the Abrams, Chally & Leopard.
There seem to be quite a few things that stand out with our Merkava. I notice how little the Merk is cited in literature against the NATO MBT's so I will try
to make a basic point of reference. It should be pointed out that the Mark III was a 1980's tank as it was announced mid 1980 with first deliveries, example
and photographs all appearing in 1989. The BAZ version was called for in mid assembly line production for a dramatic up-grade to the FCS computer, servo,
tracking, slewing and aiming and was ready by 1995. By then the Merk III BAZ was a world ranking MBT that could hold it's own against anything in our
area of the world to protect our nation and this included the new Hind D attack helicopter gun ships as well as newer T-72 and 82 Russian tanks.  However,
compared to the newer 1999 Mark IV series, this was a totally new ball game... or Game Changer especially with TADIR Knight Mark 4 FCS Hawk system.
The skin of a tank or it's first line of defense has been ballistic steel followed by laminates and then the Chobham and DU Hybrid armor. Merk III had the
Chobham category of defensive skin stats but the Merk IV is another story. It is still a secret and it is a generation ahead of the West and of the Soviet block,
even today. Suffice to say it is a dynamic Fourth generation that encompasses a new shape, new design, new smoothing, new low signature, new self ... uh
healing... hmmmm. let's leave it at that for now.  The primary concept was protection for the crew and hence the integrity of the tank. This was because the
very reason for the Merkava series was the devastating tank crew and equipment loses suffered in both the 1967 war and the 1973 surprise Yom Kippor War.
Since the tank is always facing an enemy it went without any argument that the frontal arc had to be the most protected and that moved the engine from doing
nothing in the back of the tank to the front where it would contribute to protecting a crew. A tank can be replaced in weeks or months, a crew took years.
Next everything in the Merkava was arranged around the tank to add to the overall surrounding the tank with equipment that all added to the depth of side
rear, top and bottom extra protection. This also goes for the latest in designs of the Bazooka skirt plates which are now solid, thicker and more harden than
ever before giving the equivalent protection of a meter thick of ballistic steel. To keep the Israeli commander head inside a surround wrap around color TV
system provides 360 degree visibility, new Scopus prism visual blocks with multiple magnification settings has been added along with a very accurate
and deadly LIC remote overhead weapons system (R-OWS) with a 50 cal heavy machine gun, Thor anti-IED Laser gun and ATGW system on board>
The Merkava is built in such a way that field repairs take hours and not days and most of the time do not require returning the tank to corps for major
repairs even in Lebanon where thousands of anti tank rockets and missiles were fired at Merkavas.  A special fire proof, blast proof container for the
main gun 120mm ammunition was developed to reduce secondary and sympathetic explosions in case of fire or loose round.  A single double piece vertical
rear compartment door was incorporated to allow for easy entry, exit and reloading of ammo while under fire. At times the rear area is used for armor
personnel carrier for 8 combat troops. 10 is possible and 3 man command post, 3 station med-evac with medical team is also an option among some of
the popular configurations. The new design of the Merkava Mk IV allows the the Merk to shrug off RPG's, ATGW's and tandem head missiles. The familiar
'Shulammite's Hair' ball and hanging chains for the shot trap at the rear of the bustle is finally GONE with the new Mk IV BAZ redesign of the turret with the
built in active protective ASPRO (Trophy) system. This is being adopted expeditiously fleet wide by 2012. There is an Add-On and there is a new turret add.

MERKAVA Mark III BAZ on the front lines

Can you tell us if the Merk been sold or given to any third parties?
Lt. Yossi...

YES! It has not been openly reported due to political and diplomatic reasons. However, I will tell you this trivia. The huge unmanned aerial vehicle Heron was sold to
the Republic of Georgia. It must have been VERY effective against the Russians... because 2008 Russian army has placed a big multi million dollar 4 year order for a
IDF Machatz I (Heron) Joint secret nuclear project with Germany and ELINT Russian armor UAV system
whole squadron of IAI Herons! Trivia #2, right after that very quiet signing which is a Soviet rarity, Russia cancelled the multi-million dollar country wide S-300 missile
defense with Iran of it's nuclear installations. Also, Russia has since decided to cancel the Syrian air force purchase of a squadron of sophisticated Mig 31's. Go Figure.
BTW, the US Army never wanted the IDF to purchase Abrams, because they want that production line to stay shut because a new $300 Billion FCS system is expected
in 2007, make that 2008, delayed to 2009... HOLD THE PRESSES, Obama just cancelled the entire F-22 remaining program and the whole FCS Army program!
Israel would have been left out in the cold had she NOT ever developed the Merkava Project...
This is very reminiscent of the old 1980's argument for Israel to buy the German diesel electric subs, since all the US Navy ever wants is nuclear subs and to have NO
USA capability for manufacture of conventional subs. The US Navy won. Now it's US Army's turn and they just love it that the Merkava is working out so well.  First
the Abrams costs X3 (Three Times) what the Merk 4 is running. Second, Abrams was not made for desert but European theater. Third Abrams always looses when it
is tested against the Merk. Didn't know that did you? The USMC has brought a number over to Israel and the US Army has loaned a few Abrams examples to the IDF.
[This goes back to the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's when the Israel Air Force 'loaned' the USAF a whole squadron of various MIG fighter jets to train American Navy & 
Air Force pilots how to shoot down and compromise Vietnam adversaries. One was a MIG 21. There was something with an info swap on the MIG 25 Foxbat BTW !]
In the Western Negev region Abrams held it's own, but NOT for comfort, supplies and on station durations. It was in the North on Golan and the Lebanon border area that
the Merkava Mk IV did better than Abrams, Chally, LeClerc (which is stationed in Lebanon with the UN French forces) and even the Leopard. It out maneuvered, even
out scored and out fought all comers including the latest Soviet T series tanks. The Merk was picking off targets miles before the other tanks even knew they were being 
sighted, targeted and then in simulation... destroyed. Merkava is second to none and is constantly being tweaked, up-graded and modified several times a year in fact. It
just seems the Merkava has a better firing system against fast moving & high flying targets (but with the kind of technology only developed in Israel by Israelis). They first
did trials in the Negev desert back in the 1990's where the Abrams at first did perform better in the winter desert conditions (latter the Merkava IV caught up and even
surpassed the Abrams). The American commanders seem to gloat on first test results but, when MANTAK asked to try the new Mk IV in 1999 and 2000 especially on
the Golan, it was the IDF turn to begin to smile with confidence as the new Merk tankers started turning in outstanding scores.  USMC tankers said the topography on
the Golan is like the moon, it is that incredibly harsh but, the Merkava Mark IV with a radical new tread system for the caterpillar tracks is so revolutionary & suspension
is so forgiving that you feel like you are driving down an interstate back home the tanker grunts said. The driving system is designed with this terrain specifically in mind so
that a Merk can be taken at over 55 km/h with no tread shedding issues what-so-ever. While the Abrams broke it's treads after only 100 meters. After repairing and then 
up-grading the broken tread...  it broke still again after 200 meters & even again!  American teams quietly and sadly went home.   And that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

A Lot More Coming Here Soon...
 

El Tanque Merkava Siman Arba BAZ

               Shalom L'hitra'ot  שלום להתראות

Merkava Mk IV BAZ Extreme
                                                   
 COMING SOON THE NEXT GENERATION MBT FROM ISRAEL WITH A  360°  PROTECTIVE DOME