By the end of the sixties AMX-13, upgraded “Sherman” and “Centurion” has ceased to meet the requirements for armored vehicles Israeli military. While in Europe, and military tank designers were divided into two camps: the Germans and the French preference for strategic mobility to the armored protection and firepower, while the British to place the protection and firepower. Reflecting the views of designers have tanks Leopard 1, AMX-30 and Chieftain. ” The last British counterparts on the other side of the Channel clobber, emphasizing its relatively low mobility. However, it is “Chiftenom” interested in the Israelis, who also, as the British believed that the tactical mobility of the tank on the battlefield is much more important than strategic. A tactical mobility, in turn, is determined by the possibility of the machine to move under fire anti-tank weapons, that is – her thick armor. In 1966, two “Chieftain” were brought to Israel, where he passed rigorous testing, which ended after the Six Day War in 1967, combat experience once again confirmed the right choice, “Chieftain”, not AMX-30 or “Leopard-1 .

So, a slow but well armored Centurion were on a battlefield where more mobile light and maneuverable, but poorly protected AMX-13. Israel decided to buy the tanks, “Chieftain”. Terms of the contract had already been practically agreed upon, when in 1969 the British government vetoed the supply of military equipment to Israel. After 1967, in an open supply arms to the country to the U.S.. Israel, along with South Africa, became a rogue state. The country’s leadership believed the dependence on the supply of weapons from one country extremely vulnerable. At the turn of 1969-70 years. it was decided to develop a tank on its own. Decision is extremely difficult, since Israel did not have tankostroitelnoy industry. Existing plants carried only the refurbishment of armored vehicles, and designers had only limited experience in modernization of tanks “Sherman”, “Centurion” and the M48, with the majority of such projects has been developed jointly with foreign specialists. Several high-ranking officials believed that the program design and build their own main battle tanks to Israel simply can not afford.
Merkava Main Battle Tank
Full-scale design began in August 1970 after the economic and technological research in principle the possibility of creating an Israeli tank. Notably, in contrast to all other countries, in Israel, the development of the tank was carried out under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance, as one of the decisive factors that influenced the decision to start designing, has become an American loan of $ 120 million official motivation of the program was as follows: only the domestic tank designs will best meet the Israeli doctrine of armored vehicles, the country will depend less on foreign supplies of weapons and, finally, the economic reasons – producing their own tanks require less financial resources than the purchase of military vehicles overseas. All the design work was headed by Maj. Gen. Israel Tal, which is also unusual in international practice tank development. Tal was not an engineer, a military officer, a member of the Arab-Israeli wars. During the Six Day War, he commanded one of three armored columns, crushed the Egyptians in the Sinai, and in the late 60’s was appointed commander of the Armored Forces IDF.

Under the leadership of a group of officers Tala-tankers has carefully studied the experience of the last war, in particular the statistics of the distribution of shells hit the tank. This analysis showed that the greatest number of hits falls on the frontal part of the tower, therefore, a frontal projection of the prospective tower tank had to be minimized, “Utopia” in her case. The tank should be possible to a higher level of protection, even at the expense of mobility. At the same time achieve the same level of protection for all major components of the tank is impossible. Limited human resources of the country dictate the need for maximum protection of crew members: let the tank will be completely incapacitated, but the crew must survive. Statistics show that in the case of detonation of ammunition the crew, usually die completely. Hence, to maximize the armor should be covered by members of the crew and ammunition.
Merkava Main Battle Tank
Additional protection can be achieved by placing the ITO in front of the case, in addition, for this arrangement gets the crew to leave the damaged car through a hatch in the least vulnerable to a frontal attack rear of the hull. Much attention was paid to usability tankers. The designers started from the postulate of “tank is the house the crew in time of war.” Tal suggested that the highly controversial concept of day and night use of the tank, which provided for the deployment of two crews in one machine – one rests, the other fights.

If necessary, place back the crew can be used to evacuate the wounded from the battlefield. Without a doubt, this concept has led to an unprecedented increase in the current tank manufacturing booked amount of the hull and the size of the tank, and the possibility of additional transport people inside the car stumped many experts, who at one time even tried to allocate an Israeli tank in a separate subspecies of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles. If the layout of the tank loomed very unusual, its armament was quite traditional – a 105-mm rifled gun M68 – U.S. licensed version of the famous British tank guns L7. Analysis of the tank battles in 1967 showed that the basic distance firing of guns even in the deserts of the Sinai Peninsula rarely exceeded 1000 m, and the Golan Heights middle-distance shooting was even less – 300 m. In the specific field of Middle East fighting a 105-mm gun fully satisfies the requirements for a tank gun. The possibility of installing a tank machine charging and reduce the number of crew members up to three people, but this proposal generated strong opposition military, who believed that the use of machine would complicate the design of the tank, but for the effective management, maintenance and protection of the machine requires a crew of at least four people.
Merkava Main Battle Tank
Design was carried out at very high rates, despite the fact that initially the work involved just 35 people. All the bureaucratic delays could be minimized thanks largely to the very Talu and close cooperation and military planners. The literature provides a different date of the initial design, the -1967, 1969 and 1970 full-scale development began only in 1970 In 1967, the military, led by MELTED, began to study the experience the Six Day War and pre-production of TTZ on the main battle tank, and in 1969, analyzed the theoretical possibility of designing and building tanks in Israel. Layout of the tank, made of structural steel, was ready in April 1971 study of the concept forward deployment logistics piloted in 1972 at a converted tank Centurion, and in December 1974 began testing two prototypes of the first tank of Israeli design. A decision on series production was made even before the prototype testing, and preparation for serial production for tank repair factory IDF began in 1976, development costs totaled $ 65 million – less than the design of any other western tank. All work on the new tank is conducted in secrecy.

Merkava Main Battle Tank
The first reports that Israel is designing its own main battle tank in the western press was in 1972. The project appeared under different names (in particular, “Sabra”), and the actual name of the tank – Merkava (Chariot) – taken for a fictitious, successfully concealing the development. Chariot – it is a chariot, come look at what hides its name. In the spring of 1977 Israeli television showed a new tank, after which the images taken from the TV screen, bypassed pages of many military publications. In October 1978 the first tank Merkava was officially handed over to the troops. One of the first battalions will be accompanied Merkava, commanded by the son of Major General Tal. The official presentation took place on the tank during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin Menahima to the assembly plant 1MI state firm in Tel-a-Noise-re. In the manufacture of the tank, more than 200 military, civilian and private enterprises, 70% of machine components manufactured in Israel, 30% – came from abroad. Great difficulties caused the production of cast armor hull and turret parts, as well as making the most armor. Engines and transmissions supplied from the U.S..
Merkava Main Battle Tank
Merkava Main Battle Tank

Merkava MK.1

The hull and turret of the tank – cast, have large angles of armor (up to 75 – 80 °). Merkava – the world’s only main battle tank with the placement of logistics in the front, and the crew compartment at the rear of the chassis. A removable top sheet of armor plate MTO several elevated relative to the rest of the body, and its edge overlaps the bottom of the tower when viewed from the front, protecting the most vulnerable in the tank junction between the tower and the hull. In front of the upper bronelista a hinged panel for access to the engine and holding it simple routine maintenance. Transverse broneperegorodka installed inside the case directly in front of the engine, the space between the bulkhead and the front piece employs fuel tanks.

Another bulkhead separates the engine from the armor of the fighting compartment. This engine placement, along with broneperegorodkami virtually eliminates the loss of the crew compartment at the front of the tank shelling. On a massive cast-frontal body parts are bolted mountings mine trawl. On the right wing is located spotlight, disguised under remotely controlled broneschitkom, left headlight is recessed into nadgusenichnuyu niche.

When applying power to the lights broneschitok right opens, and the left is put forward. Engine – Teledyne Continental U.S. diesel AVDS-1790-5A turbocharged. Diesel is boosted to 900 hp-engine AVDS-1790, put their initials on the American tanks M 60 and the Israeli Centurion and M 48. Transmission is also an American, Allison CD-850-6B, but modernized by Israeli experts, hydromechanical, type “X-Drive” with hydrostatic slewing. The main supply of fuel is placed in the fuel tanks installed in the rear of the armored nadgusenichnyh niches. In nadgusenichnyh sponsons having spaced booking, bronelistami located between aggregates, which do not damage leads to loss of tank combat capability. At the top of the front left and right niches are nadgusenichnyh grating for air intake, cooling the engine. Lattice for venting and opening for exhaust emissions are in the right-hand side of the nadgusenichnoy niche.

Mixing exhaust gases with cooling air helps reduce the visibility of the tank in the IR diapazone.Zabor air feeding the engine through a grid of zones for the top rung bronelista MTO on the right side bashni.Motorno-gear compartment is shifted to the starboard hull, located to the left of branch management . In the driver there are three fixed periscopes, and the average may be replaced bespodsvetochnym night vision device. Due to a significant shift of its workplace to starboard and a slight inclination of the upper bronelista MTO review the driver’s left is very limited. The driver gets to their place or via the rear door and the crew compartment, or through a sliding roof at the top broneliste Corps. Turret Merkava shape resembles a tower of the American M60A2 tank. Diversity of the turret, the thickness of each wall 76 mm. In the interval between them (also 76 mm) installed additional security elements.

The volume of the tower is much smaller than the other main battle tanks, due to low planting crew members managed to reduce the height of the tower and reduce the area of the frontal projections to about 1 m2. Wedge-shape in plan of the tower helps to ricochet shells during the shelling of the front hemisphere. By feeding niche of the tower is mounted a large basket on the perimeter of the lower part of which navesheny chains with steel balls on the ends. Chain provoke Warhead undermining grenades portable antitank weapons such as RPG-7, before their contact with the armor. Trunnion guns are closer than usual, to breech a constructive solution allowed to keep a reasonable angle to reduce gun barrel without increasing the height of the tower. On the roof of the tower is almost osutstvuyut protruding structural elements, except the machine-gun turrets and armored caps observation devices.

In order to compensate for the mass of MTO, which is concentrated in the front of the tank, its tower is shifted aft. As a result of gun barrel only slightly in favor of the front edge of the hull, which reduces the risk of “burying” the barrel into the ground when the tank is moving over rough terrain. On the Merkava installed American 105-mm rifled gun M 68 (licensed version of the British L 7). All the tools for “Mercano” manufactured by Militaire Industries of Israel. Angles pointing guns in the vertical plane of -8,5 ° to +20 °. The barrel is mounted insulating sleeve. Mask guns as the tank, “Chieftain”, is missing. In ammunition includes shots of the five types of shells – an armor-piercing discarding sabot, cumulative, armor-piercing explosive, smoke and shells with prepared striking elements. Unitary firing the gun is stored in containers made of fiberglass with an internal rubber insulation coating, four rounds in each. Much of the ammunition is located in the rear of the hull of the tank in the tower are only eight ready to fire projectiles.

Provides additional protection of ammunition: the detonation of mines – a fuel tank located under the seat of the containers with shots from the top – tank with fresh water, mounted directly under the upper bronelistom and significant overhang niches of the tower and attached basket. Loading of containers through a butterfly hatch located in the aft broneliste. The standard ammunition of 62 rounds can be increased to 84. Download time is 15-20 minutes of ammunition – three times less than that of tanks Leopard 1 “or AMX-30. The gun is stabilized in two planes. Drives rotation of the tower and pointing guns in the vertical plane electro. Accumulator and the hydraulic power unit located in the rear recess of the turret and separated from the crew compartment broneperegorodkoy. Auxiliary equipment includes a coaxial machine gun cannon 7,62 MM MAG, produced in Israel by a Belgian license.

Machine gun mounted on the left of the gun, the tape with 2000 ammunition is placed between two layers of armor on the left side of the roof of the tower. Two more of the same gun can be mounted on the brackets next to the commander and loader’s hatches. The total ammunition for machine guns caliber rifle rounds is 10.000. Over the gun barrel provides the installation of remote-controlled machine gun caliber 12,7 mm heavy machine gun aiming is done using the main gunner’s sight. 60-mm mortar mounted on the left side of the roof of the tower, shooting out of it is charging. Ammunition – 30 high-explosive, smoke and lighting min. Workplace gunner to the left of the gun.

In gunner an optical sight with an 8-fold increase, and integrated laser range finder and a viewing periscope device. Before the optical head of sight to the surface of the towers are welded special edge to facilitate ricochet of bullets and shell splinters. Information about the target range by laser range finder comes in a ballistic computer. Data on the target’s velocity, angle of roll axis trunnion, atmospheric data (wind speed, pressure, temperature) is introduced into the computer automatically, and the type of projectile and barrel wear – by hand. Sensors are installed on the atmospheric parameters telescopic mast, located on the left in the turret. Subsidiary aim at the gunner is not installed. The commander is Rear gunner’s seat of his somewhat elevated relative to the seat gunner. The commander set a panoramic optical sight with variable magnification (from 4x to 20x) magnification varies with foot pedals. There is a display that displays an image of night channel gunner’s sight. If necessary, the commander can direct their own gun, using a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer.

Head equipped with a mechanism kontrvrascheniya sight, so at the turn of the tower line of sight line of sight can be maintained unchanged. In addition to the panoramic sight around the commander’s hatch are five fixed periscope observation devices. Place the loader on the left side of the gun. He has installed a rotating observation device. If necessary, the loader can perform the function of the driver or gunner. Radio equipment housed in the tower to the left of where the loader. Searchlight mounted in a special compartment aft niches of the tower. At power-up armor cap automatically opens and extends spotlight. The inner surface of the lid is covered with a reflective composition. In the rear of the chassis is a compartment for accommodation of ammunition, backup crew or ten commandos. You can also install four stretchers with wounded or additional canisters of ammunition. In the aft broneliste a butterfly hatch 600 mm wide for access to the fighting compartment. The upper part of the hatch opens upward, the lower – down. Tactics of the tank Merkava does not provide transportation of soldiers on the battlefield. Standard is considered to be a crew of four and accommodation in the aft compartment of ammunition. Spring-balance-suspension tank Centurion, despite her criticism, to satisfy the specific requirements of the Middle East war theater.

Israeli experts have specifically mentioned its resistance detonated mines, so use the “Merkava” torsion bar suspension was not foreseen initially. Waiver of torsion bar suspension allowed to perform a smooth bottom of the hull, V-shaped form that, along with remote reservation bottom increases the security of the body detonated mines. Independent spring-balance-suspension tank Merkava was developed with the assistance of foreign experts. On each side of the set of six rubber-coated rollers with a diameter 790 mm and five support rollers: two of them support the upper branch of the caterpillar to its distance from the body part, and three – over the next. The suspension elements are located outside of the housing. On the two front and two rear mounted hardpoints hydraulic shock absorbers. The dynamic course of rollers – 210 mm. Each node of the suspension is attached to the body of the four bolts and can be quickly replaced in case of failure due to mine explosion. Leading the front-wheel drive layout. Caterpillars of all-metal, with open joints. The width of trucks – 640 mm, number of trucks in the caterpillar -110, the length of the bearing surface – 4.52 m Chassis covered shestisektsionnymi screens made of steel armor. Screens can recline up to access the elements of the suspension. Tank Merkava has a relatively low mobility due to the lack of the specific power and the spring suspension of rollers. At the same time, according to Israeli tank designers, the mobility of the tank is adequate to the conditions of its application. In the battle, and engine-transmission compartment mounted high-speed automated fire extinguishing system “Spektroniks.

The tank is equipped with a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction. Filter-ventilation unit collective type installed in the rear of the chassis. Access to filtered air handling unit through the door of size 80×80 cm, which is located to the right of the axis of the tank in the aft broneliste. Left is the same door closes the compartment with batteries. Despite the unusual layout, stand out Merkava of all modern main battle tanks, in his design used a little of technical innovations. At the same time the tank is best suited to the Israeli doctrine of armored units in the Middle East war theater. The level of integrated protection from the effects of anti-tank Merkava at the time of the development was considered the best tank of the Western world. Weight of armor is about 75-80% of mass of the empty tank. Total built about 250 tanks Merkava “Mk.1.

Merkava MK.2

Modification Mk.2 designed to meet the combat experience gained during the war in 1982 Mk.2 Tank model was, so to speak, a direct result of the fighting in Lebanon. It turned out that even a perfect armor “Mercano” Mk. 1 is not rescued from the fire 125-mm smoothbore gun T-72 tanks, applied Syria, so the main goal of modernization was further enhanced body armor. Book tower strengthened by the installation of overhead screens. Steel armor shields has increased snaryadostoykostyu compared with armor tank “Merkava” Mk.1. Side skirts altered forms are also manufactured using a new type of armor, the possibility of installation of the armor units. The screens are suspended from steel leaf springs to reduce the likelihood of their loss when driving on rugged terrain. Modified fire control system by installing more advanced ballistic computer and a new laser rangefinder. MSA was developed by the Israeli firm Elbit and was named “Matador-2. Modernization program intended to further speeding up diesel AVDS-1790-5A, however, remained standing at the Mk.2 old outboard motor is 900 hp, but installed a new automatic transmission, the Israeli construction. Fuel tank capacity compared with the previous model is increased by about 25%. Modernization of the running gear was installed on the two front suspension brackets hydraulic stops. Tanks Merkava “Mk.2 entered into service in the IDF in 1983 to the level Mk.2 had been brought all the tanks Merkava” Mk. 1; tanks Mk.2 versions were built and over again.
Merkava Main Battle Tank
Merkava Main Battle Tank
Merkava Main Battle Tank

Merkava MK.3

Work on the third model of an Israeli tank opened in late 1983, Israel Tal Mk.3 identified as Tank 90-ies, which combat effectiveness must beat all main battle tanks of 80-ies: “Leopard 2″, “Challenger” M1, T-80, T-72 … Presentation of the tank “Merkava” Mk.3 held May 4, 1989, in the same year the tank into service. Construction program of the armed forces of Israel provided for upgrading tanks to the level Mk.2 Mk.3 and construction of new machines in the form Mk.3. According to British expert in the field of armament PM Ogorkevicha personally “examine” all models “Mercano”, Mk.3 is essentially a new tank, but not modernized MR. 2. As before, the key issue was to enhance the security of the tank. At Mk.3 used modular armor. Modules – armored units – attached to the hull of the tank and tower bolts. Snaryadostoykost steel armor is even more increased compared with the armor of the tank Mk.2. Blocks are mounted on nadgusenichnye spon-Saone, the top sheet of the WCO, the frontal bronelist, located in front of the driver’s station – the most vulnerable part of the front projection “Mercano” earlier models. Side skirts are made of the new armor.

Also, as in the Mk.2, snaryadostoykost side skirts the same throughout their length, while the other main battle tanks (for example, “Leopard-2, T-80U) reinforced armor side skirts located only in the zone placement the driver. The tower is covered with boards and modules at the top. Notes a number of advantages, which makes use of modular armor. These are: the possibility of replacing damaged items in the field, replacement of modules with more advanced; facilitate weight of the tank for transportation by removing the extra armor. At the same time weakens the bolted connection design of the tower and its snaryadostoykost. Regarding the use of modular armor Maj. Gen. Tal at a press conference on the rollout Mk.3, said that “this tank will stay young forever, he will not age, because armor can always replace a new one.” In the spirit of the vserakursny protection common to all family cars Merkava, protection of the tank from the feed also increased by the installation in the aft compartments broneliste instead of HLF and the batteries of armored fuel tanks.

Fuel pipelines from additional tanks carried out in space mezhbronnom nadgusenichnyh sponsons. Installing the 120-mm smoothbore gun dramatically increased the firepower of the tank. The design of the gun in many ways similar to the German 120-mm tank shells Rh-120 and U.S. M-256, but the system will roll back the barrel after firing the Israeli gun more compact. Shooting from the 120-mm gun tank “Merkava” Mk.3 opportunity for all types of American and German weapons. On the gun barrel mounted insulating jacket, and in the middle of the barrel is mounted an ejector to remove the powder gases. Dismantling the ejector does not require removal of insulation jacket. The barrel is made without lifting the gun turret.

Standard ammunition to the gun, compared with tanks Mk.1 and Mk.2 reduced to 50 rounds. Shots are stored in individual containers of a design similar to chetyrehsnaryadnym containers, those used on tanks earlier versions. Five ready to fire projectiles out of fifty are in a special store drum type, mounted on a rotating Polikey tower. Level of protection similar to the first shots shots, stored in individual containers. Shop and semi-automatic feeding ammunition to the gun are a part of your development machine charges. Loader loads the ammunition store of the individual containers, with the foot drive shot up, and then manually be sent to the gun breech. It is believed that such a scheme allows to reach a compromise between a relatively simple mechanism for loading much flies work and increasing the charging rate and the requirement of the military to keep a crew of four.

The volume of the crew compartment was somewhat larger in order to improve working conditions for the crew. Machine-gun and mortar armament of the tank has not changed. In front of the tower’s sides are set on one block Quadruple smoke grenade launchers 78.5 mm. The tank is installed a new arms control system, developed by Elbit. I installed a new gunner’s sight with whatever position the barrel gun stabilization of the optical axis. The sight has a 12-fold increase. At the sight of integrated laser rangefinder. Night channel gunner’s sight has a 5-fold increase. Gunner’s sight unit has auto-tracking purposes. The commander also installed a new stabilized sight with 4-14-fold increase and night channel, independent of the night channel gunner’s sight. Sight commander associated with the gunner’s sight optical channel, so the commander can perform target designation. Electro-hydraulic actuators turn the tower and pointing guns in the vertical plane is completely replaced by electric. Tower commander and loader’s hatches new design. The first time in the western tank building to “Merkava” Mk.3 installed to prevent the electromagnetic radiation. Two wide-angle sensors are mounted on boards in the turret, one – on the gun barrel. Three sensors give the total circular coverage, information on an azimuth radiation source is displayed on a small display mounted near the work area commander. Filter-ventilation unit moved from the rear of the hull at the stern of the niche of the tower. Batteries are installed in the niches nadgusenichnyh-sponsons.

In the MTO is set bang up to 1200 hp air-cooled diesel AVDS-1790-9AR. The increase in power achieved mainly through the use of turbo-new and improved cooling system. In a single unit with a diesel engine mounted transmission Israeli firm “Ashot”, similar installed on Merkava “Mk.2. Upgraded the chassis of the tank – as a resilient member Suspension rollers used twin coil springs. On the first and sixth hardpoints installed hydraulic constraints of the rink, and on four medium-sized sites – hydraulic shock absorbers. Full speed rollers – 604 mm – comparable to the speed of rollers in the case of most modern hydro-pneumatic suspension. Width of caterpillar trucks increased to 660 mm.

Merkava Main Battle Tank
Merkava Main Battle Tank
Merkava Main Battle Tank
Merkava Main Battle Tank
Merkava Main Battle Tank
Merkava Main Battle Tank

TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Mk1/Mk2/Mk3
Combat weight, t 56/60/61
Crew (Troopers) 4 (10)
Dimensions, m length (for body) 7.45/7.6

width 3.7/3.7

height (turret roof) 2.65/2.65

Height, m 0.53
Armament, count x caliber, mm gun (type) 1h105 (TM) 1×120 (GSP)

guns 3h7.62/3h7.62

Mortar – / 1h60/1h60
Ammunition load, pcs shots 62/50

10,000 rounds

min 30
Engine power, hp 900/1200
Maximum road speed, km / h 44/58/55
Cruising range, km 400/500/500
Obstacles rise, hail 30/30

vertical wall, m 1 / 1

ditch, m 3 / 3

fordable depth, m

- Without preparation 1,4 / 1.38

- The preparation – 2.4
Cruising on the highway, 480 km
Obstacles 0.91 m height of wall

width of the ditch 2.59

depth of the ford 1.20