Merkava
Merkava Mark IV
Type	Main Battle Tank
Place of origin	Israel
Specifications
Weight	65 tons
Length	Rear to muzzle, 9.04 m
Width	3.72 m (without skirts)
Height	2.66 m (turret roof)
Crew	4
Armor	Classified composite matrix of laminated ceramic-steel-nickel composite alloy
Primary armament	120 mm MG253 smoothbore gun: 48 rounds, LAHAT ATGM
Secondary armament	1 × 12.7 mm coaxial MG 2 × 7.62 mm MG 1 × 60 mm internal mortar
Engine	1,500 hp diesel
Power/weight	23 hp/ton
Suspension	Helical spring
Operational range	500 km
Speed	70 km/h

The Merkava (Hebrew: מרכבה (help· info), Chariot) is the main battle tank of the Israel Defense Forces. Since the early 1980s, four main versions have been deployed. The "Merkava" name was derived from the IDF's development program name. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (3872 × 2592 pixel, file size: 2. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets or shells, protecting the soldiers inside from enemy fire. ... An M1 Abrams tank firing the Rheinmetall L44 fitted with a hoffman device. ... The LAHAT is a missile designed to be mainly fired by 105 mm and 120 mm tank guns, and is manufactured by the IAI subsidiary MBT. The LAHAT missile weighs 13 kg and has a range of 8 km when launched from a ground platform, and up to 13 km... An Anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) is a missile the primary purpose of which is to hit and destroy tanks. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... US soldier loading a M224 60-mm mortar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A compression coil spring A tension coil spring A selection of conical coil springs A Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces. ... “Hebrew” redirects here. ... Image File history File links He-Merkava. ... The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ... Emblem of the IDF The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ...

Currently, it is manned by a crew of four consisting of the tank commander, driver, loader, and gunner. This page is a candidate to be copied to Wiktionary. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Loader can refer to: Loader (equipment) Loader (computing) Boot loader A member of a heavy weapon crew responsible for handling and loading ammunition, such as on a howitzer or tank crew. ... Gunner refers to a rank in the Royal Artillery, or can refer to anyone whose main job is to operate a gun. ...

This platform is optimized for crew survival and rapid battle damage repair. With the use of spaced-armor techniques and quick-replacement modular designs, the design team was able to incorporate a derivative of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA), and Chobham. Additionally, the space between the inner and outer hulls is filled with diesel fuel—an economical storage method and effective means of defeating HEAT rounds. RHA stands for Rolled Homogeneous Armour. ... Chobham armour is a composite armour developed in the sixties at the British tank research centre on Chobham Common. ... A HEAT round. ...

Following the model of contemporary self-propelled howitzers, the turret assembly is located nearer the rear than in most main battle tanks. This gives the crew additional protection against a frontal attack by putting the engine between them and the front of the tank. Additionally, the arrangement created an empty, unused space in the rear of the tank that allowed for increased storage capacity. A U.S. M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called mobile artillery or locomotive artillery) vehicles are a way of giving mobility to artillery. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

This new storage capacity allows the space to be used in a variety of ways. It can serve as a platform for medical disembarkation, a forward command and control station, and an armoured personnel carrier. The unique design of the clamshell-style doors allows for overhead protection when off- and on-loading cargo and personnel. Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are armoured fighting vehicles developed to transport infantry on the battlefield. ...

Primary Manufacturers

The lead organization for system integration of the Merkava's main components is Israel Military Industries (IMI). The IDF Ordnance and Tank Workshops are responsible for final Merkava assembly. The primary construction facility, "Plant 7100," is located in a complex at Tel HaShomer just outside of Tel Aviv. IMI logo Israel Military Industries Ltd. ... The Israeli Ordnance Corps is a combat-support corps in the IDF GOC Army Headquarters. ... Tel HaShomer is an area in Gush Dan (Dan Region) in Israel. ... Tel-Aviv was founded on empty dunes north of the existing city of Jaffa. ...

Israeli owned and operated contributions to the platform are outlined below^[1]:

• IMI manufactures the 105 mm and 120 mm main guns and their ammunition,
• Urdan Industries assembles and constructs the hull, drive- and powertrains, and turret assemblies,
• Elta designs and manufactures the electronic sensors and infrared optics.
• Elbit delivers the ballistics computer and digital fire-control system (FCS),
• Tadiran provides cabin air conditioning, crew cabin intercom and radio equipment,
• El-Op, Elisra and Astronautics implement the optics and laser warning systems,
• RAFAEL Armament Development Authority builds and installs the Remote Overhead Weapons Station (R-OWS) and TROPHY Active Protection System.

Foreign companies that have licenced or supplied equipment are: Drivetrain is the twelfth studio album by southern rock band . ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... ELTA is Lithuanian news agency based in capital Vilnius. ... Image of two girls in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false-color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. ... Elbit Systems Ltd. ... A fire-control system is a computer, often mechanical, which is designed to assist a weapon system in hitting its target. ... Tadiran Telecom Ltd is a telecommunications company which offers enterprises complete converged communications solutions that support voice, data, video and advanced applications. ... Elbit Systems Ltd. ... Elisra Group is a privately owned Israeli manufacturer of high-tech electronic devices for mainly but not exclusively military use. ... RAFAEL logo RAFAEL Armament Development Authority, known as RAFAEL or Rafael, (also spelled as Raphael or Rephael, and in Hebrew: רפאל - רשות לפיתוח אמצעי לחימה) is the Israeli authority for development of weapons and military technology. ... TROPHY (IDF designation מעיל רוח, lit. ...

• L-3 Communication Combat Propulsion Systems produces licensed copies of Germany's MTU MT883 1500 hp diesel engine powerplant and RENK RK325 transmissions,
• The US DARPA licensed design details to IMI to build the 120 mm XM-256 smoothbore Rheinmetall cannon barrels,
• Motorola supplies Tadiran communication encryption systems,
• DuPont supplies the Nomex, ballistic, and fire-retardant materials used by Hagor,
• Russia Military Industries helped to design the KMT-4 & -5 anti-mine rollers and the ABK-3 dozer blade, now built by Urdan,
• FN Herstal supplies 7.62 mm (MAG 58) and 12.7 mm (M2) coaxial and pintle-mounted machine guns,
• Caterpillar assisted with an Israeli-designed track system.

Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of new technology for use by the military. ... Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defense company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß. It has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces. ... Motorola Inc. ... Dupont, DuPont, Du Pont, or du Pont may refer to: // E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, the worlds third largest chemical company Du Pont Motors Gilbert Dupont, a French stock brokerage part of retail banking network Crédit du Nord ST Dupont, a French manufacturer of fine... NOMEX® is the brand name of a flame retardant meta-aramid material marketed and first discovered by DuPont in the 1970s. ... ... Caterpillar Inc. ...

Merkava history

The legacy of the Merkava series of tanks dates back to the 1960s. Plans were drawn up to isolate Israel's military-industrial complex from foreign reliance. Israel's economy and national reserves allowed it to purchase nearly any land, sea, or air platform and weapon from friendly nations, but Israel's infrastructure was not capable of producing those items domestically. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ...

In 1965, Israel's military establishment initiated research and development for a domestically-produced tank, the Sabra (Hebrew slang: Native). During the design of this platform, Britain approached Israel and requested their assistance in developing the United Kingdom's newest line of tanks, the Chieftain. When two prototypes arrived for field testing in 1967, Israel shelved the Sabra program. As a result of political pressure from the British Foreign Ministry, the two prototypes were recalled to England in 1969 and Israel lost five years with which it could have pursued its own development program^[2]. Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... The FV 4201 Chieftain was the Main battle tank of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (commonly referred to as Foreign Secretary) is a member of the British Government responsible for relations with foreign countries, heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (often called simply the Foreign Office). ... Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ...

Following this incident, Israel Tal—serving as a brigade commander after the Suez Crisis—restarted plans to produce an Israeli-made tank. Tal's mission was furthered by lessons learned in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where the Middle East's Arab nations held significant numerical superiority. Realizing that they could not win wars of attrition, the new tank platform would have heavy requirements for crew survivability and safety^[3]. Israel Tal (b. ... In the United States Army, the commanding officer of a brigade is a Brigade Commander. ... Combatants Israel United Kingdom France Egypt Commanders Moshe Dayan Charles Keightley Pierre Barjot Gamal Abdel Nasser Abdel Hakim Amer Strength 175,000 Israeli 45,000 British 34,000 French 70,000 Casualties 197 Israeli KIA 56 British KIA 91 British WIA 10 French KIA 43 French WIA 650 KIA[1... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Combatants  Israel  Egypt,  Syria, br/>  Iraq Commanders Moshe Dayan, David Elazar, Ariel Sharon, Shmuel Gonen, Benjamin Peled, Israel Tal, Rehavam Zeevi, Aharon Yariv, Yitzhak Hofi, Rafael Eitan, Abraham Adan, Yanush Ben Gal Saad El Shazly, Ahmad Ismail Ali, Hosni Mubarak, Mohammed Aly Fahmy, Anwar Sadat, Abdel Ghani el-Gammasy, Abdul... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... This article is about the military strategy. ...

By 1974, initial designs were completed and prototypes were fabricated. After a brief set of trials, work began to retool the Tel-Hashomer ordnance depot for full-time development and construction of the infant platform. After the new facilities were completed, the Merkava was officially released to the public in the International Defense Review periodical. Additionally, the first official images of the tank were then released to other publications, specifically the American periodical Armed Forces Journal on May 14, 1977. The IDF's official adoption would not occur until December of 1978 when the first full battalion of thirty tanks was delivered for initial unit training. Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols A battalion is a military unit usually consisting of between two and six companies and typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. ...

Merkava Mark I

First production Merkava I from the back on display at Latrun Armor Museum with two-piece vertical door in center.

The Mark I is the original design created as a result of Israel Tal's decision, and was fabricated and designed for mass production. This version already had the turret located towards the rear as in all Merkava versions. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1232x926, 194 KB) Summary Description: Israeli Merkava Mk I MBT in Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1232x926, 194 KB) Summary Description: Israeli Merkava Mk I MBT in Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel. ... Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardised products on production lines. ...

The Mark I weighed 63 tonnes and had a 900 horsepower diesel engine, with a power to weight ration of 14 hp/ton. It was armed with the 105 millimeter M68 main gun (a licensed copy of the British Royal Ordnance L7), two 7.62 mm machine guns for anti-infantry defense^[4], and a 60mm mortar mounted externally, with its operator not completely protected by the tank's hull. The Royal Ordnance L7 is the basic model of Britains most successful tank gun. ... There are many cartridges which use 7. ...

The Merkava was first used in combat during the 1982 Lebanon War where Israel deployed 180 units. After the war many adjustments and additions were noted and designed. Most importantly, the 60 millimeter mortar needed to be installed within the hull and engineered for remote firing. A shot trap was found beneath the rear of the turret bustle where a well-placed shot could jam the turret completely. Installation of chain netting to disperse and destroy rocket propelled grenades and anti-tank rockets before impacting the primary armour increased survivability.
Combatants Israel South Lebanon Army LF (nominally neutral) PLO Syria Amal LCP Commanders Menachem Begin (Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon, (Ministry of Defence) Rafael Eitan, (CoS) Yasser Arafat Strength 76,000 37,000 Casualties 670 17,825 The 1982 Lebanon War (Hebrew: , Milkhemet Levanon), (Arabic: ), called by Israel the Operation Peace... An RPG-7 captured by the US Army RPG, or Rocket propelled grenade is a loose term describing hand-held, shoulder-launched anti-tank weapons capable of firing an unguided rocket equipped with an explosive warhead. ... Shoulder-launched weapons avoid the problem of recoil by directing all exhaust out the rear of the launch tube A shoulder-launched missile weapon is a weapon that fires a projectile at a target, yet is small enough to be carried by one person, and fired while held on one...

Merkava Mark II

Merkava II at the Israel Defense Forces Armor Museum in the Jerusalem corridor.

The Mark II was first introduced into general service in April of 1983 and incorporated several upgrades as a result of the previous incursion into Lebanon. The new tank was optimized for urban warfare and low intensity conflicts, with a weight and engine no greater than the Mark I^[5]. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1160x776, 163 KB) Summary Description: Israeli Merkava Mk II MBT in Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1160x776, 163 KB) Summary Description: Israeli Merkava Mk II MBT in Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Urban warfare is a modern warfare conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. ... Low intensity conflict (LIC) is the use of military forces applied selectively and with restraint to enforce compliance with the policies or objectives of the political body controlling the military force. ...

The Mark II used the same 105 millimeter main gun and 7.62 millimeter machine guns as the Mark I, but the 60 millimeter mortar was redesigned during construction to be located within the hull and configured for remote firing to remove the operator from enemy small-arms fire. An Israeli-designed automatic transmission and increased fuel storage for increased range was installed on all further Mark IIs. Anti-rocket netting was fitted, increased survivability against infantry equipped with anti-tank rockets.

Many minor improvements were made to the fire-control system. Updated meteorological sensors, crosswind analyzers, and thermographic optics and image intensifiers gave greater visibility and battlefield awareness. A fire-control system is a computer, often mechanical, which is designed to assist a weapon system in hitting its target. ... // Meteorology (from Greek: μετέωρον, meteoron, high in the sky; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. ... A crosswind is any wind that is blowing perpendicular to a line of travel, or perpendicular to a direction. ... Thermography can refer to a printing process and an imaging process. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Incrementally improved versions of the original Mark II were designated:

• Mark IIB, with thermal optics and unspecified updates to the fire control system.

• Mark IIC, with more armour on the top of the turret to improve protection against attack from the air.

• Mark IID, with next-generation modular composite armor on the chassis and turret.

Merkava Mark III

Merkava Mark III early example as seen on display at the Latrun Armor Corps Museum.

The Merkava Mark III was introduced in December 1989, and had many major upgrades to the drivetrain, powertrain, armament, and safety systems. The most prominent addition was the incorporation of the Rheinmetall 120mm Gun developed in Germany. This gun and a larger 1,200 horsepower diesel motor increased the total weight of the tank to 65 tonnes, but the larger motor increased the maximum cruising speed to 60 km/h^[6]. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1289x782, 136 KB) Summary Description: Israeli Merkava Mk III MBT in Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1289x782, 136 KB) Summary Description: Israeli Merkava Mk III MBT in Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel. ... An M1 Abrams tank firing the Rheinmetall L44 fitted with a hoffman device. ...

The turret was re-engineered for movement independent of the tank chassis, allowing it to track a target regardless of the tank's movement. Many other improvements were made, including: Look up Chassis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

• External two-way telephone for secure communications between the tank crew and dismounted infantry,
• Upgraded ammunition storage containers to minimize ammunition cook-off,
• Addition of laser designators,
• Incorporation of the Kasag modular armor system, designed for rapid replacement and repair in the battlefield and for quick upgrading as new designs and sophisticated materials become available,
• Creation of the Mark IIIB, with unspecified armour upgrades.

Cooking off is when ammunition is set off prematurely due to heat in the surrounding environment. ... A laser designator is a laser light source which illuminates a target. ...

BAZ System

Merkava Mk III Dor Daleth BAZ Kasag

The 1995 Mark III BAZ (Hebrew: Falcon) had many improved and additional systems including: Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 522 pixelsFull resolution (978 × 638 pixel, file size: 258 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 522 pixelsFull resolution (978 × 638 pixel, file size: 258 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ...

• Upgraded fire-control system components, from Electro Optics Industries (EL-OP) and Elbit Ltd, provides the tank with the ability to engage moving targets while on the move (an automatic target tracker),
• NBC protection systems,
• Locally-developed central air-conditioning system,
• Added improvements in ballistic protection,
• The Mark IIID had modular composite armour on the chassis and turret.

For the Xzibit album, see Weapons of Mass Destruction (album). ... In the broadest sense air conditioning can refer to any form of cooling, heating, ventilation or disinfection that modifies the condition of air, typically for thermal comfort. ...

Dor-Dalet

The last generation of the Mark III class was the Mark IIID Dor-Dalet (Hebrew: Fourth Generation), which included several components as prototypes to be introduced in the Mark IV.

• Upgraded and strengthened tracks (built by Caterpillar, designed in Israel),
• Installation of the R-OWS.

Merkava Mark IV

Merkava Mark IV is first publicly introduced and seen in May 2002 at Jerusalem's Israeli Independence Day celebrations (here seen at Latrun)

The Mark IV is the latest generation of the Merkava and has been in production since 1999. Its production was first announced in an October 1999 edition of the Bamachaneh (at The Camp) military publication. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 1040 KB) Summary Merkava mk 4 - Israeli Tank Licensing Author: MathKnight File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Merkava Yom Haatzmaut Metadata This file contains additional... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 1040 KB) Summary Merkava mk 4 - Israeli Tank Licensing Author: MathKnight File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Merkava Yom Haatzmaut Metadata This file contains additional... Yom Haatzmaut (Hebrew: yom hā-‘aṣmā’ūṯ), Israeli Independence Day, commemorates the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948. ... The Trappist Monastery The area of Latrun (Hebrew: ‎) (al-Latrun in Arabic) is a region of the Ayalon Valley, about 15 kilometers west of Jerusalem and 14 kilometers southeast of Ramla. ... This article is about the year. ...

The new model has a more robust fire-control system, the Knight Mark 4, produced by El-Op. The Mark IV has improved armor on all sides, including the top and underbelly, and is optimized for urban combat. The underside of the tank is reinforced with a modular, removable "belly armour pack."

Ammunition is stored in individual fire-proof canisters which reduce the chance of tank rounds cooking-off in the case of a fire inside the tank. As a result, the turret is classified as "dry", meaning that no active rounds are stored above the turret line.

Some features, such as hull shaping, exterior non-reflective paints, and shielding for engine heat plumes mixing with air particles to confuse enemy thermal imagers, were carried over from the IAI Lavi program of the Israeli Air Force to reduce the battlefield signature of the Merkava series tanks. The IAI Lavi (Hebrew: לביא, Young Lion) was a combat aircraft developed in Israel in the 1980s. ... The Israeli Air Force (IAF; Hebrew: זרוע האויר והחלל, Zroa HaAvir VeHaḤalal, Air and Space Division, commonly known as חיל האוויר Hel HaAvir) is the air force of the Israel Defense Forces. ...

The Mark IV includes the larger 120 millimeter main gun of the previous versions but is capable of firing a wider variety of ammunition, including HEAT and sabot rounds like the APFSDS kinetic energy penetrator, using an electrical semi-automatic revolving magazine for 10 rounds. It also includes the incorporation of a much larger 12.7 mm machine gun for anti-vehicle operations (most commonly used against technicals)^[7]. A HEAT round. ... An APFSDS separating from its spindle sabot Anti-tank flechette round with its sabot A sabot refers to a device named for a shoe used in a firearm or cannon to fire a projectile or bullet that is smaller than the bore diameter. ... French anti-tank round with its sabot APFSDS at point of separation of sabot. ... A technical in Liberia. ...

Upgraded fire control system

The new fire-control system enables the Merkava to operate as an anti-helicopter platform and is capable of detecting and destroying armoured attack helicopters such as the French Gazelle and the ubiquitous Russian Mil Mi-24, both used by Israel's neighbors. A Russian Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter. ... The Gazelle is a French-designed helicopter, created by the company Sud Aviation, that later became Aérospatiale, and later still Eurocopter. ... The Mil Mi-24 is a large combat helicopter gunship and low-capacity troop transport operated from 1976 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations. ...

Upgraded tracks

The Mark IV has been designed with the Israeli-designed "TSAWS (Tracks, Springs, and Wheels System)" caterpillar tracks system, called "Mazkom" (Hebrew: מערכת זחלים קפיצים ומרכובים) by troops. This system is designed to endure the harsh basalt rock conditions of Lebanon and the Golan Heights with minimal "track-shedding." U.S. M60 Patton tank. ... “Hebrew” redirects here. ...

Digital battlefield management system

A new and very sophisticated Israeli Elbit Systems BMS (Battle Management System; Hebrew: צי"ד) has been designed, constructed, and tested. It is a centralised system which displays battlefield data on color plasma-TV-like screens. It collects data from tracked units and UAVs deployed in theater, and immediately distributes it in encrypted form to all other tank units in a given theater. Elbit Systems Ltd. ... The £124 million Taranis UAV built by BAE Systems An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is an aircraft with no onboard pilot. ...

Combat history

Controversy surrounds the Merkava IV's success during the battle of Wadi Saluki. It is believed that Merkava tanks were destroyed or severely damaged by Hezbollah using Russian or Syrian Kornet missiles. This has never been confirmed. After the 2006 war in Lebanon, and as the IDF finds itself more and more frequently fighting experts of the art of guerrilla warfare, the Merkava's role in the Israeli military is being questioned.^[8][9] However, IDF wants to increase orders of new Merkava IV tanks. ^[10] Combatants Israel Hezbollah Commanders colonel Kidor Unknown Strength infantry 24 Merkava Mark IV tanks 80+ infantry Kornet missiles Casualties 8 infantry killed 4 tankers killed 11 tanks dammaged 80 killed The Battle of Wadi Saluki took place during the Litani offensive. ... The 9M133 Kornet (Russian for Cornet) is a Russian anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). ...

Merkava variants

Following the al-Aqsa Intifada the Israeli Defense Forces modified some of their Merkava's to satisfy the needs of urban warfare. This adaptation can be done by field engineers and does not interfere with the tank's combat handling. For other uses, see al-Aqsa (disambiguation). ... Urban warfare is a modern warfare conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. ...

Merkava LIC

This is the main series of Merkava tanks designed for urban warfare. The LIC designation stands for "Low intensity conflict", underlining its emphasis on counter-insurgency, street-to-street inner-city asymmetrical type warfare of the 21st century^[11]. Low intensity conflict (LIC) is the use of military forces applied selectively and with restraint to enforce compliance with the policies or objectives of the political body controlling the military force. ...

The Merkava is equipped with a turret 12.7 mm caliber coaxial machine gun which enables the crew to lay down fairly heavy cover fire without the use of the main gun, which is relatively ineffective against individual enemy combatants. Like the new remote-operated weapon station, the coaxial machine-gun is fired safely from inside the tank without exposing the crew to small-arms fire and snipers.

The most sensitive areas of a tank, its optics, exhaust ports and ventilators, are all protected by a newly-developed high-strength metal mesh, to prevent possibility of explosives charges planted there ^[12].

Rubber whip pole-markers with LED tips and a driver's rear facing camera have been installed to improve navigation and maneuverability in an urban environment by day or by night.

Merkava Tankbulance

Some Merkavas have been fitted with full medical and ambulance capabilities, but retaining their armament. The cabin area has been converted for carrying injured personnel and has had stretchers and life support medical station systems added with a full medical team complement to operate under combat conditions with a Merkava battalion. The vehicle has a rear door to facilitate evacuation under fire, and can provide covering fire. An ambulance in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico A Helicopter used as an Ambulance. ... ambulancers using a stretcher (profile) ambulancers using a stretcher (front) Soldiers using a simple stretcher A stretcher is a device used in medical professions to carry casualties or an incapacitated person from one place to another. ... Life support, in the medical field, refers to a set of therapies for preserving a patients life when essential body systems are not functioning sufficiently to sustain life unaided. ...

The "tankbulance" is not an unarmed ambulance and is not protected by the Geneva Conventions provisions regarding ambulances, but it is far less vulnerable to accidental or deliberate fire than an ambulance. The Geneva Conventions consist of treaties formulated in Geneva, Switzerland that set the standards for international law for humanitarian concerns. ...

Merkava IFV Nammer

Namer APC/IFV

Israel developed a heavy-duty APC/IFV based on the Merkava chassis called Nemmera (Hebrew: Tigress). Because many of the 200 built Merkava I's are being withdrawn from service and it has recently been reported that the Mark II 105 mm gun is not able to be upgraded to the IDF standard 120 mm, this IFV conversion holds great promise. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 329 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 329 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... East German BRDMs on parade during celebrations of the 40th anniversary of East Germany in 1989 Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are light armoured fighting vehicles for the transport of infantry. ... An M2 Bradley Infantry fighting vehicle. ... For other uses, see Tiger (disambiguation). ...

Only a handful Mark IV IFVs were produced, due to the cost of the vehicle and the need for main battle tank platforms.^[13] Yet following Operation Rainbow and the vulnerability of the M-113, the IDF re-opened the Nemmera program which is now in full development. The 2006 Lebanon War also verified this program. Operation Rainbow (In Hebrew, מבצע קשת בענן) is a controversial military operation which began on May 18, 2004 in the Gaza Strip. ... The M113 during the Vietnam War The M113 is an armored personnel carrier family. ... Combatants Hezbollah Amal[1] LCP[2] PFLP-GC[3]  Israel Commanders Hassan Nasrallah Dan Halutz Moshe Kaplinsky[10] Udi Adam Strength 600-1,000 active fighters 3,000-10,000 reservists[4] Up to 10,000 ground troops. ...

On February 15, 2005, Ma'ariv reported that a running prototype Merkava IVF was fielded by the Givati Brigade and was equipped with a OWS, which is remotely controlled and loaded from within the vehicle. It was also decided to rename the vehicle from Nemmera to Nammer ("Tiger"). This same unit was demonstrated in Europe at Eurosatory 2005 military exhibition with possible export customers showing interest. February 15, 2005 A state of emergency is announced in Samoa and American Samoa as South Pacific cyclones Olaf and Nancy make landfall on Savaii. ... a Jewish prayer service the Israeli newspaper Maariv This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

On July 20, 2007, StrategyPage.com reported that the first fifteen Nammers will be delivered in 2008, and over a hundred more will eventually equip two combat brigades. is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In addition to the remotely controlled 12.7 mm OWS with a night vision sight, there will be also a roof hatch on the left forward part of the vehicle, for the commander to use, and also operate a 7.62 mm machine gun. It will also have the Merkava digital battlefield management system, as well as four cameras providing 360 degree vision around the vehicle. The Nammer will also have a toilet, an addition based on troop feedback.

Merkava ARV Nemmera

The Merkava Armored Recovery Vehicle , named: Nammer (Hebrew: Tiger) is an armored recovery vehicle based on a Merkava chassis. It is capable of towing disabled tanks and carries a complete Merkava back-up power pack that can be field changed in under 90 minutes. Subsequently renamed to Nemmera (Hebrew: Tigress). Conqueror Armoured Recovery Vehicle 2 An armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to repair battle-damaged or broken-down armoured vehicles during combat, or to tow them off the battlefield for more extensive repairs. ...

Merkava Howitzer Sholef

Sholef in Beit ha-Totchan, Israel.

Two prototypes of Sholef ("Gunslinger" or "Slammer") 155 mm self-propelled howitzer with automatic loading system were built by Soltam in 1984–1986. The 45-ton vehicle had a long 155 mm calibre gun barrel giving a range of 45+ km. Using GPS, inertial navigation, and an internal fire control computer, it was also capable of direct fire while on the move. It never entered production^[14]. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1218x735, 196 KB) Summary Description: Sholef (aka Slammer) Israeli 155 mm self-propelled howitzer on Merkava tank chassis in Beyt ha-Totchan, Zichron Yaakov, Israel. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1218x735, 196 KB) Summary Description: Sholef (aka Slammer) Israeli 155 mm self-propelled howitzer on Merkava tank chassis in Beyt ha-Totchan, Zichron Yaakov, Israel. ... A U.S. M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called mobile artillery or locomotive artillery) vehicles are a way of giving mobility to artillery. ... Soltam is an Israeli-International company which operate both on the military market and the civilian market. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Over fifty GPS satellites such as this NAVSTAR have been launched since 1978. ... An inertial navigation system measures the position and altitude of a vehicle by measuring the accelerations and rotations applied to the systems inertial frame. ... A fire-control system is a computer, often mechanical, which is designed to assist a weapon system in hitting its target. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Merkava tank

• Israeli-Weapons.com Merkava Page (Considerable tank info and pictures)
• IDF overview of Merkava's history and variants
• Merkava Mk 3 LIC, Merkava Mk 4 at Defense-Update
• Merkava Mk 1,2,3,4 at War Online.
• Merkava Mk 1,2,3 at voodoo.cz.
• Merkava Mk 3 Baz, Merkava Mk 4 at Army-technology (tank features and pictures from different angles)
• Merkava Mk1, Merkava Mk2, Merkava Mk3, Merkava Mk4 at army-guide.com
• ACPR's analysis of Merkava
• Continued Evolution of the Merkava Program at Defense Update
• Report on Merkava performance in 2006 Lebanese conflict
• The Armor Site! page on Merkava