Merkava 4

[whdonnelly]

This is interesting. A 10 round ready magazine in the latest version:
http://www.defense-update.com/direct...comparison.htm

[JaM]

Another interesting link...
http://www.defense-update.com/featur...re-merkava.htm

[Marcello]

"This is interesting. A 10 round ready magazine in the latest version:"

It sounds like an evolution of the AMX-13 autoloader.

[whdonnelly]

I was wondering if it was an autoloader or just a easy access type of storage.
Thanks for the info. I didn't know that the AMX-13 had an autoloader. Makes me wonder why the need for the MGS when you have a good light gun system.

[Marcello]

"I was wondering if it was an autoloader or just a easy access type of storage.
Thanks for the info. I didn't know that the AMX-13 had an autoloader. Makes me wonder why the need for the MGS when you have a good light gun system."

IIRC it was not without drawbacks.At least in the original version the autoloader (two drums with six rounds each) had to be reloaded from the outside, I do not know if this issue was changed later.But it is a very succesful and widespread design neverthles.I would take the M8 Buford over it and the MGS (unless long road marches were essential)though.

[PlasmaKrab]

Apparently the Israeli tankers were quite pleased with the AMX-13 (except for terribly weak armour), and the design was largely used as a testbed for various components of the Merkava, back in the 70s. I knew they got the forward-mounted engine from there, but I had no idea about the autoloader. Given the context, there may indeed have been a filiation.
Come to think of it, didn't the Merkava-3 have a smaller, five-shot revolving autoloader?

[JaM]

six-shot autoloader

[Randy]

Do they use the 60mm mortar which is mounted on the top of the turret very often? I've read thats its used against infantry and other soft targets.

[serg3d]

It seems Merkava undergoing urgent modifications now, due to unsatisfactory performance in the latest conflict. For sure some active defence systems will be installed (wether it will be Trophy or Iron fists is not known yet - but someone posted at tank-net that Trophy cost as much as whole Merkava) and probably more modular (?) armor. Namer heavy APC will probably go in production sooner too now - there is a plenty of damaged Merkavas to convert to Namer now. It would be more rational to convert damaged Merkava-2 to Namer, than to restore them - seems Merkava 2 can't hold it's own even against old ATGM like Fagot and Konkurs (AT-4,5), may be even Malutka(AT-3). Not that Mk3 and Mk4 invulnerable to them, but they seems fare better. IIRC I've read only two Mk4 were penetrated.

BTW seems there wenr't any Kornet or Metis-M in the Lebanon. RPG-29 under the doubt too now.

[JaM]

Commander: Not many tanks harmed during war

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3296462,00.html

Commander of 401 Armored Corps Brigade, Colonel Moti Kidor: 'During war hundreds of antitank missiles fired, 18 damaged'


Hanan Greenberg Published: 08.28.06, 00:07





As the war continued in the north, more and more tanks were damaged. Many voices were heard in the past declaring the Merkava MK 4 model as "the safest in the world," but it turned out that many of these tanks were damaged by Hizbullah antitank missiles, causing the IDF a significant number of losses.


Colonel Moti Kidor, Commander of the 401 Armored Corps Brigade, however, says that "those who ask these questions simply don't understand the field, and unfortunately these include senior IDF officers. When you look at the full picture, one understands that during the war hundreds of antitank missiles were fired, and in total 18 tanks were damaged. Of those, missiles penetrated only five or six. To my sorrow, eight soldiers were killed in these incidents."

He added: "Like every tank in the past and in the future, the Merkava MK 4 is vulnerable. It's basically like asking why a chopper fell.
If you strike it, it falls. I don't think there is any surprise here, and whoever is surprised simply doesn't understand. It's true that eight soldiers were killed in tanks, and that every soldier is a world in himself, but in relation to the number of missiles fired at us – it's not a lot."

In total dozens of Armored Corps soldiers were hurt and dozens of tanks hit, all from the Merkava MK 2, 3, and 4, some from tanks sent from the war reserves store unit shortly before entering in Lebanon. Among those injured were many reserves.


"Only a small number of tanks were seriously damaged, most of them have already been returned to units after the recovery," said a senior IDF officer.


"The Armored Corpse played in this war, like in previous war of the State of Israel, a central role in the fighting, and absorbed many casualties. We'll have to take away lessons from this to be ready for the next war," the source added.