Merkava 4 Video (sorry for those with Broadband connections only...)

Interesting video, nice shot against the heli
John
helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission

Thank you Dwight! you certainly made my point.

For more information about the Merkava 4, here is what the ARMY-TECHNOLOGY WEBSITE has to say:

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MERKAVA 4 MAIN BATTLE TANK, ISRAEL
The 65t Merkava 4 main battle tank entered full production in 2001 and began operational training with the Israel Defence Force in July 2003. It will enter service in 2004. The Ministry of Defence plan to manufacture between 50 and 70 Merkava 4 tanks per year and up to 400 tanks may be manufactured, although budgetary constraints put these numbers in doubt. The Merkava 4 has been extensively improved including new armour protection and gun and electronics systems.

The Merkava 4 is slightly larger than the Merkava 3 Baz, which has been in service with the IDF since 1990. The Merkava 3 is offered for export by SIBAT based in Tel Aviv. The Merkava 4 is not offered for export but the systems and components are exported.

The tank is capable of carrying eight infantry soldiers, a Command Group or three litter patients (stretcher casualties) in addition to the tank crew of commander, loader, gunner and driver. The tank is capable of firing on the move at moving targets and has demonstrated high hit probability in firing against attack helicopters using conventional anti-tank munitions.

Major contractors include: the El Op Electro-Optic Industries subsidiary of Elbit Systems which is responsible for the fire control system; the Israel Defence Force which carries out main construction and system integration and testing; Israel Military Industries for the supply of the main gun, ballistic protection and munitions; Imco Industries for the electrical systems; Urdan Industries for the hull, main turret and castings; and IAI Ramta for protection components.

The main part of the tank production, the construction of the hull and integration of all the systems is carried out in the Israel Defence Force Workshop.

TANK WEAPONRY
The Merkava 4 has a new all electric turret developed by Elbit and subsidiary El-Op. Only one hatch is installed in the turret, the commander's hatch.

The improved 120mm smooth bore gun has been developed by Israel Military Industries. The new gun is an advanced generation of the gun developed for the Merkava 3. A Vidco thermal shroud on the gun reduces bending of the barrel resulting from environmental and firing conditions. The gun can fire higher power munitions including new 120mm high penetration projectiles and guided shells. The loader can select semi-automatically the ammunition type. The tank carries 48 rounds of ammunition each stored in a protective container. An electrically operated revolving magazine contains 10 ready-to-fire rounds.

The range of ammunition includes APFSDS-T M711 (CL 3254), the HEAT-MP-T M325 (CL 3105) and the TPCSDS-T M324 (CL 3139) supplied by the Ammunition Group of Israel Military Industries. The gun is also capable of firing French, German or US 120mm rounds.

The tank is fitted with 7.62mm machine guns and an internally operated 60mm mortar system developed by Soltam Ltd. The mortar can fire explosive and illumination rounds to a range of 2,700m.

The protection suite includes an advanced electromagnetic threat identification and warning system.

EL OP FIRE CONTROL
The new fire control system, developed by El Op, includes very advanced features including the capability to acquire and lock onto moving targets, even airborne helicopters, while the tank itself is on the move.

The computer controlled fire control system includes line of sight stabilisation in two axes, a second-generation television sight and automatic thermal target tracker, a laser range finder, an improved thermal night vision system and a dynamic cant angle indicator. The commander's station is fitted with a stabilised panoramic day and night sight. The integrated operating system includes advanced data communications and battle management. Tadiran developed the Merkava's communications system, the inter communication system and the VRC 120 vehicular transceiver radio with embedded auxiliary receivers

GD 883 V-12 DIESEL ENGINE
The Merkava 4 is powered by a V-12 diesel engine rated at 1,500hp. The engine compartment and one fuel tank are at the front of the tank and two fuel tanks are at the back. The new engine represents a 25% increase in power compared to the 1,200hp powerpack installed on the Merkava 3.

The German company MTU manufactures the engine components and the GD 883 engine is manufactured under licensed production by General Dynamics Land Systems in the USA. The engine is transferred to Israel for installation and integration with the automatic transmission and with the engine computer control system. The tank has automatic five-gear transmission rather than four gears as in the Merkava 3. The transmission system is manufactured by Renk. The single position rotary shock absorbers are installed externally.

HULL
The redesign of the hull around the installation of the new powerpack has provided improved frontal armour protection and improvement to the driver's field of view. For improved reverse driving the driver uses a camera.

A new feature of the tank is that the fitted modular special armour covers the turret. The tank is protected against a range of threats, including air launched precision guided missiles and advanced and top attack anti-tank weapons. Automatic fire detection and suppression has been installed. The underside of the hull has been fitted with additional armour protection against mines. The driver and crew compartments are equipped with heating and cooling air conditioning and a Shalon Chemical Industries combined individual and overpressure protection systems against contamination by NBC warfare.

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The Merkava has always been one of my "secret favorites". The engine is mounted in the front wich not only creats mor interal space but doubles as extra forward armour for the crew. The Isrealis place more value on crew survival than tank survival as manpower is at a premium so they can't "afford" to lose the man power. The interior volume also allows the tank to be used as a command post buy allowing installation of extra radio equipment in place of troops. And this is just the Merkava I through III. I don't even know all of the advancements on the newer ones. Got a Merk I in 1/48 on my office desk and an unbuilt 1/35 Tamiya in my closet that i need to dust off! LOL

there is no kit of the merkava mk 4 yet

the tank was shooting at helos it dose not have aa rounds but uses the LAHAT 120mm Laser guided missile witch has a range of 8k

if you want to make a newer merkava Legend Productions has a Mk3 D conversion for the Academy merkava Mk3 and you will need new tracks

you can get all off the stuff you need from
http://www.missionmodels.com/

Dwight, thanks for the link.

Sure is a cool video!

QUOTE: but what I find truly amazing about it is all the US technology that made it possible. Hughes,Cadillac Gauge,TRW and the like make this Merkava tick. Not to say that the Israeli's don't need a theater specific tank design for thier needs, but, what about all our US tax dollars that went to the development of fire control, hydraulics and armor design and development. The IDF got a real "bargain" here, you'd think that they could buy a few M1A2's to make a good will gesture to repay all that "free" R&D that our defense establishment executed. I'm sure the same story is repeated in Israeli aircraft. Steve

Steve.

When it comes to Israelis and weapons people all over the world shout "It's American money!" but they forget, for some reason , that Israel is also an independent country that do buiseness with the rest of the world including USA.
Maybe some of the money was deliverd to Israel by the American Tax payer, ie - you, and the rest of the citizens of USA, however you have to understand that Israel is standing next to USA. meaning Israel is an ellay. It's the only country that stand on the same grounds like the Americans. I invite you to Israel to see the we are mostly westerns rather then middle-easterns. we have democracy we're capitalist, and we do contribute to USA by means of technology, computer systems, agriculture and in more several areas/ways.
Please understand that Israel is the one and only stronghold of the democracy between totalitery states that believe in the "old ways".
I love my country and I love USA. I thank all the people that help us.
However, I truly belive that israel can hold it's own groung without any foriegn support !!! that's what we did in 1967, after the "6 day war" when france launched there embargo. after that the relationship with US started to flurish.
So, I invite you, and everybody else here so you can see for your self that we are more "American" then you could ever imagine

Kool vid , I like that heat round lob on that target on the mountain , kool stuff !

Yeah, I saw the tank shoot at the Helicopter too...

Is there such a thing as an Anti-Aircraft 120mm tank round? (I'm saying 120mm, but maybe this tnk uses 105s, like the old merkavas?)

Mighty impressive video nonetheless. Not being that familiar with tanks, I didn't know the skirts were made of fully independant plates. I thought they were all linked together somehow.

sure enough, there it is on page 16 picture #19

alex amarra I have that book, I'm going to check it out. I never knew of a MBT with a compartment for infantry, what a great idea. Is it a practicle idea?

thanks alex, thanks cobraH, thanks dwight, thanks piwi

Wow, awesome machine. Thanks for the link.

Impressive... most impressive.

From what I know (which granted isn't much) the Merkava can carry 4 fully equipped grunts in the back too. Nice to be able to carry your own infantry support!

I'm wondering what the turret armor is. Doesn't look like its Chobham, but then again who knows. The gun is the same 120mm Rheinmetall-Borsig gun that we use on the M-1 series.

Crockett,

Maybe they wanted to be sure they wouldn't get a budget version of the Abrams, the stuff the US militairy uses is not exactly the same thing they sell to other countries.

But that video is great to bad it won't let me download it. And did I see it shooting at a chopper or am I halucinating?

QUOTE: Originally posted by ridleusmc That was cool, was that infantry running out the back of that thing? Is there a compartment in there for grunts to chill?

I think it was designed as an emergency escape hatch & as an entrance for wounded or stranded crews of other vehicles. I remembered Sheperd Paine's diorama "On the Green Line" which shows Israeli troops retrieving their wounded & entering through the back of a Merkava tank. If you have the book "How to build dioramas" you could find those pictures there & how he built his dio.

You are welcome guys, but I guess PIWI is the guy who should be thanked for this amazing video. Although I don't think there is a kit of this merkava version yet, I will not be surprised if Trumpetet will be the first to come out with this one.

I just hope that they really will.

Wow thanks for the video. I think I will be building another merkava. I already got two!

Yup you are right.

I thank you for posting the video, but what I find truly amazing about it is all the US technology that made it possible. Hughes,Cadillac Gauge,TRW and the like make this Merkava tick. Not to say that the Israeli's don't need a theater specific tank design for thier needs, but, what about all our US tax dollars that went to the development of fire control, hydraulics and armor design and development. The IDF got a real "bargain" here, you'd think that they could buy a few M1A2's to make a good will gesture to repay all that "free" R&D that our defense establishment executed. I'm sure the same story is repeated in Israeli aircraft.

Steve

I have to give that video . Plus theres nothing like seeing that video first thing in the morning.

That was cool, was that infantry running out the back of that thing? Is there a compartment in there for grunts to chill?

Thanks Dwight I have been forced to go buy the kit now

Rockfall hit the nail on the head "Chariot"

I believe Merkava means Chariot in English.

very impressive tank. one question tho. it looks like there are some features on teh tank similar to the U.S. abrams. the gun for instance. BTW, are those sabo raounds they're using??

OOO Pop quiz...does anybody know what the english translation for merkava is....I do, ill give you the answer but first i want to see if anyone else does. Its kinda clever once you figure it out.

Pretty impressive video. Semper fi, mike

wow, that is one serious piece of machinery. I'm going to have to add this tank to my list of projects to do someday!

Wow, that was awsome!!!!!!!!! Thanx for posting that!

Wow! Makes me feel like building one. Who makes a good Merkava kit? Are there any Mark IV kits out yet?

Jim