Merkava IVm (Israel)

 Merkava IVm (Israel)

For much of its history, Israel was reliant on obtaining its tanks from outside countries. Battlefield experiences over the last several decades led Israeli planners to push for a domestically designed and produced tank that met the needs of the Israeli defence Force (IDF). The result was the Merkava series of tanks. The latest model of this tank is Merkava IVm. This particular tank has a crew of four and can hold several more soldiers inside.

Protection is the #1 priority of the Merkava and the tank makes considerable use of modular armor which can be removed and replaced quickly. Even the paint and exhaust were taken in consideration as developers wanted a tank which was hard to see, even with thermal viewers. Extra protection is provided by the ‘Trophy’ system which can detect and alert the crew to incoming threats and destroy anti-tank missiles and rockets with small explosive charges. For offense, the tank uses a 120mm smoothbore gun which fires high-explosive and armor-piercing rounds as well as the domestically produced LAHAT guided anti-tank missile.

The Merkava in real life 

As it came into creation the Camp David peace arrangement appeared to settle the regional debate and the absence of prompt dangers from Syria, Jordan and Egypt permitted some alleviation of pressures. Be that as it may, soon the Abu Nidal Association death asked the IDF to attack Southern Lebanon, both to manage PLO dynamic cells and with Syrian impact over the zone. Chieftain and more seasoned models then shaped the greater part of the defensively covered powers, however the Merkava made its presentations and instantly outflanked the T-62. The war finished in May 1983 and drove Tsahal to build its tank survivability in urban fighting, however moved into a fringe strife which kept going until 1985, after a dynamic withdrawal. Most recent changes demonstrated it was safe to the RPG-7 and, in particular, to the AT-3 Swagger. Later, they were locked in amid the Second Intifada (2002) and the 2006 Lebanon War, managing the Hezbollah, now furnished with an extraordinary cluster of cutting edge AT gear (more than 1000 rockets were let go at Merkava tanks). The war left 5 tanks decimated (two Mk. IV) and 40 harmed, yet later rescued and repaired. The Russian AT-14 "Kornet" demonstrated the most deadly against Mk. II/III models, however Tsahal pronounced it was fulfilled by the Mk. IV exhibitions. The loss number after tank entrance stayed low, a normal 2 to 1.5. This was affirmed amid the Gaza War, with no setback as such, for the most part the consequence of reexamined strategies and better preparing for lopsided fighting. Moreover, since 2010, the Trophy dynamic assurance framework is being acquainted step by step with enhance the Mk. IV survivability against the most developed Warmth rockets, which was demonstrated on Walk first, 2011 close to the Gaza outskirt.