The Merkava has parts made in Germany and several other different international locations. so I do not understand how “Israeli” it’s. Have not a couple of of them been knocked out by of us on the West Financial institution, or Gaza… with RPGs and Molotov cocktails? I noticed a Website online the place they have been speaking a lot lots in regards to the prowess of the Merkava. I believe it is a good tank, however I do not assume it is higher than an M-1A2, or a Leopard II; particularly the most recent fashions. My principal concern with an M-1 could be that it requires an enormous quantity of gasoline to stay operational… many international locations do not have the logistics to maintain them “fed.”
I do not see how anybody can say that the Leopard 2 is a greater tank than the M1a2. Particularly because it has by no means been fight examined. It might even be laborious to match it to a Merkava for the reason that IDF has not fought any important opponents since their little journey into Liberia again within the 80’s. I do know personally, if I had enemy tanks coming over the dune I would need an M-1 giving me cowl hearth.
A number of of the parts of the tank are inbuilt different international locations, however the Merkava itself seems to be natural to Israel – it’s constructed in Israel by Israeli Protection Industries. It makes use of the identical 120mm smoothbore as discovered on the Leopard, Abrams, Challenger, and many others. So far as I do know they’ve solely been knocked out within the W. Financial institution by 100kg packages of explosives positioned beneath the street – hanging the tank’s weak underside. So far as the opposite parts of the tank – I used to be beneath the impression that the know-how stuff was really made in Israel itself and simply needed to see if anyone knew the way it “actually” stacked up towards the Abrams. I used to be stunned by your expertise with the Canadians although.
Somebody that I do know additionally raised a very good level when he point out that the Leopard hasn’t actually been examined in fight – the evaluation I used to be studying referred to as the Abrams one of the best combat-tested tank on the planet, however the Leopard one of the best tank in some form of nebulous theoretical approach. Powerful to say “which is harder” the Abrams or the Merkava. My impression is that the armor is comparable. The three tanks that we have misplaced have been to do 100kgs, blowing up beneath the tank.
Apart from that they actually have not been examined in an actual fight state of affairs. One fascinating side is the engine being positioned within the entrance. The concept being that huge quantity of steel up entrance additional protects the crew. In the long run..it is the crew, their motivation and their coaching.
Proper now in keeping with Armor Journal the highest tank on the planet is the Leopard 2A6. The 2A6 has an upgraded gun that locations it barely over the M1A2 SEP. I requested a good friend within the 1st Cav. if the Merkava Mk4 might beat an M1A2. He gave me a degree by level comparability, evaluating pace, 17 wsm Ammo for sale capability, and energy to weight ratio, secondary weaponry, and the Markova’s mortar. His conclusion was that “the Abrams MBT is healthier then a Merkava”
One other level to contemplate is the engine. Whereas sure it is a gasoline hog, the M1 can be extraordinarily quiet. I used to be speaking to my boss who was prior military Intel. She instructed about how they have been practically run over throughout an evening coaching op as a result of the primary indication that that they had of the tanks strategy was when it smashed via the timber fifty toes forward of them.
These three tanks are my favorites. The Merkava Mk1 was fight examined in ’73 towards T-62s and T-72s. The armor, which included diesel gasoline (I have never figured how that one works) was simply able to taking the punishment from the newest in Arab operated Russian tools (I hope they learn Russian). Just one factor bothers me in regards to the M1A2 – the laser designator can burn out beneath in depth use, whereas these on the Leopard 2 (all fashions) shut down quickly when overheated. The Leo.2 can be higher optics sensible for firing manually.
To not discredit the Abrams or Merkava, however the latest Leo is nicer, incl. an extended gun barrel for greater velocity. IDI was contemplating designing one other homegrown tank with a 140mm principal gun! However due to such excessive secrecy, it is laborious to inform what the most recent Markova’s armor is made from – each mannequin has made enhancements to it. DU armor is nasty for the Abrams to have – however it’s penetrable by the newest AT shells.
The Leo. Has some shady secrecy about what they’ve for armor, so estimations would inform you that the have some benefits over the M1A2 and a few necessary disadvantages. Simply keep in mind, loads of European international locations examined the M1A2, Leopard2A5, and Challenger2 (nobody says a lot about these). The tank of alternative was both residence grown or the Leo.