Merkava MBT

last SG · 2006-06-21T14:46:59+00:00

Originally posted by moca SM-1 fires one shot - SM-1 turret flips open.The recoil is much stronger than that of the HE round but not that strong as to flip...

tankee1981 SG

The above picture shown that there is an additional weapon possibly a 0.5 HMG mounted on top of the main gun. My question is what is the purpose of it being mounted there? I mean the tank already have a MG mounted coaxially in the turret itself. Here is a link with some similar pictures.

http://www.waronline.org/en/IDF/arms/merkava.htm

SpecOps87 SG

The .50 is for Anti-aircraft

Obersturmfuhrer SG

There's no such thing as enough firepower, just like there's no such thing as enough money. Laughing

saline SG

for the mk 1-3 there are three 7.62 mm machine guns (two on the turret, one co-axial).
the 0.5 HMG u see is avaliable on the mk 4 and the mk 3 LIC (low intensity conflicts). the mk 3 LIC has an internal 0.5 HMG co-axial. and the mk 4 has a 0.5 co-axial machine gun which enables the tank crew to shoot soft targets from the turret without getting out. and the internal 0.5 HMG are useful in urban warfare.

spencer99 SG

The 0.5' HMG mounted in-line with main gun is not new in Iseral service.

I remember seeing pictures of M60s also with the 0.5' HMG mounted the same way.

tiggersgd SG

tankee1981 SG

Does it means that the 0.5 HMG is mounted on the main gun externally is for increased firepower for urban warfare in addition to the 3 7.62 MG(2 on turret and 1 coaxially within the turret)? Very Happy

ditzy SG

Nonono, its to give the maintainence people more work to do. Laughing

Viper52 SG

The front mounted 50-cal is not for AA as someone mentioned. This arrangement has existed since Lebanon in 1982 IIRC, for close-in urban anti-personnel work in conjunction with the 2 7.62mm MGs manned by the crew. The 50-cal is remotely operated.

tankee1981 SG

Then what about the coaxially mounted MG within the turret? I forsee problem with mounting the 0.5GMG externally on the main gun,reloading is going to be a major problem! Very Happy

Viper52 SG

Co-axial weapon is of limited use in urban environment since its field of fire is very limited and it has to point where your main gun is pointing.

saline SG

well, 0.5 is a nice bridge between the 120mm and 7.62mm. u don't want to wack a tiny land rover with ur 120mm rd, rite? after all the tank carries 50rds of 120mm rds. so each round is precious.
0.5 for AA? not likely. wonder where one gets the idea/info from?

baer SG

I think the .50 cal mounted above the mian gun is like the .50 cal above the 106 RR we recently phased out. To assist in aiming, where you point is where the rounds should land (baring shot drop, windage etc etc). simplicity!

moca SG

I read this in a book about Yom Kippur War.

One IDF MBT was completely out of ammo for its main gun and one Egyptian MBT was heading for him ready to fire.

The IDF tank commander, in a desperate move, decided to charge the Egyptian MBT firing his 0.5 HMG at the Egyptian turret.

Although it did no damage, the 0.5 shells smacking into the Egyptian turret unnerved the Egyptian crew and they decided to beat a retreat.

Maybe that's why they insist on a 0.5HMG on every tank.

Another interesting thing they have on some IDF MBTs is a 60mm mortar mounted on the turret for the tank commmnder.

For the Merkava 3 and 4, this Soltam 60mm breech loaded mortar can be fired from within the tank turret.

Unfortunately cannot find pics.

tankee1981 SG

Originally posted by moca

The IDF tank commander, in a desperate move, decided to charge the Egyptian MBT firing his 0.5 HMG at the Egyptian turret.

This man have balls of steel!

The Merkava tank is the first of its kind to feature a motar. I suppose it will be useful for urban warfare where u need to fire at targets over buildings with a range of 2.7km. I am not sure if the 60mm can fire illum and smoke as well. Any info on this? Very Happy

Dr Who SG

Before Merkava, the Israelis used the Centurion and the AMX-13.
During the 6-day war, the AMX clashed withthe T-54/55s. The AP shells from the 75mm gun bounced off the hull of the T-55s.

It was then decided that a heavier/better tank (the soon to be Merkava) was required. The AMX was then condemned to the scrap heap..........then came along the military scrap merchant from Singapore..........and the rest is singapore's military history..........

spartan6 SG

Currently only 2 types of rounds is available HE & WP

spencer99 SG

If the 75mm round then cannot defeat T-55s armour. They would be useless against T72s esp those with reactive armour.

The AMX13SM1 is useless as a "tank".

But our doctrine has never been on "tanks" but using the them as a 3-man mobile support platform in partner with mechanized infantry.

moca SG

It is not a difficult choice be reckless since you're gonna die anyway. But what I also give him top marks for is resourcefulness, which the Israelis seem to have a huge supply of.

The Merkava first saw action in Lebanon - ie urban warfare - against the Syrians. i read somewhere that the 60mm mortar came about through improvisation of tactics of MBT in the urban scenario.

This was also where the Syrians picked up on where the Egyptians left off in Yom Kippur - in heavily utilising infantry against tank. The Syrians created special "tank hunter" commando teams.

This invasion of Lebanon was also where the book on modern urban armour warfare was written. The Israelis also lost a lot of tanks to another kind of Syrian tank hunter teams - the attack chopper. If I'm not wrong, I think the Syrians used a western-made helicopter, probably French.

I have already read the Six Day War, Yom Kippur. I missed the War of Attrition, and am looking forward to other books on Israeli combat. I'm a huge fan.

moca SG

ST Kinetics created modern AT ammo for the SM-1 or AMX-13 75mm gun.

So this thing about the AMX-13 being only for infantry support surely cannot be true?

SAF did intend for the AMX-13 to be a tank, but at that time, officially at least - MAF only had the Scorpion and Indoneisa only had the Scorpion and PT-76 as tanks. (Unofficially the MAF also got something else. That's why at that time unofficially we also got the Centurion.)

And I would say at least the AMX-13, PT-76 and Scorpion are well matched with a slight advantage to the Scorpion for being newer and having a 90mm (correct?) gun.

I guess most Singaporeans are very patriotic soldiers and wouldn't question SAF equipment - especially when they have been obsolete for only the last 50 years.

The retirement age of 55 must also apply to equipment in SAF!

If you don't believe me some of our airbase still got Bloodhound missiles... Very Happy