Merkava Mk II
Taking into account the experience gained as a result of the use of the Merkava tank in hostilities, the Israeli industry in 1983 switched to the production of the modernized Merkava Mk2 tank, which differs from the previous base model (about 250 of these machines were produced) by enhanced armor protection, increased patency and increased firepower.
In the design of the hull of the Merkava Mk2 tank, an improved multi-layer spaced armor was used, in which the inter-armor space is filled with diesel fuel. According to Israeli specialists, this has significantly weakened the effectiveness of the cumulative ammunition. The upper part of the hull sides has internal (main) and external (additional) armor plates, between them on the fenders are located an air cleaner, a filtering unit, tools and spare parts. Improved side screens were introduced, which, unlike the previous ones, do not reduce the maneuverability and maneuverability of the tank. They provide the ability to install structures of the so-called "active" armor with explosive elements, significantly reducing the effectiveness of cumulative ammunition.
Earlier, "active" armor in the form of additional box-like plates over the main armor plates of the hull and turret of the M48 and M60 tanks proved to be successful during the battles during the Israeli aggression in Lebanon. In the lower part of the stern of the tower, metal chains with balls are suspended along its perimeter. They serve as a kind of anti-cumulative shield designed to reduce the damaging effect of shaped-charge projectiles and ATGMs, since their warheads are triggered before meeting the main armor.
Considerable attention was also paid to improving the protection against anti-tank mines. This is facilitated by the arched shape of the bottom, the location of the driver behind the engine compartment and the placement of suspension elements of the chassis outside the body.
The firepower of the Merkava Mk2 tank is provided by the 105-mm M68 rifled cannon, manufactured in Israel under an American license. It is stabilized in two guidance planes. Electrohydraulic drives. A sufficiently large angle of descent of the gun allows you to fire from behind cover. In order to improve the accuracy and stability of shooting at varying temperatures of the outside air, a three-section heat-insulating casing was created for this weapon. The ammunition load of the gun is 62 shots with high-explosive, cumulative, armor-piercing - subcaliber and smoke shells. The effectiveness of the M111 armor-piercing sub-caliber feathered projectile with a detachable pallet, developed in Israel, is noted. Its armor-piercing core is made of heavy metal and, according to Israeli military observers, can penetrate armor 150 mm thick, inclined at an angle of 60° at a distance of up to 2000 m. Cannon ammunition is stored in containers made of fire-resistant material (four rounds each).
A 7.62 mm machine gun is paired with the cannon. Another such machine gun is installed on the brackets at the commander's and loader's hatches. In addition, a 60-mm grenade launcher can be mounted on the tower for firing smoke, lighting, and anti-personnel fragmentation grenades. It is believed that the use of fragmentation grenades made it possible to include a larger number of armor-piercing shells in the gun ammunition.
The gunner is located to the right of the cannon. Its place is equipped with a fire control panel, a combined laser (on an yttrium-aluminum grenade with neodymium) periscopic rangefinder sight (one- and eightfold magnification), an electronic ballistic computer, and a periscopic viewing device). It is also possible to install a thermal imaging sight.
The commander, located behind and above the gunner, is equipped with a panoramic sight (4x and 20x magnification) and six viewing devices along the perimeter of the hatch. The commander's sight is connected to the gunner's rangefinder sight, so that he can give the latter target designation, and, if necessary, fire from the cannon instead of the gunner.
The loader, located to the left of the cannon, uses one periscopic rotary viewing device, which is installed in the turret roof next to the hatch. The driver enters the control compartment through a hatch or fighting compartment. Three periscopic viewing devices are installed in the hatch, of which the middle one can be replaced by a non-illuminated night vision device. The tank "Merkava" Mk2 uses the American diesel engine AVDS-1790-5A (power 900 hp) and hydromechanical transmission CD-850-6B "Allison", providing a maximum road speed of 58 km / h, a cruising range of 500 km.
On each side of the tank there are six double rubberized road wheels (diameter 790 mm, dynamic stroke 210 mm) and three support rollers. Front drive wheels. Independent spring-type suspension. The two front rollers have hydraulic shock absorbers. The suspension is quickly replaced when blown up by a mine. Track tracks (width 640 mm, length of the supporting surface 4.52 m) are all-metal, with an open hinge. The tank can overcome the following obstacles: an ascent at an angle of 30°, a ditch 3 m wide, a vertical wall 1 m high, a ford up to 1.4 m deep (without preparation).
