[in hoc signo vinces]

It's built on an old M-60 chasis...Israel refined the turret and fire control system, some have added armor...though a good tank, it's out of date by our standards...

We should give the Israelies some M-1A2s.

[HamiltonJay]

Assume it doesn't have reactive armor?

[aegiscg47]

The Merkava was built to deal with the Syrian, Egyptian, and Iraqi T-72s and possible T-80s, so it was fine for the 1990's, but it has stagnated. Also, probes and raids with tanks isn't the most efficient use of armor, leading to the enemy being able to pick off vehicles at will. Armor needs to be used in full scale assaults, backed by artillery and air support so that enemy forces don't have a chance to get set up for a attack with AT missiles.

Also, it looks like the Hezbos got some of the new top attack AT missiles from Russia(via Iran and Syria) or they have modified their tactics to attack the Merkava at it's weak points. The M1A2 has better ceramic armor, fire suppression, and armor on the top that would defeat most of these types of attacks.

[AdAstraPerArdua]

'We should give the Israelies some M-1A2s.'

No, the brits should sell them some Challenger 2's - the best armoured tank in NATO. The M1A2 uses the original British Chobham armour which is very good, but the Challenger 2 uses 2nd generation chobham which is even better. If someones shooting at you, you want to be in a Challenger!

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/challenger2.htm

http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/abrams.htm

[Kenny Bunk]

In the face of determined infantry, and without IDF Infantry support in proper numbers, any tank would be toast up agaisnt the huge anti-tank mines, and especially the very large Russian anti-tank rockets. Even the Abrams has proven somewhat vulnerable to the lowly HESH RPG rounds fired from behind the tank. We are headed back to square WWI with tanks. They need to be closely supported. Dug-in (even subterranean), camouflaged, anti-tank teams need to be dealt with by infantry, expecially if the Muslim anti-tankers are willing to commit suicide by remaining silent while being overrun and waiting to attack armor from behind. Even then, remotely controlled mines would still be a danger.

Dare we say it? Without proper tactics, tanks are a diminishing asset.

[Blue Scourge]

I think you are mistaken...the Magach is designed off of the M-60 chasis, the Merkava was a all new design.

[DMZFrank]

I don't think it is based on the M-60. Note that the drive sprocket and the final drives are at the FRONT and not the rear of the vehicle. In the M60 the power train is a complete package at the rear of the vehicle. A driveshaft from the rear to the front would raise the profile ala the Sherman. Also the Merekva has a troop carrying compartment at the rear of the vehicle, which rules out a powertrain there. I think the Merkeva was a ground up engineered Israeli invention, as a result of their having to rely on US replacement for tank losses during the Yom Kippur war amid strong Congressional opposition. The Israeli's did up engineer a number of M60's untill they acquired sufficient Merkevas.

I was a tank commander in the Vietnam war, and I worked on many M60's (we used M48A3's in Nam) in the States and in Europe.

[rmlew]

It's built on an old M-60 chasis...Israel refined the turret and fire control system, some have added armor...though a good tank, it's out of date by our standards...
You are thinking of the Magach 6 and 7 and the Sabra.

The Merkava series were designed by Israel.

[exnavy]

The Merkava is not built on an M-60 Chassis, it is an Israeli designed, upgraded, modern tank considered to be one of the better designs out there.