3 injured in IDF Merkava tank accident

Jerusalem Post ^ | May. 22, 2003 | JOEL LEYDEN

[yonif]

An IDF Merkava tank accidently turned over near the Israeli-Lebanese border this evening lightly injuring 3 troops, a military source told the Jerusalem Post.

Two of the soldiers have been evacuated from the Mt. Dov area to Zeev Hospital in Sfat, while an IDF rescue team is presently attemping to enter the tank and remove a third soldier.

The tank was on a routine patrol of the border when the incident occured.

[Slings and Arrows]

Ouch! Anyone have any idea about how a tank takes a spill like that?

[RS]

"An IDF Merkava tank accidently turned over....."

A 60 ton tank turns over ? ... and people are worried about SUVs ?

[green team 1999]

bump

[yonif]

Ouch! Anyone have any idea about how a tank takes a spill like that?

I am no expert, but my hunch is that the tank accelerated too fast on a terrain which was not up for it. The Israeli-Lebanese border (which I have been too - on the Israeli side of course) has some areas which are sloped and not flat.

[Slings and Arrows]

I'm no expert either, but I thought modern tanks were built to handle that sort of thing, as this story details. In any event, I hope the crew's OK.

[Bobby777]

Saw a Merkava Mk.3 on TV a few days ago ... that is one cool tank ... I like the low profile of the turret, built to deflect head-on shots ...

[Slings and Arrows]

Check out the link in post 6 - great story!

[Nebr FAL owner]

My guess would be they were driving on a narrow road on a hillside or they drove off the side of a bridge ie it's dark as the inside of a bucket of tar & the driver comes up to the bridge at speed & ins't lined up quite right ie one track on the bridge one track off & the next thing you know is you got a 60 ton tank turned turtle.