Posted on 07/22/2004 12:34:28 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4
The Merkava IV tank was deployed in operational duty for the first time Wednesday, rolling out with the Menashe Brigade near Jenin.
The deployment came a year after the first soldiers of the Merkava IV battalion were drafted and exactly according to schedule, a senior armored officer said.
Lt.-Col. Amit Tefler, the G3 (operations officer) of the Armored Corps, said the deployment was a significant "milestone" for the 65-ton, Israeli-built tank.
"Today was D-Day for us. We can now say that the fighters and the tanks are officially and operationally ready to enter action," Tefler told The Jerusalem Post. "We're sure they are going to perform most professionally."
Unlike previous tanks whose crews were drawn from other models, the soldiers operating the Merkava IV have been exclusively with this tank from the day they put on their uniforms.
"This method lets them learn the tank inside out and utilize all of its assets to the maximum," Tefler said.
The deployment near Jenin after their training near Nebi Musa was done without fanfare. Neither senior brass nor interested military attaches were on hand.
"There are a lot of expectations from the Merkava IV battalion. All of the IDF leadership is watching them, all of Israel really. This is a national project," he said.
"It was too early to say what its impact is on the conflict [with the Palestinians]. We know its capabilities only theoretically and it needs to be tested," Tefler said.
According to Tefler, a full brigade of Merkava IV tanks is expected to be operational by the end of 2005.
The $3 million Merkava IV, like the Mk III, has the ability to shoot down helicopters. It also has a newly designed transmission. It has a number of added electronics such as a camera mounted in the back.
The IDF uses tanks in the mainly urban conflict with the Palestinians since they can integrate great firepower with armor protection. It also has a fully integrated battle management system that allows the crew to view what the laser range-finder and thermal night vision sensors pick up, and to relay that data to other units.
The tank is slightly larger than its predecessor and one remarkable difference is that there is only one hatch on the turret which is used by the commander. The rest of the crew slips in and out through a back door. Designers said it was made specifically with battles on the rocky Golan Heights in mind.
The Palestinians are the only ones who have managed to destroy two Merkava III class tanks, both by huge mines.
The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday -Israeli Merkava - Main Battle Tank - Mar 23rd, 2004
Thakns for the plug. :-)
It does kinda sound like it. And I agree with you, when sh*t doesn't go the way you expect it to, it's experience being in the sh*t that you want in charge.
"Merkava" is Hebrew for "Chariot."
Well its gun barrel is equipped to fire a lase guided missile(along with conventional rounds) known as the LAHAT ,which has a range of round bout 7kms &is designed to hit tanks&low flying helos.
If rumours are correct,India has signed a deal with IAI to buy the LAHAT,along with electronic warfare systems for its indegnious ARJUN MBT(Its new Russian T-90s come with shorter range missiles).Moreover ive also read reports that Germany is interested in integrating the LAHAT to its LEOPARD2 tanks ,esp those being promoted for export.
The Merkavas are probably the only tanks ever to be armed with 120mm sabot rounds,machine guns,60mm mortar&now this missile!!
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