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The Merkava Generations

Merkava Mk 1

Merkava Mk 2

Merkava Mk 3

The first Mark-1 Merkava tanks were supplied to the IDF in April 1979, nearly nine years after the decision to produce the Merkava tank was taken.

The Merkava tank has been designed in accordance with experience gained from IDF armored battles in all Israel's wars since the Sinai Campaign (1956).

The Merkava Mk-1 is unique in its basic concept, common to all generations of the Merkava, according to which armor and survivability of the tank are its basic features. The tank's protection is based on all-round spaced ballistic armor, and deployment of the tank systems around the crew, thus utilizing basic elements and systems of the tank to protect the crew and ammunition, in addition to their specific functions. The most striking example of this concept is placement of the power pack (engine and transmission) at the front of the tank.

Other factors contributing to the Merkava's survivability are:

Low profile when in firing position
Elimination of flammable materials from the crew compartments
Storage of main gun ammunition under the turret ring, well to the rear of the hull, in heat-resistant containers

The Merkava Mk-I tank participated with a high degree of success in the 1982 war in Lebanon. Its production continued up to 1983, when the IDF Armor Corps began to receive the Merkava Mk-2 tank.

Lessons learned from the operation of the Mk-1 tanks were applied to the Mk-2 tanks, mainly in the following:

Improved mobility
Improved fire control system
Improved special armor
Internal 60-mm mortar

The production of Mk-2 tanks continued until the end of 1989, at which time MK-3 tanks started to come off the production line.

The Merkava Mk-3 entered service in the IDF at the beginning of 1990. It is a sophisticated tank. The difference between the Mk-3 and the Mk-2 is in essence and not in degree. All systems and assemblies were new, and except for the engine, are of Israeli design and production.

Among the prominent features of the Merkava Mk-3 were the new and unique suspension system, the high powered engine, the powerful main gun, and, especially, a new and unique concept of armor. Ballistic protection is provided by special armor modules, which are attached to the tank by bolts. These can be easily replaced whenever better ballistic technology is introduced. Thus, the tank will remain "young" forever.

During the Merkava Mk-3's years of production, a number of modifications have been introduced, the major ones being a modern fire control system with an automatic target tracker ("Baz") and significant improvements in ballistic protection.

The production of the Merkava Mk-3 lasted until 2002, whereupon the Merkava Mk-4 was first fielded to the Armor Corp.

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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Annnnd, guess what's in the news of late:

Sun Mar 21,10:58 AM ET

An Israeli tank pulls out of Gaza after an Israeli army operation near the Kisufim crossing March 21, 2004. Israeli troops killed five Palestinians in a sweep for militants in Gaza on Sunday hours before Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened his party's cabinet ministers to seek support for a pullout from most of the Strip. (Gadi Kabalo/Reuters)

Fri Mar 19,12:04 PM ET

Israeli army tanks leave the Gaza Strip (news - web sites) near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim Friday March 19, 2004. Israeli troops entered a Palestinian village near Netzarim to destroy two houses, army sources said. Three Palestinians are in critical condition in hospital, Palestinians medical officials said. (AP Photos/str)

Fri Mar 19,10:31 AM ET

Israeli soldiers drive their tank through a crossing at the fence separating Israel from the Gaza strip, after a military raid near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim March 19, 2004. REUTERS/Nir Elias

Thu Mar 18,11:12 AM ET

An Israeli soldier jumps from a 'Merkava' tank near the entrance to Gaza, March 18, 2004. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie urged Israel's Ariel Sharon Thursday to go ahead with his planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and to leave without further death and destruction. REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen

Thu Mar 18, 4:48 AM ET

Israeli soldiers stand on their tank near the Gaza Strip. Israeli media revealed that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's proposed pullout from the Gaza Strip will not be completed for a year-and-a-half.(AFP/File/Nadav Neuhaus)

Wed Mar 17, 4:12 PM ET

An Israeli soldier prays next to a tank holding position near kibbutz Be'eri in southern Israel, near the border with the northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, March. 17, 2004. Israeli helicopters fired two missiles in separate attacks in a Palestinian refugee camp Wednesday, killing four people in a stepped-up campaign the army says is aimed at rooting out militants in the Gaza Strip.

(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Wed Mar 17,12:11 PM ET

Israeli soldiers check their tanks during preparations near the entrance to Gaza March 17, 2004. Israel killed three Palestinians in two missile strikes into a Gaza refugee camp on Wednesday, pursuing what it called a relentless offensive against militants after two suicide bombers struck a strategic Israeli port killing 10 Israelis.

REUTERS/Nir Elias

Wed Mar 17, 9:27 AM ET

Israeli army soldiers and tanks gather in their positions at kibbutz Be'eri in southern Israel, near the border with the northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, March 16, 2004. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Wed Mar 17, 9:29 AM ET Israeli soldiers prepare their tanks near Kibbutz Baeri at the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Israel had no choice but to battle Palestinian militants after three deadly helicopter strikes in the Gaza Strip in less than 24 hours.

(AFP/Nadav Neuhaus)

Wed Mar 17, 8:19 AM ET

An Israeli soldier carries a tank shell during preparations to enter the Gaza Strip near Be'eri March 17, 2004. Israel started a new military offensive approved after 10 Israelis died in a suicide bombing aimed at dealing militants in Gaza a heavy blow to guard against any claims of victory should Prime Minister Ariel Sharon go ahead with a planned evacuation of settlements in the seaside strip. (ISRAEL OUT) REUTERS/Gadi Kabalo

Wed Mar 10,10:43 AM ET

A Palestinian throw stones at an Israeli tank. Five members of the hardline Palestinian Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades were killed by the Israeli army in the northern West Bank town of Jenin.(AFP/Saif Dahlah)

Tue Mar 9, 2:53 PM ET

A Palestinian youth runs for cover as an Israeli army tank advances in the streets of the northern West Bank town of Jenin, Tuesday March 9, 2004. Israeli forces, in search of gunmen from the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a militant group linked to Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement and backed by tanks and combat helicopters raided the town, sparking a gun battle that killed a Palestinian woman in her home, Palestinian witnesses and military officials said. (AP Photo/Muhammed Ballas)

Tue Mar 9,12:40 PM ET

Palestinians run for cover as an Israeli army tank and an armoured personnel carrier advance to new positions in the streets of the northern West Bank town of Jenin, Tuesday March 8, 2004. Israeli forces, in search of gunmen from the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a militant group linked to Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement and backed by tanks and combat helicopters raided the town, sparking a gun battle that killed a Palestinian woman in her home, Palestinian witnesses and military officials said. (AP Photo/Muhammed Ballas)

Gee, it hardly seems fair that Israel mobilizes these brutal machines against "militants".

A scumbag who sneaks into an Israeli home and kills a five-year-old girl in her bed is a "militant" to AP, AFP, BBC, Reuters, ABCNNBCBS.

And that "spiritual leader of Hamas"--how "spiritual" is a body count of 500 civilians murdered by homicide bombers?

Hamas now being absorbed by Hezbollah a wholly-owned subsidiary of IranoWhacko one of the foreign leaders on the Kerry Magic Slate_TM of flea-bitten clowns "who look at you and say, 'You've got to beat Bush or we'll all be in spider holes by Ramadan, Dude.'"

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