Two more additions to the compilation on the background and development of today's Merchavim, the Chariots:
The question, which arose therefore, was not whether we should engage in development and manufacture of a homemade tank, but whether we would be capable of achieved the high levels of industrial and technological expertise required to succeed in such a project. To this was added the question of whether we would be capable of doing so at a reasonable price and without disrupting the Israeli economy.
In order to answer these questions, it was decided to conduct a study, presided by Major General Israel Tal. The study was conducted by experts of the Ministry of Defense and of the Ordnance Corps, and was designed to answer two essential questions:
1. Would Israel be capable of planning, designing and manufacturing a Main Battle Tank from the point of view of technological know-how and industrial infrastructure?
2. Is there any economic sense in such a project - does it ensure economic viability in the broad sense, to the economy of Israel?
Findings of the study were positive. Israel would be capable of developing and establishing an infrastructure for the manufacture of tanks, which would be economically feasible from the point of view of the national economy. In addition, the proposed Israeli tank would compare favorably with others, would meet the specific requirements of the IDF and the specific needs of the middle-eastern theatre of war. In 1970 the decision was taken that the State of Israel would develop a tank for the IDF and for export in the future.
The additions: The fathers of Israel's armored fist: Israel Tal, responsible as much as any one person for the Merkava, and Mussa Peled, from the days of the Mk50 Shermans, crapped-out British Centurions and open half-tracks, who developed the tank force and those tankers who man them into the professional tank army, as much an elite as Israel's paratroops or America's Marines. They're the men who gave Israel her success.
Major General Moshe "Mussa" Peled;
Israeli Armour Corps:
