Difference between revisions of "Merkava Mk.2B"
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
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| − | The | + | The Merkava Mk.2 was developed in 1983, taking into account the experience of the Lebanon War, which highlighted the need for additional tank protection, including against shaped-charge munitions. The tank received a new fire control system, a laser warning system, and a new transmission. Additionally, the turret's protection was enhanced by installing additional armour screens. In a later version, designated '''Merkava Mk.2B''', the tank also received a thermal sight, and the armour was increased further. The Merkava Mk.2 was first manufactured in 1983 and last produced in 1989, with 580 units constructed in total. It saw service in several local battles, where it performed well. The final Merkava Mk.2 tank was moved to reserve units in 2016. Most of the remaining tanks are currently in storage, though these might potentially be modified to become armoured personnel carriers. They were never exported. |
| − | + | The '''Merkava Mk.2B''' was introduced in [[Update "Wind of Change"]]. Its main difference from the [[Merkava Mk.1B]] lies in the addition of composite screens on the sides of the hull and turret, providing the tank with additional protection against HEAT rounds and ATGMs. However, this upgrade comes at the cost of losing the coaxial 12.7 mm machine gun. The tank also boasts a powerful gun and excellent survivability, aided by its laser warning system, a large number of smoke grenades, and its unconventional design - the frontal location of the engine compartment. This unusual engine placement protects the crew from hits to the front, but also increases the risk of engine failure and fire. The Merkava also has low mobility compared to many Western designs. | |
== General info == | == General info == | ||
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! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof | ! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Hull || 60 mm (67-76°) | + | | Hull || 60 mm (67-76°) ''Front glacis'' |
| − | 60 - 90 mm (30-57°) | + | 60 - 90 mm (30-57°) ''Lower glacis'' |
| − | | 50 + 10 | + | | 50 + 10 mm ''Top'' |
| − | 50 + 20 | + | 50 + 20 mm (Composite Screens) ''Bottom'' |
| 30 mm (12-44°) + 200 - 600 mm (air) + 30 mm || 30 mm | | 30 mm (12-44°) + 200 - 600 mm (air) + 30 mm || 30 mm | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Turret || 30 - 65 mm (1-71°) | + | | Turret || 30 - 65 mm (1-71°) + 45 mm (Spaced armour) + 100 mm ( Cast Homogenous armour near mantlet) + 25 mm (Composite Screens) ''Turret front'' |
| − | Variable thickness armour (0-75°) | + | Variable thickness armour (0-75°) ''Gun mantlet'' |
| − | | 65 | + | | 65 mm + 45 mm (Spaced armour) + 25 mm (Composite Screens) ''Upper turret armour'' |
| − | Variable Thickness Armour mm (0-60°) | + | Variable Thickness Armour mm (0-60°) ''Lower turret armour'' |
| 65 mm (11° - 66°) + 45 mm (Spaced armour) + 20 mm (Tracks) || 30mm | | 65 mm (11° - 66°) + 45 mm (Spaced armour) + 20 mm (Tracks) || 30mm | ||
|- | |- | ||
Latest revision as of 15:41, 24 October 2024
| This page is about the Israeli medium tank Merkava Mk.2B. For other versions, see Merkava (Family). |
Contents
Description
The Merkava Mk.2 was developed in 1983, taking into account the experience of the Lebanon War, which highlighted the need for additional tank protection, including against shaped-charge munitions. The tank received a new fire control system, a laser warning system, and a new transmission. Additionally, the turret's protection was enhanced by installing additional armour screens. In a later version, designated Merkava Mk.2B, the tank also received a thermal sight, and the armour was increased further. The Merkava Mk.2 was first manufactured in 1983 and last produced in 1989, with 580 units constructed in total. It saw service in several local battles, where it performed well. The final Merkava Mk.2 tank was moved to reserve units in 2016. Most of the remaining tanks are currently in storage, though these might potentially be modified to become armoured personnel carriers. They were never exported.
The Merkava Mk.2B was introduced in Update "Wind of Change". Its main difference from the Merkava Mk.1B lies in the addition of composite screens on the sides of the hull and turret, providing the tank with additional protection against HEAT rounds and ATGMs. However, this upgrade comes at the cost of losing the coaxial 12.7 mm machine gun. The tank also boasts a powerful gun and excellent survivability, aided by its laser warning system, a large number of smoke grenades, and its unconventional design - the frontal location of the engine compartment. This unusual engine placement protects the crew from hits to the front, but also increases the risk of engine failure and fire. The Merkava also has low mobility compared to many Western designs.
General info
Survivability and armour
The frontal armour on the Merkava Mk.2B is is overall decent in terms of protection. Its turret is compact and smaller than its counterparts at this BR, making it a difficult target to hit when hull down at range. Moreover, the shape of its turret features a complex design with extreme angles which boast high ricochet chances. This might confuse enemies who are unaccustomed to it, which might cause them to mess up their shots. But as a consequence to the turret being cramped as it is, penetrating shots at the turret's crew compartment might prove to be fatal.
The hull is not as impressive as the turret. On one hand, the lower and upper plates are rather thin, and despite the extreme angle of the upper plate, most APFSDS and chemical rounds will punch through with ease. On the other hand, the Merkava's engine and transmission are conveniently placed at the front to soak up most of the penetrating shot's energy and shrapnel, preventing it from going further into the tank and protecting the crew at the cost of temporary immobilization.
Armour type:
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 60 mm (67-76°) Front glacis
60 - 90 mm (30-57°) Lower glacis |
50 + 10 mm Top
50 + 20 mm (Composite Screens) Bottom |
30 mm (12-44°) + 200 - 600 mm (air) + 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Turret | 30 - 65 mm (1-71°) + 45 mm (Spaced armour) + 100 mm ( Cast Homogenous armour near mantlet) + 25 mm (Composite Screens) Turret front
Variable thickness armour (0-75°) Gun mantlet |
65 mm + 45 mm (Spaced armour) + 25 mm (Composite Screens) Upper turret armour
Variable Thickness Armour mm (0-60°) Lower turret armour |
65 mm (11° - 66°) + 45 mm (Spaced armour) + 20 mm (Tracks) | 30mm |
| Cupola | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30mm |
Notes:
- Side composite screens are 20 mm thick.
- The turret features sides and rear spaced armour.
- Ammo racks are stored in 5-10 mm thick rolled homogeneous armour.
- Armour plates separate the engine and transmission from the fuel tank and crew compartment.
Mobility
The Merkava Mk.2B has decent all around mobility, although it is slower than many other medium tanks at its BR. Turning bleeds speed quickly, and the reverse speed is decent at best.
| Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
| Arcade | 60 | 26 | 63 | 1,492 | 1,717 | 23.68 | 27.25 |
| Realistic | 54 | 24 | 852 | 900 | 13.52 | 14.29 | |
Modifications and economy
| Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Since the engine, transmission, and fuel tank are all positioned right behind the frontal hull armour and serve the role of additional protection, it is mandatory that the player prioritizes the research of parts and FPE first. Then, the player can get the NVD and LWS/LR or adjustment of fire upgrades for more accurate shots. After that, the player should focus on getting the M111, and they should use it as their main ammo type.
Armaments
Main armament
| 105 mm Sharir | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mode | Capacity | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | Stock | Upgraded | Full | Expert | Aced | Stock | Full | Expert | Aced |
| Arcade | 54 | -8°/+20° | ±180° | Two-plane | 38.1 | 52.7 | 64.0 | 70.8 | 75.3 | 8.71 | 7.70 | 7.10 | 6.70 |
| Realistic | 23.8 | 28.0 | 34.0 | 37.6 | 40.0 | ||||||||
Ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
| M152 | HEATFS | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| M156 | HESH | 127 | 127 | 127 | 127 | 127 | 127 |
| M111 | APFSDS | 337 | 335 | 330 | 322 | 314 | 306 |
| M413 | APFSDS | 408 | 405 | 398 | 389 | 379 | 370 |
| Shell details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg) |
Ricochet | |||||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||||
| M152 | HEATFS | 1,174 | 10.5 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 1.27 | 65° | 72° | 77° | |||
| M156 | HESH | 731 | 11.4 | 0.1 | 4 | 3.17 | 73° | 77° | 80° | |||
| M111 | APFSDS | 1,455 | 4.2 | - | - | - | 78° | 80° | 81° | |||
| M413 | APFSDS | 1,455 | 3.79 | - | - | - | 78° | 80° | 81° | |||
| Smoke shell characteristics | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Screen radius (m) |
Screen deploy time (s) |
Screen hold time (s) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
| M416 | 732 | 11.6 | 20 | 5 | 25 | 50 |
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 31 (+23) | 7 (+47) | 1 (+53) | No |
Machine guns
| 7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Pintle (loader) | 1,800 (200) | 600 | -10°/+50° | ±120° |
| Pintle (commander) | 1,800 (200) | 600 | -10°/+50° | ±120° |
| Coaxial | 6,000 (200) | 600 | N/A | N/A |
Usage in battles
The Merkava Mk.2B is built for urban warfare and sniping, and should be played as such roles. The armour and the equipment it features will make it a formidable foe in the battlefield. Use its compact turret to peak from unexpected locations and utilize its excellent 4-20x commander's view to spot enemies from afar.
Enemies that you must be most worried about are the Soviet T-72s and T-64B, as their frontal armour will be a difficult challenge to break through at range when they conceal their lower plate, and their guns are extremely dangerous from any range. The only viable tactic against them is to flank, but you must be very careful not to get flanked yourself, as your side armour can be easily penetrated by even SPAAs.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent hull-down capabilities
- Effective protection of its crew members
- Decent mobility to keep up with most other tanks
- Excellent 4-20x commander's view
- Comes stock with smoke grenades
Cons:
- Only has rifle-calibre machine guns, ineffective against lightly-armoured vehicles
- Engine compartment is prone to catch on fire
- Prone to getting ammoracked
- Mediocre 8x gunner zoom (commander view balances this disadvantage, but cannot substitute gunner view)
History
Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).
Media
- Skins
See also
- Related development
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
| Israeli Ordnance Corps (חיל החימוש) | |
|---|---|
| Medium Tanks | M-51 · M-51 (W) |
| MBTs | |
| Magach | Magach 1 · Magach 2 · Magach 3 · Magach 3 (ERA) · ▃Magach 3 (ERA) · Magach 5 |
| Magach 6 · Magach 6A · Magach 6B · Magach 6C · Magach 6R · Magach 6M · Gal Batash | |
| Sho't | Sho't · Sho't Kal Alef · Sho't Kal Gimel · Sho't Kal Dalet · ▄Sho't Kal Dalet |
| Tiran | Tiran 4 · Tiran 4S |
| Merkava | ▃Merkava Mk.1 · Merkava Mk.1B · Merkava Mk.2B · ▃Merkava Mk.2B · Merkava Mk.2D |
| Merkava Mk.3B · Merkava Mk.3C · ▃Merkava Mk.3D · Merkava Mk.4B · Merkava Mk.4M | |
| Tank destroyers | Zachlam Tager |
| See Also | Chrysler Defense · Department of Tank Design · Morozov Design Bureau |
| Israel medium tanks | |
|---|---|
| M-51 | M-51 · M-51 (W) |
| Magach | Magach 1 · Magach 2 · Magach 3 · Magach 3 (ERA) · Magach 5 · Magach 6 |
| Magach 6A · Magach 6B · Magach 6B Gal · Gal Batash · Magach 6C · Magach 6M · Magach 6R · Magach Hydra · Magach 7C | |
| Tiran | Tiran 4 · Tiran 4S · Tiran 6 |
| Sho't | Sho't · Sho't Kal Alef · Sho't Kal Gimel · Sho't Kal Dalet |
| Merkava | Merkava Mk.1B · Merkava Mk.2B · Merkava Mk.2D · Merkava Mk.3B · Merkava Mk.3C · Ra'am Sagol |
| Merkava Mk.4B · Merkava Mk.4M · Merkava Mk.4 LIC | |
