Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1365706
should remember that the armor of Merkava Mk 3 has been sufficient when placed within the context of the Middle Eastern theater in the late 80s. The neighboring nations still had no modern ATGMs with tandem warheads. The ammunition used by the MBTs in the region met the standards of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The situation was about to change in the mid-1990s. Merkava Mk 3 also featured some changes improving the crew protection levels. Above all, the above refers to new individual ammunition containers with fire and fragmentation protection, able to withstand temperatures of 1,000 deg. Celsius for 45 minutes, without allowing the ammunition to ex- plode. They could be removed rapidly, and they could also be used to carry the ammunition outside the vehicle. The turret drive systems were replaced with a fully electric solution. This further enhanced the levels of safety and freed up some space in the turret area. Yet again, the CRBN protection was enhanced, and a new laser warning receiver was used - in the form of the LWS-2 system. Contrary to the previous solution, the new system allowed for automatic rotation of the turret so that it would be facing the threat. Then, multispectral smoke grenades salvo was launched, automatically. The sys- tem was able to discriminate fire control system laser rangefinders, from ATGM guidance systems. The sensors were distributed on the armor, provid- ing 360 degrees coverage. Mobility Powerpack underwent significant changes, to say the least. The drivetrain has remained unchanged in comparison to Mk 2B. The MBT received a new engine though: 1200HP AVDS-1790-9AR. This meant that Mk 3B can accel- erate from 0 to 32 kph in 10 seconds. It takes Leopard 2A4 6 seconds to do that. T-72M1 needs 25 seconds to accomplish the same thing. Suspension of the vehicle also underwent serious changes, as all of the main wheels have been reinforced and placed on trailed swing-arms with coil springs. The wheels at both ends of the track also feature extra hydraulic movement limit- ers. 600 mm total vertical travel is available, along with 300 mm of bending. The tracks have been made broader. As a result of the changes listed above, Merkava Mk 3B has become far superior, mobility-wise, compared to the USSR-made MBTs (T-80U excluded). It was not really inferior when compared to NATO vehicles. Firepower Most of the changes took place in the firepower department. Within that scope, Mk 3B has caught up with the leading NATO MBTs overtaking the Soviet designs. However, it happened as late as 1995. The first production lots still had fire-control systems inferior, as opposed to Leopard 2 and M1A1. www.fragoutmag.com