Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1407425
solutions. Interestingly, the photos of Merkava Mk 4, with the side modules (turret and hull) damaged show that the western style special armor is a bit different in design, similar to the Mk 3 Dor Dalet. This may suggest that the side armor is still optimized to protect the crew from HEAT warheads, thus being less universal than the ones installed on the front of the turret. Maybe it functions more like ERA, as the photos of the side turret modules disman- tled during the power-pack replacements show Hebrew markings, indicating the presence of explosives in the module. This means that these modules shall be classified as ERA - not NxRA or SLERA. Regardless of the above, the protection levels for the turret sides are very decent. The protection of the gun mask is the weakest - this is quite obvious. The gun mask cover has a thickness of around 20 mm RHA. In front of it, above the gun, one can find a single module at an angle of 73 degrees, with a perpendicular thickness of 85-100 mm (special armor plus RHA). The relative thickness here is defined as 340 mm. The protection levels for the crew have been enhanced thanks to the introduction of an automated ammunition storage system in the tur- ret niche. It is isolated from the crew. It has a weak point at the top, and it only accommodates 10 rounds of ammunition in two drums. This allows the loader to increase the rate of fire. The ammunition containers on the floor could have been removed, apart from 4 individual containers placed directly behind the engine compartment bulkhead. Despite the protection, the turret niche enjoys thanks to special armor, the ammunition storage is still shielded by the A/C system compartment, and electrical turret control system (on the right), and the batteries compartment (on the right). The rear portion of the ammunition storage compartment is secured by a spacious slat armor basket and a protection system with chains and metal spheres hanging underneath. The hull is welded out of rolled and cast plates (front lower plate). Its de- sign replicates the solution known from Merkava Mk 3D. However, the hull is protected much better, by a thicker array of special armor modules. The lower portion of the MBT's sides is protected by heavy aprons with special armor inside - they are 20 cm thick each. The flat surfaces over the tracks are protected by special armor consisting of several overlaying NERA layers, along with spatial armor - fuel, batteries, as well as other equipment. The front of the hull also features a new type of protection, seeming different from the conventional NERA solution. Most probably here we are dealing with SLER armor. The SLER plate over the engine is not thick, at 150-200 mm. But it is inclined at an angle of 17 degrees, which means its relative thickness is almost as high as 700 mm. Thanks to the drivetrain, and its new shape, the weak point around the air intake in front of the driver has finally www.fragoutmag.com