Merkava Tanks were the earliest main battle tanks which were researched and developed by Israel in the early times and were also fully equipped for Israel Armies, so they also showed and revealed their unique and special innovative characteristics. In the meantime, they also possessed the imperfectness features in some aspects. Also, if we illustrated Merkava tanks by using one word, which was that the level and practical performance of Merkava 1 tank were between the level and performance of the Merkava second and third generation, and Merkava tank 3 completely reached the level and practical performance of the third generation Merkava tanks after the wars. Thus, let’s learn something important about some famous species and types of Merkava tanks.

Besides, the total fighting weight of Merkava tank 1 was more than 60 tons, and this kind of tank can contain four crews, and the main weapon of this kind of Merkava tank 1 was a M-68 type bore gun whose diameter was 105mm which was manufactured and produced by Israel Military Industries Ltd. Furthermore, this kind of artillery was also equipped and installed on other tanks which were reassembled by Israel, and this kind of technique was also exported to some foreign countries, and this kind of technique also owned the advanced level in the early 1970s and early 1980s. Also, the powerplant of Merkava tank 1 adopted and used American AVDS-1790-6A type 12 cylinder diesel engine, and its max power was 900 horsepower.

After these four years, when Merkava tank 1 was fully equipped for Israel Armies, namely, in 1983, Israel also researched and developed the revised and modified Merkava main battle tank 2. On the one hand, it illustrated that Israel Armies thought highly of and valued the improvement of practical performance of Merkava tanks. On the other hand, it showed and revealed that several disadvantages and shortcomings of Merkava tank 1 should be urgently revised and modified soon. Moreover, the improving key point is to further improve the resistance and protection ability of the complete tanks and to improve the firepower system of Merkava tank 1.

In addition, we really hope that these important information mentioned above can help you partially understand and learn something important about these famous species and types of Merkava tanks.