Difference between revisions of "Merkava Mk.3D (USA)"

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{{About
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| about = American medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = Merkava (Family)
 +
}}
 
{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
 
|code=us_merkava_mk_3d
 
|code=us_merkava_mk_3d
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
 
|market=items_Merkava Mk.3D (USA)
 
|market=items_Merkava Mk.3D (USA)
 
}}
 
}}
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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The '''Merkava Mk.3D''' is the third and last subvariant of the Merkava Mk.3, which is the third variant of the [[Merkava (Family)|Merkava main battle tank family]]. The tank, also known as the Merkava 3 Dor-Dalet (Hebrew for "Fourth Generation"), was enhanced by adding fourth-generation modular composite armour to the turret sides. These sloped modules also function as spaced armour, providing greater protection in urban settings. The Dor-Dalet modular composite armour is extremely similar to the [[Merkava Mk.4B|Merkava Mk.4]] variant and provides significantly more protection than the preceding Merkava Mk.3s. The tracks were additionally strengthened with a new version supplied by CAT. The Merkava Mk.3D was first used by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in 2000.
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{{Break}}
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−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Raining Fire"]] as a reward for the [[wt:en/news/6878-event-wargame-strategist-en|2020 Wargame "Strategist" event]].
+
Introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]] as a reward for the [[wt:en/news/6878-event-wargame-strategist-en|2020 Wargame "Strategist" event]], the Merkava Mk.3D is the Merkava Mk.3's last subvariant, with superior modular composite armour. This greatly enhanced the Merkava Mk.3D's turret protection, putting it on par with the Merkava Mk.4 variant. The Merkava Mk.3D, as the final and ultimate subvariant of the Merkava Mk.3, has exceptional post-penetration survivability. Since the crew members are spaced out and no ammunition is stored in the turret, it is difficult to destroy the Merkava Mk.3D in a single shot, especially in hull-down situations. Surviving against anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) is also significantly easier, thanks to the modular composite armour's unusual design, which allows it to act as both spaced and composite armour at the same time.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
 
  
−
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
+
'''Armour type:'''
−
<!-- Example: * Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Hull roof)
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−
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area) -->
+
* Cast homogeneous armour (Hull, turret)
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Sides)
 +
* Composite screens* (Turret front, hull front left, sideskirts)
 +
** with NERA elements**
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Hull || 50 mm || 50 mm ''Top'' <br> ___ mm ''Bottom'' || 30 mm || ___ - ___ mm
+
| Hull || 60** mm (78-90°), 60 mm (66-73°) (+ 30* mm (74°) ''left'') ''Upper glacis'' <br> 90 mm (36°), 50 mm (59°) + 20 mm (60°) ''Lower glacis''  || 50 mm (12°) + 15 mm || 30 mm (0-39°) || 20 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 170 mm + 40* mm (0-68°) ''Turret cheeks'' <br> 30-400 mm (0-78°) + 100 mm ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 40 mm (68-81°) + 50* mm (78°) ''Upper'' || 60 mm + 5 mm (0-60°)  || 40 mm || 40 mm ''Front'' <br> 20 mm ''Rear''
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 30 mm
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Turret || 65 - ___ mm ''Turret front'' <br> ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 65 - ___ mm || 65 - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
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! Effective protection !! Front
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Cupola || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm
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| Turret || '''Turret front:'''<br>200 mm ''Kinetic'' <br> 1,500 mm ''Chemical''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
'''Notes:''' <!-- Any additional notes which the user needs to be aware of -->
+
'''Notes:'''
−
<!-- Example: * Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick, and torsion bars are 60 mm thick. -->
+
 
 +
* Tracks are 30 mm thick
 +
* Road wheels are 20 mm thick
 +
 
 +
The Merkava's armour does not quite live up to its aggressive appearance. The turret combines extreme angles with some composite armour and is capable of bouncing or absorbing incoming HEATFS rounds with some luck. Its protection against kinetic rounds is poor: the common 105 mm DM23 round is capable of penetrating large swathes of the frontal turret and will only struggle somewhat against the left turret cheek (right from an attacker's perspective) due to the overlapping armour segments and extreme angles. The hull has a similar combination of decent chemical protection and poor kinetic protection. 120 mm or 125 mm APFSDS as commonly used by German and Soviet tanks will typically have no issues penetrating the Merkava anywhere.
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 +
The Merkava does better in terms of post-penetration survivability. It is hard to destroy the Merkava in a single shot since the tank is rather roomy inside and the crew members are spread out. No ammunition is stored in the turret, so frontal turret penetrations are usually not fatal. Penetrating shots to the hull can sometimes be absorbed by the engine and transmission, but not always. There are fuel tanks on the upper hull sides and spaced armour in the rear that offer some chemical protection, but not enough to stop any tank cannons at the Merkava Mk.3D's rank.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,860|rbMinHp=1,061}}
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,860|rbMinHp=1,061}}
 +
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
 +
 +
A tip for grinding it:
 +
 +
Unlock parts first, horizontal drive, FPE, Adjustment of fire then M322. Everything after these can be unlocked after.
 +
 +
The M322 round offers up to 625 mm of penetration, it is able to penetrate most tanks at distance with ease allowing for other parts to be unlocked faster.
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
{{main|IMI MG251 (120 mm)}}
 
{{main|IMI MG251 (120 mm)}}
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|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
−
| rowspan="2" | 46 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__
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| rowspan="2" | 46 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 32.4 || 44.8 || 54.4 || 60.2 || 64.0 || rowspan="2" | 7.80 || rowspan="2" | 6.90 || rowspan="2" | 6.36 || rowspan="2" | 6.00
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
−
| __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
+
| 20.2 || 23.8 || 28.9 || 32.0 || 34.0
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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{{:IMI MG251 (120 mm)/Ammunition|M325, M339, M322}}
−
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
+
 
−
|-
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The stock M325 HEATFS is a '''H'''igh-'''E'''xplosive '''A'''nti-'''T'''ank '''F'''in-'''S'''tabilised round, with a velocity of 1,078 m/s and a TNT equivalent of 2.36 kg. This round provides a maximum penetration of 480 mm at all ranges, which is the standard for 120 mm HEATFS. To get the best from this round, you must aim for weakly armoured places on the enemy tank, generally the weakest places are the sides and rear of the enemy tank. At rank seven, most MBTs are heavily armoured with ERA plates or composite armour which can defeat chemical munitions with ease. It works quite nicely against light targets such as SPAAs since the explosive content can cause overpressure damage.
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
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−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
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The also stock M339 HE-TF round is a '''H'''igh-'''E'''xplosive '''T'''imed '''F'''used round, with a velocity of 900 m/s and a TNT equivalent of 3.66 kg. It is unique among HE rounds for having a fuse delay of 1.5 m instead of exploding on impact. This means it behaves more like a SAP or APHE round, being capable of penetrating a target and exploding inside. A successful penetration in this manner will almost invariably wipe out the target. The maximum penetration of the round is given as 65 mm, but this is the armour thickness the round itself is capable of penetrating. The penetration of the explosive shrapnel is around 37 mm, a less impressive figure. Setting the distance fuse is accomplished by using the rangefinder. It is technically possible to use this airburst feature against ground targets hiding behind cover, but this is unlikely to amount to much against vehicles with more than paper-thin armour. The HE-TF round is the most useful for either destroying lightly armoured vehicles or alternatively for attacking helicopters that stray too close to the battlefield using the airburst function. In an emergency M339 can sometimes be used to attack the side armour or turret/hull roof armour of an enemy MBT but this should not be a first choice, considering that its penetration on impact is on the level of a reserve tank and its explosive content is less than Soviet or Chinese tanks.
−
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
+
 
−
|-
+
The unlockable M322 APFSDS round is a Tier 3 upgrade and functionally identical to the CL3143 round used by the Italian [[Ariete]]. It one of the best rounds in the game, providing up to 589 mm of flat penetration at point blank and 340 mm of penetration at 60 degrees. Only top-tier tanks like the [[Leopard 2A5]] can resist it in specific areas or angles. Against other opponents, it is very simple to point and click at crew members or ammo racks. Once unlocked, M322 should be the round of choice for the Merkava Mk.3D for anti-tank duties.
−
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 
−
|-
 
−
| M325 || HEATFS || 480 || 480 || 480 || 480 || 480 || 480
 
−
|-
 
−
| M339 || HE-TF || 65 || 65 || 60 || 58 || 53 || 50
 
−
|-
 
−
| M322 || APFSDS || 625 || 622 || 613 || 601 || 588 || 575
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
−
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 
−
|-
 
−
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 
−
|-
 
−
| M325 || HEATFS || 1,078 || 15.81 || 0.05 || 1 || 2,360 || 65° || 72° || 77°
 
−
|-
 
−
| M339 || HE-TF || 900 || 17 || 1.5 || 3 || 3,660 || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
−
|-
 
−
| M322 || APFSDS || 1,705 || 4.3 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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'''Last updated: 1.101.0.109'''
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<!-- '''Last updated: 1.101.0.109''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
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|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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Notes:
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'''Notes''':
  
 
* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
 
* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
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=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}
 
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|FN MAG 60-40 (7.62 mm)}}
 
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|FN MAG 60-40 (7.62 mm)}}
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Coaxial || 900 (200) || 577 || N/A || N/A
+
| Coaxial || 1,000 (200) || 575 || - || -
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Coaxial || 5,950 (200) || 600 || N/A || N/A
+
| Coaxial || 6,000 (200) || 960 || - || -
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Commander's cupola || 1,750 (200) || 600 || __° || __°
+
| Commander's cupola || 1,800 (200) || 960 || -10°/+50° || -120°/+60°
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Loader's cupola || 1,750 (200) || 600 || __° || __°
+
| Loader's cupola || 1,800 (200) || 960 || -10°/+50° || ±120°
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
 
  
−
=== Modules ===
+
The best trait of the Merkava Mk.3D is its spectacular firepower. It has a far more powerful gun than the contemporary [[IPM1]] or [[M1 Abrams]] but lags behind these tanks in terms of armour protection and mobility. As such, the Merkava is best used in a second line support or sniping role where it is less likely to attract enemy fire and can instead focus on sending enemies back to the hangar with the M322 APFSDS. Find good positions that allow the Merkava to spot enemies early and retreat into cover if necessary. If the situation gets hot, the Merkava can also rely on its huge arsenal of smoke grenades to create its own cover. It is possible to smoke up entire portions of the map, potentially saving yourself or your teammates from helicopters or snipers.
−
{| class="wikitable"
+
 
−
! Tier
+
===How to combat enemy helicopters===
−
! colspan="2" | Mobility
+
The Merkava Mk.3D has four machine guns, one 12.7 mm mounted on the cannon, with an additional 7.62 mm machine gun mounted on each of the Commander's & Loader's cupola's and finally a coaxial 7.62 mm. This allows the Merkava to unleash a respectable torrent of lead at nearby aircraft. The Merkava Mk.3D is able to handle airborne threats extremely well; with its LWS/LR system, it alerts you to when someone is locking on with a laser range finder, which are installed in most if not all high ranking helicopters. The M339 HE-VT round is also useful against helicopters. It does not have the high muzzle velocity or automatic proximity fuse of the [[M1A2 Abrams]]'s M830A1 HEATFS, but 3.7 kg of TNT equivalent will still do a number on a helicopter if it explodes nearby. Against moving helicopters it is important to fire the round soon after setting the fuse with the laser rangefinder.
−
! colspan="2" | Protection
+
 
−
! colspan="2" | Firepower
+
When a LWS notification pops up, switch to gunner sight and enable the thermal sight, and look around in the sky and you will see brightly lit dot - if it is flying away from you, ignore it. If it is coming closer, keep an eye on it and wait until it is close enough for you to engage it.
−
|-
+
 
−
| I
+
However, if it has fired its ATGMs, pop smoke and retreat behind an object until its missile detonates. Then locate the helicopter and start slinging bullets and cannon shells its way. The former will not be useful at long distances but the latter might if the helicopter is not moving quickly. Helicopters closing in for strafing runs with cannons and unguided rockets can be downed quickly with the machine guns and airburst HE shells. Try to stay in cover when focused on the sky since enemy tanks are likely to notice the large number of machine gun tracers coming from the Merkava's position.
−
| Tracks
+
 
−
|
+
===Capitalising on the terrain and environments===
−
| Parts
+
=====Urban maps and environments=====
−
|
+
 
−
| Horizontal Drive
+
When engaged in combat on a map which features an urban close range environment, the Merkava Mk.3D provides great threat to any enemy tanker. The  manoeuvrability, is one of the best in the game, it is able to pivot on the spot and change course. If that is due to a sudden appearance of enemy tank which has appeared or if the strategic interest has changed, the MK.3D is able to handle it. To get the best out of the Mk.3D, either flank around the urban parts of the map or stay & utilise the compact urban environment.
−
|
+
 
−
|-
+
To utilise the compact urban environment, stay close to buildings, use the buildings to your advantage. Using the buildings will allow you to dominate the battle zone, it's 120 mm cannon is able to destroy enemy tanks with ease, especially at close ranges.  It is important not to stay in the middle the roads or open areas which offers no concealment. The Merkava Mk.3D, is a tall tank, it is taller than the [[M1_Abrams_(Family)|M1 Abrams family of tanks]] This means, you can be seen and shot at by the enemy team, it is not a sleek low profile tank like the [[HSTV-L]].
−
| II
+
 
−
| Suspension
+
=====Rural maps and rural terrain=====
−
| Brake System
+
 
−
| FPE
+
To capitalise on rural maps head into the forest, and stay in the forest it's important not to leave the forest or rural terrain like this. This type of terrain offers great protection and makes the Merkava Mk.3D almost invisible to the enemy. The thermal profile is reduced by the vegetation, which blocks the heat signature. It's very important to use the correct camouflage, which helps to make you harder to detect.
−
|
+
 
−
| Adjustment of Fire
+
The Merkava Mk.3D 120 mm gun is able to snipe the enemy tanks from far and wide. to win do not keep firing from one spot, after every shot move to another location using the rural vegetation to make you stealthy and remain unseen. The MK.3D has a thermal sight, that allows you to find the enemy tanks in situations like this.  The gunner sight also provides a zoom of 6 to 12x allowing for pin-point shots combined with the M322 round - makes for one of the most lethal tanks in the game.
−
| LWS/LR
+
 
−
|-
+
=====Night Battles=====
−
| III
+
 
−
| Filters
+
Do not expose the right hand side of the tank, due to the exhaust gas which will make it impossible for you to locate and knockout enemy tankers with the thermal sight. Instead, keep the left hand side of the tank exposed towards the enemy frontline. It's also as important keep an eye out for air threats such as [[Ka-52]], [[Mi-28N]], [[EC-665_Tiger_UHT|EC-665 Tiger UHT]], [[AH-64D]] and other helicopters.
−
|
 
−
| Crew Replenishment
 
−
|
 
−
| Elevation Mechanism
 
−
| M322
 
−
|-
 
−
| IV
 
−
| Transmission
 
−
| Engine
 
−
| ESS
 
−
| Smoke grenade
 
−
| Artillery Support
 
−
| NVD
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
 
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
−
'''Pros:'''  
+
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Has access to the currently best penetrating APFSDS round in the game
+
* Has access to one of the best penetrating APFSDS round in the game
−
* Also has access to timed HE, which can be intentionally set to detonate at a very specific distance, for example, just behind enemy ammunition panel, or above light tank completely hidden behind cover, basically bypassing any shielding. It also has slightly less sensitive detonator than normal explosives, so it might manage to fly through forest without exploding as well
+
* Has access to timed HE, which can be set to detonate at a very specific distance, for example just behind enemy ammunition panel or above a light tank completely hidden behind cover
−
* Quite survivable, thanks to its internal layout
+
* Timed HE round has a less sensitive detonator than normal HE-type shells, so it can overcome common obstacles such as bushes and fences
−
* While turret looks huge, some parts of it are irrelevant and work as external shield against chemical ammunition or baiting shots from impatient opponents
+
* Great survivability, thanks to its internal layout
−
* Engine system might be able to prevent weaker forms of APFSDS from penetrating this model of Merkava
+
* Ammo storage is wrapped in a fire proof container, preventing it from detonating in-case of a fire, inside of the tank
 +
* Great manoeuvrability, able to pivot and turn on a dime
 +
* Certain redundant parts of the turret can be used as extra protection against chemical ammunition, or to bait shots from impatient opponents
 +
* Turret armour can withstand direct hits from enemy tanks
 +
* Engine & external fuel tank is able to prevent APFSDS from penetrating and knocking the tank out if shot at the front, head on
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Quite poor manoeuvrability, though it is upgraded compared to earlier Merkavas
+
* Not very fast, substandard power-to-weight
−
* Sub-par optics, with only Generation 1 gunner thermals
+
* Only has first generation gunner & thermals optics
−
* Hits to the upper half of hull can bypass all the screens and modules and go straight for the ammo or crew, since engine is not tall enough, attacks from high ground are particularly dangerous
+
* Hits to the upper half of the hull can bypass all the screens and modules and go straight for the ammo or crew as the engine is not tall enough to absorb the shot - attacks from high ground are particularly dangerous
 +
*Due to the placement of the external fuel tank, which is placed in front of the engine. It absorbs the kinetic force of the round - Thus gets set on fire and blocks gunner view from the front with thick smoke
 +
* Engine exhaust is placed on the right hand side of the tank, the exhaust gas limits the gunner view, since the gunner can only see exhaust gas when traveling
 +
* In night battles, exhaust gas blocks out the right hand side of the vehicle from the gunner view
 +
* Weak side and rear armour, well-placed shot here can knock the tank out
 +
* Tall profile compared to other tanks in this tier
  
 
== History ==
 
== 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: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''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: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
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''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: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
+
 
 +
The Merkava Mk.3 was an improved model of the Merkava Mk.2 that was introduced in 1989 for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). It featured improvements in firepower, mobility, and electronics. It was in production from 1989 to 2003 and remains the most numerous tank in service with the IDF.
 +
 
 +
One of the most major changes was the change to the main armament. The 105 mm gun of the Mk.2 was replaced by a 120 mm gun produced by Israeli Military Industries (IMI) in Israel. The engine was also replaced by a more powerful 1,200 hp diesel engine. The turret was also heavily modified to allow target tracking independent of the hull's movements. Additionally, a two-way phone was added for communication between the tank crew and friendly infantry, the ammunition stowage was redesigned for more safety, and laser designators were added. The weight was increased to 65 tons, but the more powerful engine increased the maximum speed to 60 km/h.
 +
 
 +
The Merkava Mk.3 Baz was an improved model that was introduced in 1995. It featured a nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) protection system, an air-conditioning unit, and an upgraded fire control system (FCS).
 +
 
 +
The Merkava Mk.3D was a further improvement that added modular composite armour on both the chassis and turret, visually most notable on the turret.
 +
 
 +
=== [[wt:en/news/6877-development-crafting-event-strategist-merkava-mk-3d-en|Devblog]] ===
 +
Immediately after production of the Merkava Mk.2 began in 1983, Israeli engineers began working on the new Mk.3 version of the MBT. The Merkava Mk.3 introduced significant improvements over preceding variants in almost all aspects. Primarily however, the focus of the upgrades was centered around improving protection - by adding additional armour to the hull - as well as mounting the newly developed IMI MG251 120 mm smoothbore cannon, purpose-built for the new modification of the Merkava, in order to increase firepower.
 +
 
 +
Production of the Merkava Mk.3 began in the late 1980s, with the first vehicles reaching troops in December 1989. The Merkava Mk.3 remained in production until 2003 by which time around 650 vehicles were built. Thus, the Merkava Mk.3 belongs to the spearhead of Israel's armoured units in the present day.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_merkava_mk_3d Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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;Images
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<gallery mode="packed" caption="Merkava Mk.3D Devblog Images" heights="200">
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File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 001.jpg
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File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 002.jpg
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File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 003.jpg
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File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 004.jpg
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File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 005.jpg
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File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 006.jpg
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</gallery>
  
 
;Videos
 
;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|1gSNZiirWEI|'''The Shooting Range #219''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}
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{{Youtube-gallery|uSAKjBXX_X0|'''Holding The Line - {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''DEFYN''|WdOQXq-CgCQ|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''Napalmratte''|1gSNZiirWEI|'''The Shooting Range #219''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|gkyl7bowQ2k|'''Should You Grind The {{PAGENAME}}?''' - ''Sako Sniper''|TrwGDzUgUjE|'''{{PAGENAME}} - The Iron Chariot Ft. M322''' - ''JustinPlaysYT''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
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* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
 
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
  
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* [[wt:/en/news/6877-development-crafting-event-strategist-merkava-mk-3d-en|[Devblog] Crafting event "Strategist": Merkava Mk.3D]]
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* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
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* [[wikipedia:Merkava#Merkava_Mark_III|[Wikipedia] Merkava Mark III]]
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* ''other literature.''
 
  
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{{TankManufacturer Israeli Ordnance Corps}}
 
{{USA medium tanks}}
 
{{USA medium tanks}}

Latest revision as of 13:23, 10 February 2024

This page is about the American medium tank Merkava Mk.3D (USA). For other versions, see Merkava (Family).
▃Merkava Mk.3D
us_merkava_mk_3d.png
GarageImage Merkava Mk.3D (USA).jpg
ArtImage Merkava Mk.3D (USA).png
▃Merkava Mk.3D
USA flag.png USA
VII Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
11.3 11.3 11.3
Class:
Purchase:Bundle or Gift
MARKET

Description

The Merkava Mk.3D is the third and last subvariant of the Merkava Mk.3, which is the third variant of the Merkava main battle tank family. The tank, also known as the Merkava 3 Dor-Dalet (Hebrew for "Fourth Generation"), was enhanced by adding fourth-generation modular composite armour to the turret sides. These sloped modules also function as spaced armour, providing greater protection in urban settings. The Dor-Dalet modular composite armour is extremely similar to the Merkava Mk.4 variant and provides significantly more protection than the preceding Merkava Mk.3s. The tracks were additionally strengthened with a new version supplied by CAT. The Merkava Mk.3D was first used by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in 2000.

Introduced in Update "Raining Fire" as a reward for the 2020 Wargame "Strategist" event, the Merkava Mk.3D is the Merkava Mk.3's last subvariant, with superior modular composite armour. This greatly enhanced the Merkava Mk.3D's turret protection, putting it on par with the Merkava Mk.4 variant. The Merkava Mk.3D, as the final and ultimate subvariant of the Merkava Mk.3, has exceptional post-penetration survivability. Since the crew members are spaced out and no ammunition is stored in the turret, it is difficult to destroy the Merkava Mk.3D in a single shot, especially in hull-down situations. Surviving against anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) is also significantly easier, thanks to the modular composite armour's unusual design, which allows it to act as both spaced and composite armour at the same time.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
ESS
Creation of a smoke screen in the direction of movement of the vehicle
LWS
Notifies about the vehicle's exposure to laser emissions
Armourfront / side / back
Hull90 / 50 / 30
Turret150 / 65 / 65
Crew4 people
Visibility107 %

Armour type:

  • Cast homogeneous armour (Hull, turret)
  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Sides)
  • Composite screens* (Turret front, hull front left, sideskirts)
    • with NERA elements**
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 60** mm (78-90°), 60 mm (66-73°) (+ 30* mm (74°) left) Upper glacis
90 mm (36°), 50 mm (59°) + 20 mm (60°) Lower glacis 		50 mm (12°) + 15 mm 30 mm (0-39°) 20 mm
Turret 170 mm + 40* mm (0-68°) Turret cheeks
30-400 mm (0-78°) + 100 mm Gun mantlet
40 mm (68-81°) + 50* mm (78°) Upper 		60 mm + 5 mm (0-60°) 40 mm 40 mm Front
20 mm Rear
Armour Roof
Cupola 30 mm
Effective protection Front
Turret Turret front:
200 mm Kinetic
1,500 mm Chemical

Notes:

  • Tracks are 30 mm thick
  • Road wheels are 20 mm thick

The Merkava's armour does not quite live up to its aggressive appearance. The turret combines extreme angles with some composite armour and is capable of bouncing or absorbing incoming HEATFS rounds with some luck. Its protection against kinetic rounds is poor: the common 105 mm DM23 round is capable of penetrating large swathes of the frontal turret and will only struggle somewhat against the left turret cheek (right from an attacker's perspective) due to the overlapping armour segments and extreme angles. The hull has a similar combination of decent chemical protection and poor kinetic protection. 120 mm or 125 mm APFSDS as commonly used by German and Soviet tanks will typically have no issues penetrating the Merkava anywhere.

The Merkava does better in terms of post-penetration survivability. It is hard to destroy the Merkava in a single shot since the tank is rather roomy inside and the crew members are spread out. No ammunition is stored in the turret, so frontal turret penetrations are usually not fatal. Penetrating shots to the hull can sometimes be absorbed by the engine and transmission, but not always. There are fuel tanks on the upper hull sides and spaced armour in the rear that offer some chemical protection, but not enough to stop any tank cannons at the Merkava Mk.3D's rank.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB67 / 29 km/h
RB and SB60 / 26 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
4 back
Weight65.0 t
Engine power
AB2 290 hp
RB and SB1 200 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB35.2 hp/t
RB and SB18.5 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 67 29 65 1,860 2,290 28.62 35.23
Realistic 60 26 1,061 1,200 16.32 18.46

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB3 817 → 6 645 Sl icon.png
RB3 755 → 6 537 Sl icon.png
SB4 416 → 7 688 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications242 000 Rp icon.png
411 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 900 Ge icon.png
Crew training240 000 Sl icon.png
Experts830 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 140 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
150 / 200 / 230 % Sl icon.png
238 / 238 / 238 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
18 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
28 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
380 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
380 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
5 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
28 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement us.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods tank additional armor.png
Mine protection
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
ESS
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
380 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
380 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
18 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
28 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
120mm_NATO_APDS_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods counterMeasures.png
LWS/LR
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
380 Ge icon.png
Mods thermal sight.png
NVD
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
380 Ge icon.png

A tip for grinding it:

Unlock parts first, horizontal drive, FPE, Adjustment of fire then M322. Everything after these can be unlocked after.

The M322 round offers up to 625 mm of penetration, it is able to penetrate most tanks at distance with ease allowing for other parts to be unlocked faster.

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.
Thermal imager
Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

120 mm IMI MG251 cannon
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition46 rounds
First-order5 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
7.8 → 6.0 s
Vertical guidance-7° / 20°
Main article: IMI MG251 (120 mm)
120 mm IMI MG251 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 46 -7°/+20° ±180° Two-plane 32.4 44.8 54.4 60.2 64.0 7.80 6.90 6.36 6.00
Realistic 20.2 23.8 28.9 32.0 34.0

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
M325 HEATFS 480 480 480 480 480 480
M339 HE-TF 65 65 60 58 53 50
M322 APFSDS 589 586 577 565 553 541
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%
M325 HEATFS 1,078 15.81 0.05 0.1 2.36 65° 72° 77°
M339 HE-TF 900 17 1.5 3 3.66 79° 80° 81°
M322 APFSDS 1,705 5.6 - - - 78° 80° 81°

The stock M325 HEATFS is a High-Explosive Anti-Tank Fin-Stabilised round, with a velocity of 1,078 m/s and a TNT equivalent of 2.36 kg. This round provides a maximum penetration of 480 mm at all ranges, which is the standard for 120 mm HEATFS. To get the best from this round, you must aim for weakly armoured places on the enemy tank, generally the weakest places are the sides and rear of the enemy tank. At rank seven, most MBTs are heavily armoured with ERA plates or composite armour which can defeat chemical munitions with ease. It works quite nicely against light targets such as SPAAs since the explosive content can cause overpressure damage.

The also stock M339 HE-TF round is a High-Explosive Timed Fused round, with a velocity of 900 m/s and a TNT equivalent of 3.66 kg. It is unique among HE rounds for having a fuse delay of 1.5 m instead of exploding on impact. This means it behaves more like a SAP or APHE round, being capable of penetrating a target and exploding inside. A successful penetration in this manner will almost invariably wipe out the target. The maximum penetration of the round is given as 65 mm, but this is the armour thickness the round itself is capable of penetrating. The penetration of the explosive shrapnel is around 37 mm, a less impressive figure. Setting the distance fuse is accomplished by using the rangefinder. It is technically possible to use this airburst feature against ground targets hiding behind cover, but this is unlikely to amount to much against vehicles with more than paper-thin armour. The HE-TF round is the most useful for either destroying lightly armoured vehicles or alternatively for attacking helicopters that stray too close to the battlefield using the airburst function. In an emergency M339 can sometimes be used to attack the side armour or turret/hull roof armour of an enemy MBT but this should not be a first choice, considering that its penetration on impact is on the level of a reserve tank and its explosive content is less than Soviet or Chinese tanks.

The unlockable M322 APFSDS round is a Tier 3 upgrade and functionally identical to the CL3143 round used by the Italian Ariete. It one of the best rounds in the game, providing up to 589 mm of flat penetration at point blank and 340 mm of penetration at 60 degrees. Only top-tier tanks like the Leopard 2A5 can resist it in specific areas or angles. Against other opponents, it is very simple to point and click at crew members or ammo racks. Once unlocked, M322 should be the round of choice for the Merkava Mk.3D for anti-tank duties.

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Merkava Mk.3D (USA)
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
46 45 (+1) 43 (+3) 42 (+4) 6 (+40) 1 (+45) No

Notes:

  • Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
  • Rack n°5 is a ready rack containing 5 shells.
  • This rack gets filled first when loading up the tank and is also emptied first.
  • The depletion order at full capacity is: 5 - 1 - 2 up to 4.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 4 into rack 5. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.
  • The double rack n°4 depletes row by row from top to bottom (starting with the right rack).

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition1 000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition6 000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate1 001 shots/min
2 x 7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40 machine gun
Ammunition3 600 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate1 001 shots/min
Main articles: M2HB (12.7 mm), FN MAG 60-40 (7.62 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 1,000 (200) 575 - -
7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 6,000 (200) 960 - -
Commander's cupola 1,800 (200) 960 -10°/+50° -120°/+60°
Loader's cupola 1,800 (200) 960 -10°/+50° ±120°

Usage in battles

The best trait of the Merkava Mk.3D is its spectacular firepower. It has a far more powerful gun than the contemporary IPM1 or M1 Abrams but lags behind these tanks in terms of armour protection and mobility. As such, the Merkava is best used in a second line support or sniping role where it is less likely to attract enemy fire and can instead focus on sending enemies back to the hangar with the M322 APFSDS. Find good positions that allow the Merkava to spot enemies early and retreat into cover if necessary. If the situation gets hot, the Merkava can also rely on its huge arsenal of smoke grenades to create its own cover. It is possible to smoke up entire portions of the map, potentially saving yourself or your teammates from helicopters or snipers.

How to combat enemy helicopters

The Merkava Mk.3D has four machine guns, one 12.7 mm mounted on the cannon, with an additional 7.62 mm machine gun mounted on each of the Commander's & Loader's cupola's and finally a coaxial 7.62 mm. This allows the Merkava to unleash a respectable torrent of lead at nearby aircraft. The Merkava Mk.3D is able to handle airborne threats extremely well; with its LWS/LR system, it alerts you to when someone is locking on with a laser range finder, which are installed in most if not all high ranking helicopters. The M339 HE-VT round is also useful against helicopters. It does not have the high muzzle velocity or automatic proximity fuse of the M1A2 Abrams's M830A1 HEATFS, but 3.7 kg of TNT equivalent will still do a number on a helicopter if it explodes nearby. Against moving helicopters it is important to fire the round soon after setting the fuse with the laser rangefinder.

When a LWS notification pops up, switch to gunner sight and enable the thermal sight, and look around in the sky and you will see brightly lit dot - if it is flying away from you, ignore it. If it is coming closer, keep an eye on it and wait until it is close enough for you to engage it.

However, if it has fired its ATGMs, pop smoke and retreat behind an object until its missile detonates. Then locate the helicopter and start slinging bullets and cannon shells its way. The former will not be useful at long distances but the latter might if the helicopter is not moving quickly. Helicopters closing in for strafing runs with cannons and unguided rockets can be downed quickly with the machine guns and airburst HE shells. Try to stay in cover when focused on the sky since enemy tanks are likely to notice the large number of machine gun tracers coming from the Merkava's position.

Capitalising on the terrain and environments

Urban maps and environments

When engaged in combat on a map which features an urban close range environment, the Merkava Mk.3D provides great threat to any enemy tanker. The manoeuvrability, is one of the best in the game, it is able to pivot on the spot and change course. If that is due to a sudden appearance of enemy tank which has appeared or if the strategic interest has changed, the MK.3D is able to handle it. To get the best out of the Mk.3D, either flank around the urban parts of the map or stay & utilise the compact urban environment.

To utilise the compact urban environment, stay close to buildings, use the buildings to your advantage. Using the buildings will allow you to dominate the battle zone, it's 120 mm cannon is able to destroy enemy tanks with ease, especially at close ranges. It is important not to stay in the middle the roads or open areas which offers no concealment. The Merkava Mk.3D, is a tall tank, it is taller than the M1 Abrams family of tanks This means, you can be seen and shot at by the enemy team, it is not a sleek low profile tank like the HSTV-L.

Rural maps and rural terrain

To capitalise on rural maps head into the forest, and stay in the forest it's important not to leave the forest or rural terrain like this. This type of terrain offers great protection and makes the Merkava Mk.3D almost invisible to the enemy. The thermal profile is reduced by the vegetation, which blocks the heat signature. It's very important to use the correct camouflage, which helps to make you harder to detect.

The Merkava Mk.3D 120 mm gun is able to snipe the enemy tanks from far and wide. to win do not keep firing from one spot, after every shot move to another location using the rural vegetation to make you stealthy and remain unseen. The MK.3D has a thermal sight, that allows you to find the enemy tanks in situations like this. The gunner sight also provides a zoom of 6 to 12x allowing for pin-point shots combined with the M322 round - makes for one of the most lethal tanks in the game.

Night Battles

Do not expose the right hand side of the tank, due to the exhaust gas which will make it impossible for you to locate and knockout enemy tankers with the thermal sight. Instead, keep the left hand side of the tank exposed towards the enemy frontline. It's also as important keep an eye out for air threats such as Ka-52, Mi-28N, EC-665 Tiger UHT, AH-64D and other helicopters.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Has access to one of the best penetrating APFSDS round in the game
  • Has access to timed HE, which can be set to detonate at a very specific distance, for example just behind enemy ammunition panel or above a light tank completely hidden behind cover
  • Timed HE round has a less sensitive detonator than normal HE-type shells, so it can overcome common obstacles such as bushes and fences
  • Great survivability, thanks to its internal layout
  • Ammo storage is wrapped in a fire proof container, preventing it from detonating in-case of a fire, inside of the tank
  • Great manoeuvrability, able to pivot and turn on a dime
  • Certain redundant parts of the turret can be used as extra protection against chemical ammunition, or to bait shots from impatient opponents
  • Turret armour can withstand direct hits from enemy tanks
  • Engine & external fuel tank is able to prevent APFSDS from penetrating and knocking the tank out if shot at the front, head on

Cons:

  • Not very fast, substandard power-to-weight
  • Only has first generation gunner & thermals optics
  • Hits to the upper half of the hull can bypass all the screens and modules and go straight for the ammo or crew as the engine is not tall enough to absorb the shot - attacks from high ground are particularly dangerous
  • Due to the placement of the external fuel tank, which is placed in front of the engine. It absorbs the kinetic force of the round - Thus gets set on fire and blocks gunner view from the front with thick smoke
  • Engine exhaust is placed on the right hand side of the tank, the exhaust gas limits the gunner view, since the gunner can only see exhaust gas when traveling
  • In night battles, exhaust gas blocks out the right hand side of the vehicle from the gunner view
  • Weak side and rear armour, well-placed shot here can knock the tank out
  • Tall profile compared to other tanks in this tier

History

The Merkava Mk.3 was an improved model of the Merkava Mk.2 that was introduced in 1989 for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). It featured improvements in firepower, mobility, and electronics. It was in production from 1989 to 2003 and remains the most numerous tank in service with the IDF.

One of the most major changes was the change to the main armament. The 105 mm gun of the Mk.2 was replaced by a 120 mm gun produced by Israeli Military Industries (IMI) in Israel. The engine was also replaced by a more powerful 1,200 hp diesel engine. The turret was also heavily modified to allow target tracking independent of the hull's movements. Additionally, a two-way phone was added for communication between the tank crew and friendly infantry, the ammunition stowage was redesigned for more safety, and laser designators were added. The weight was increased to 65 tons, but the more powerful engine increased the maximum speed to 60 km/h.

The Merkava Mk.3 Baz was an improved model that was introduced in 1995. It featured a nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) protection system, an air-conditioning unit, and an upgraded fire control system (FCS).

The Merkava Mk.3D was a further improvement that added modular composite armour on both the chassis and turret, visually most notable on the turret.

Devblog

Immediately after production of the Merkava Mk.2 began in 1983, Israeli engineers began working on the new Mk.3 version of the MBT. The Merkava Mk.3 introduced significant improvements over preceding variants in almost all aspects. Primarily however, the focus of the upgrades was centered around improving protection - by adding additional armour to the hull - as well as mounting the newly developed IMI MG251 120 mm smoothbore cannon, purpose-built for the new modification of the Merkava, in order to increase firepower.

Production of the Merkava Mk.3 began in the late 1980s, with the first vehicles reaching troops in December 1989. The Merkava Mk.3 remained in production until 2003 by which time around 650 vehicles were built. Thus, the Merkava Mk.3 belongs to the spearhead of Israel's armoured units in the present day.

Media

Skins
Images
  • Merkava Mk.3D Devblog Images
  • Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 001.jpg
  • Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 002.jpg
  • Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 003.jpg
  • Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 004.jpg
  • Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 005.jpg
  • Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 006.jpg
Videos
Holding The Line - Merkava Mk.3D (USA) - DEFYN
Merkava Mk.3D (USA) Tank Review - Napalmratte
The Shooting Range #219 - Metal Beasts section at 00:28 discusses the Merkava Mk.3D (USA).
Should You Grind The Merkava Mk.3D (USA)? - Sako Sniper
Merkava Mk.3D (USA) - The Iron Chariot Ft. M322 - JustinPlaysYT

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


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

USA medium tanks
M2  M2
M3  M3 Lee · ▃Grant I
M4  M4 · Calliope · M4A1 · M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (105) · M4A3 (76) W · M4/T26
M26 Pershing  T20 · T25 · M26 · M26 T99 · M26E1
M46/47/48 Patton  M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47 · M48A1 · T54E1 · T54E2
M60  M60 · M60A1 (AOS) · M60A1 RISE (P) · M60A2 · M60A3 TTS · M728 CEV · 120S
MBT-70  MBT-70 · XM803
M1 Abrams  XM1 (Chrysler) · XM1 (GM)
  M1 Abrams · M1 KVT · IPM1
  M1A1 · M1A1 HC · M1A1 Click-Bait
  M1A2 Abrams · M1A2 SEP · M1A2 SEP V2
Other  T95E1
Australia  M1A1 AIM
Canada  M4A5
Israel  ▃Magach 3 (ERA) · ▃Merkava Mk.1 · ▃Merkava Mk.2B · ▃Merkava Mk.3D
Turkey  M60 AMBT

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