Merkava Mk.2B

This page is about the Israeli medium tank Merkava Mk.2B. For other versions, see Merkava (Family).

Merkava Mk.2B

Merkava Mk.1B

Merkava Mk.3B

Merkava Mk.2B

Merkava Mk.1B

Merkava Mk.3B

Israel

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.3	9.3	9.3

Class:

Medium tank

Research:110 000

Purchase:620 000

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

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

Turret65 / 65 / 65

Crew4 people

Visibility103 %

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

Speedforward / back

AB60 / 26 km/h

RB and SB54 / 24 km/h

Number of gears8 forward

4 back

Weight63.0 t

Engine power

AB1 717 hp

RB and SB900 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB27.3 hp/t

RB and SB14.3 hp/t

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

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 949 → 6 235

RB4 029 → 6 361

SB5 149 → 8 130

Total cost of modifications186 200

301 000

Talisman cost2 700

Crew training175 000

Experts620 000

Aces2 100

Research Aces1 010 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

150 / 200 / 240 %

226 / 226 / 226 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 Suspension Research: 7 300 Cost: 11 000 290 Brake System Research: 7 300 Cost: 11 000 290 Filters Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Transmission Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 520 Engine Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 520	Improved Parts Research: 2 300 Cost: 12 000 310 Improved FPE Research: 2 200 Cost: 11 000 290 Crew Replenishment Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 ESS Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 520	Horizontal Drive Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 105mm_usa_HESH_ammo_pack Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 105mm_usa_M735_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 Adjustment of Fire Research: 7 300 Cost: 11 000 290 LWS/LR Research: 7 300 Cost: 11 000 290 NVD Research: 7 300 Cost: 11 000 290 Elevation Mechanism Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 105mm_us_M416_Smoke_ammo_pack Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Smoke grenade Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Artillery Support Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 520 105mm_DM33_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 520

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

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

105 mm Sharir cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Ammunition54 rounds

First-order6 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.7 → 6.7 s

Vertical guidance-8° / 20°

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

Ammo racks of the Merkava Mk.2B

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 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

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

• Skins and camouflages for the Merkava Mk.2B from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• Merkava (Family)
  • Merkava Mk.2B (USA)

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.