Difference between revisions of "Merkava Mk.2D"

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{{Specs-Tank-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.'' -->
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''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.''
+
Unconventional armor layout offers components of the tank as protection (engine, fuel tank etc.) making chemical ammunition (HEAT, HESH, HE) very difficult to use against the vehicle. Lower-end APFSDS (DM23, T320, 3BM25) may struggle to get through as well. A 35mm plate surrounds the engine block on the interior of the vehicle, protecting the crew from spalling and fire. Composite screens on the Hull front (covering the driver), turret face and sides offer protection against HEAT projectiles. Low crew positioning for the turret can cause misplaced rounds to deal minimal damage.
 +
 
 +
Notable weakpoints:
 +
 
 +
* Area below the gunner's sight can be easily penetrated by APFSDS killing gunner and commander
 +
* Shot to driver with APFSDS may set off ammunition rack in back of vehicle if bringing full load
 +
* Turret ring
  
 
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
 
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
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! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' <br> ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
+
| Hull ||Upper: 90mm @ 30 degrees
 +
Lower: 50mm @ 57 degrees
 +
|50mm + 20mm composite on top
 +
~115mm composite on lower
 +
|30mm||30mm rear
 +
20mm middle
 +
 
 +
60mm front + 30mm composite on right side
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' <br> ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
+
| Turret ||65mm turret point
 +
30mm heavily sloped
 +
|65mm + Variable thickness composite||65mm||30mm + 25mm composite covering slope
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Cupola || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm
+
| Cupola ||30mm||30mm||30mm||30mm
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
'''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, wheels and suspension are all 20mm thick.
  
 
=== 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=1,492|rbMinHp=852}}
+
* Maximum speeds forward and backward of 54 km/h (6 gears) and 10.3 km/h (2 gears) respectively
 +
 
 +
* 963 HP @ 2400 RPM
 +
 
 +
* HP/T of ~15.3
 +
 
 +
Sluggish but performs well on roads and even surfaces, slow to accelerate and has zero-point turning.
  
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
−
{{Specs-Economy}}
+
Premium vehicle, all modifications are unlocked upon purchase.
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
−
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
+
 
 +
* 105mm Sharir cannon
 +
 
 +
* 12.7mm M2HB machine gun
 +
 
 +
* 7.62mm FN MAG machine gun x3
 +
 
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
−
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
+
105mm Sharir cannon equipped with 2-plane gun stabilizer and effective rounds. Will struggle in uptiers against heavily armored targets, i.e. T-80B, Leopard 2A4, M1 Abrams. 8.7 second reload with stock crew and 7.7 with maxed (not expert or aced.)  
−
<!-- ''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|Sharir (105 mm)}}
 
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="5" | [[Sharir (105 mm)|105 mm Sharir]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
+
! colspan="5" |105mm Sharir cannon|| colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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=== 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".'' -->'''Pros:'''
+
'''Pros:'''
−
 
 
−
* Effective HEAT protection
 
−
* Adequate survivability through modules and low crew positioning
 
−
* Thermal imaging systems for gunner
 
−
* Plethora of smoke launchers
 
  
−
* Effective firepower with APFSDS and laser rangefinder / warning system
+
* Effective firepower
 +
* Great HEAT protection
 +
* Superb RP and SL rewards
 +
* Plethora of smoke
  
 
*
 
*
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'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Somewhat sluggish weighing at 63 tons with 963 horsepower and top speed of 54 km/h
+
* Relatively low mobility
−
* Below average gun elevation angles
+
* Unreliable armor against APFSDS
−
* Large ammunition racks in the rear of the vehicle
+
* Struggles in uptiers
−
* Inconsistent protection
+
* Large profile
  
 
*
 
*

Revision as of 16:41, 19 March 2022

This page is about the Israeli medium tank Merkava Mk.2D. For other versions, see Merkava (Family).
Merkava Mk.2D
il_merkava_mk_2d.png
GarageImage Merkava Mk.2D.jpg
StoreImage Merkava Mk.2D 001.jpg
Merkava Mk.2D
Israel flag.png Israel
VI Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
9.7 9.7 9.7
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:Bundle or Gift
STORE

Description

The Merkava Siman 2 Bet Dor Dalet is a premium gift rank VI Israeli medium tank with a battle rating of 9.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Winged Lions".

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 %

Unconventional armor layout offers components of the tank as protection (engine, fuel tank etc.) making chemical ammunition (HEAT, HESH, HE) very difficult to use against the vehicle. Lower-end APFSDS (DM23, T320, 3BM25) may struggle to get through as well. A 35mm plate surrounds the engine block on the interior of the vehicle, protecting the crew from spalling and fire. Composite screens on the Hull front (covering the driver), turret face and sides offer protection against HEAT projectiles. Low crew positioning for the turret can cause misplaced rounds to deal minimal damage.

Notable weakpoints:

  • Area below the gunner's sight can be easily penetrated by APFSDS killing gunner and commander
  • Shot to driver with APFSDS may set off ammunition rack in back of vehicle if bringing full load
  • Turret ring

Armour type:

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull Upper: 90mm @ 30 degrees

Lower: 50mm @ 57 degrees

50mm + 20mm composite on top

~115mm composite on lower

30mm 30mm rear

20mm middle

60mm front + 30mm composite on right side

Turret 65mm turret point

30mm heavily sloped

65mm + Variable thickness composite 65mm 30mm + 25mm composite covering slope
Cupola 30mm 30mm 30mm 30mm

Notes:

Tracks, wheels and suspension are all 20mm thick.

Mobility

  • Maximum speeds forward and backward of 54 km/h (6 gears) and 10.3 km/h (2 gears) respectively
  • 963 HP @ 2400 RPM
  • HP/T of ~15.3

Sluggish but performs well on roads and even surfaces, slow to accelerate and has zero-point turning.

Modifications and economy

Premium vehicle, all modifications are unlocked upon purchase.

Armaments

  • 105mm Sharir cannon
  • 12.7mm M2HB machine gun
  • 7.62mm FN MAG machine gun x3

Main armament

105mm Sharir cannon equipped with 2-plane gun stabilizer and effective rounds. Will struggle in uptiers against heavily armored targets, i.e. T-80B, Leopard 2A4, M1 Abrams. 8.7 second reload with stock crew and 7.7 with maxed (not expert or aced.)

105mm Sharir cannon Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 62 -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
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
Mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive Mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M152 HEATFS 1,173 10.5 0.05 0.1 1,270 65° 72° 77°
M156 HESH 732 14.85 0.1 4 4,310 73° 77° 80°
M111 APFSDS 1,455 3.79 N/A N/A N/A 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 730 11.4 20 5 25 50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Merkava Mk.2D
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
62 35 (+27) 7 (+55) 1 (+61) No

Notes:

  • Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
  • Rack 3 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 6 shells and gets filled first when loading up the tank.
  • This rack is also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 3 - 1 - 2.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 and 2 into rack 3. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready 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 900 (200) 577 N/A -8°/+19°
7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 5,950 (200) 600 N/A N/A
Pintle 1,750 (200) 600 -5°/+50° -60°/+120°
Pintle 1,750 (200) 600 -5°/+50° -120°/+60°

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).

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Effective firepower
  • Great HEAT protection
  • Superb RP and SL rewards
  • Plethora of smoke

Cons:

  • Relatively low mobility
  • Unreliable armor against APFSDS
  • Struggles in uptiers
  • Large profile

History

IDF Artillery Corps cadets being tested with a Merkava Mk.2D.

Merkava Mk.1 tanks served in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) from 1979 as the primary Israeli MBT. Not long after its introduction into service, this tank was sent to lead the way during the First Lebanon War of 1982. Despite proving itself under fire against Syrian T-72As and a variety of other threats, it was obvious that the first iteration of the design was not suitable for the changing combat environment of the 1980s Middle East. In particular, it was found to be lacking in close-quarters and urban combat against asymmetric threats - primarily guerilla infantry using unguided rocket launchers.

The second generation of the Merkava was already under development when the First Lebanon War broke out, but benefited greatly from lessons learned during combat. Over the 6 years in which the Merkava Mk.2 was in production, several important changes were made to compensate for the Mk.1's deficiencies. The Merkava Mk.2D represents the final variant of this generation of Merkava tanks, including all of those modifications.

Firstly, a very familiar feature of all modern Merkava tanks was added to the first Mk.2: the Hairs of Shulamit, a line of heavy iron spheres dangling on chains around the rear rim of the turret. This simple device helps deflect incoming rounds away from the vulnerable turret ring, and increases the chance of prematurely detonating HEAT rockets and missiles. This feature proved to be so successful and cost-efficient that it was retroactively added to all Mk.1 variants as well.

A Merkava Mk.2D in a staging area during Operation "Pillar of Defense".

Another major improvement was made to the fire control system, whose computer was updated to take many additional factors into consideration, such as air temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. This significantly improved the accuracy of the tank's 105 mm cannon, allowing it to reliably outperform the T-72 at long-range combat. The computer was also taught to handle a variety of new shells made available for the Mk.2, and to be able to record its ballistic calculations in order to gradually improve accuracy over time for the specific cannon it was controlling.

The Mk.2's powertrain also saw several improvements, the most major of which was an upgraded transmission that could pivot the tank in-place - a feature sorely required for manoeuvres in dense urban terrain. The Mk.2's engine itself was also slightly more powerful than the Mk.1's.

Other features included thermal optics, additional top armour, and finally (unique to the Mk.2D) a modular armour system allowing damaged segments to be quickly replaced after a battle.

The Mk.2 continued to serve until as late as 2016. As of 2021, some Merkava Mk.2 hulls are being converted into heavily-armoured APCs, primarily to serve as Command and Control vehicles known as Ofek ("Horizon").

Media

Skins
Videos
The Shooting Range #291 - Metal Beasts section at 00:26 discusses the Merkava Mk.2D.

See also

External links


Israel medium tanks
M-51  M-51 · M-51 (W)
Magach  Magach 1 · Magach 2 · Magach 3 · Magach 3 (ERA) · Magach 5 · Magach 6
  Magach 6A · Magach 6B · Magach 6B Gal · Gal Batash · Magach 6C · Magach 6M · Magach 6R · Magach Hydra · Magach 7C
Tiran  Tiran 4 · Tiran 4S · Tiran 6
Sho't  Sho't · Sho't Kal Alef · Sho't Kal Gimel · Sho't Kal Dalet
Merkava  Merkava Mk.1B · Merkava Mk.2B · Merkava Mk.2D · Merkava Mk.3B · Merkava Mk.3C · Ra'am Sagol
  Merkava Mk.4B · Merkava Mk.4M · Merkava Mk.4 LIC

Israel premium ground vehicles
Medium tanks  M-51 (W) · Magach 3 (ERA) · Sho't Kal Dalet · Merkava Mk.2D · Ra'am Sagol
Tank destroyers  Sholef

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