The Merkava MBT

Well, here's the site to go to to learn about this modern MBT.

http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/Mekava.htm

 

Nice tank isn't it? I espeacially like the attached mortor

 

Cool tank. One of the best designed yet. I like the engine being in the front for added protection and the overlooked fact that if something does get through the tank will be all but worthless with an engine that is scrap.

Highly unlikely that you will see it used against you if it needs to be abandoned.

 

I agree but there were some posts that had some good points to them in regards to the engine compartment not helping the crew too much. I can't see that because once you divert the line of kinetic energy the amour penetration value has to drop.

 

In my opinion the most "practical" tank in existance, the IDF has more armor warfare experience than anyone else in the last 50 years. Not surprisingly their tank design is superb, from the mounting of front engine to rear loading and exiting doors, a protective umbrella for the commander, internal firing 60mm mortars, the capacity to carry infantries, and one of the smallest cross-section for any modern MBT in existance. The only thing missing is a plasma screen TV with attached Playstation system.

Come to think of it, what do you expect from a country that designed rifles and machine guns that came with wire cutters and can-openers?

I like to see the Merkava 4 taking on the latest Challegers, Abrams, or Leopards.

 

Finally, someone designed a bigger, nastier revolving cartidge holder for the big guns! I wonder what the ROF really is?
Can you imagine a 120mm gattling?

 

Can you imagine the concussions it will create when it's being fired? No tanks will be able to house such a monstrous system.

 

It will be a challenge even for a Battleship :lol:

For example if the 35mm gatlinggun on the A-10 Warthog is fired in a steep dive, then the recoil is so strong that it will stall the plane after 10.sec and thats in a dive !!!!!!!!!

KBO

 

That is not true. 30mm GAU-8 Avenger gun fitted to A-10 has recoil as large as one engine thrust. And A-10 has two engines.

 

Well then, for this to become reality the inventors will have to find problem solvers, not problem finders.

 

True but before that someone must find the need for 120mm gatling. I cant find any need for a tank which expends its all ammunition in one second. Still, autoloading gun might be a good thing, especially if user can change ammunition type easily.

 

sounds like a nice modern MBT. Looks much like the Leopard though... Don't you think?

 

Um, no?

 

After talking to the crews of A10 it is true. although I have never seen stats to back it up.

 

Lets calculate a bit, shall we?
ROF = 4200 rpm = 70 rps
MV = 1067 m/s
AP mass = 0.43 kg

Recoil impulse I = Rof * MV * AP mass = 70 * 1067 m/s * 0.43 kg = 32117 kgm/s

Now if we want to calculate actual force, we need to divide that recoil impulse with time, which is 1 second (handy, isn't it).

F= I/t = 32117 kgm/s / 1 second = 32117 kgm/s^2 = 32117 N = 32.117 kN

Now, how much thrust does one TF34-GE-100 produce? According to various sources, it is a bit over 40 kN.

As you can see, recoil force from GAU-8 is a bit smaller than thrust from one engine. But we did forget something: powder. It gives its share to recoil impulse too. I don't have any idea how much powder they use with that ammunition but if the powder amount vs bullet weight is nearly similar to high velocity riflebullets, then we must add 50% to weight and same percentage goes up to the recoil force.
Therefore recoil force is over 48 kN which is a bit more than thrust of one engine. I'm sure A-10 can fly with one engine shut down and not even needing to use all thrust from working engine.

Disclaimer for calculations: I used highest MV, ROF and mass I could find. One source (wikipedia) gave little slower MV for AP-round. And that 4200 rpm version has been deleted, A-10 uses 3900 rpm version (according to fas.org). And all ammunition is not AP, lighter HE-ammunition is used too in Combat Mix.

 

Notmi your telling us that the crew's are lying !!! come on, who knows the most, the ones who is actually flying it, or the ones who reading about it ?? :roll:

And Notmi maths wont help you much as it can be seriusly wrong about stuff like this.

KBO

 

But what happens to a Merkava if someone goes for a rear shot?

 

Same thing that happens to any tank I would assume.

 

Oh, come on KBO, its physics! Show me I'm wrong, please.

 

When I went to that page, on the Merkava MBT, is see they still have the two options. One for slugging it out and one for transporting infantry.

I like the Merkava but I also like the British MBT and the Black Eagle. Especially the armoured crew compartment, the fact that the turret has the best frontal slope to deflect any kinetic energy, not all but the best. The auto loaders are the natural procession in technology. As far as I know the Merkava MBT use a non flamable hydrolic fluid, this is a great enhancement for crew survivability.