Israel's new tank. Merkava main battle tank. Assessment of the combat vehicle and its future

The Merkava-4 tank, the photo of which is presented below, was first shown to the general public on June 24, 2002. A year later, mass production of this model began. As of today, according to the authoritative American military analytical agency Forecast International, it is one of the best battle tanks on the planet and surpasses the German Leopard and the Russian T-90 in its main characteristics. The word "Merkava" translated into our language means a war chariot.

Model Creator

Merkava-4, like its three previous modifications, was born thanks to the legendary Israeli tank general Israel Tal. Throughout his career, he fought in various units and led officer courses. Analyzing the battles during the Six Day War and the Sinai campaign, in which he was directly involved, he realized that not a single tank in service with his country met the requirements of the Israeli tank doctrine. In this regard, Tal came to the conclusion that it was necessary to build a fundamentally new combat vehicle. The main requirement for it was to fully comply with the wishes and military experience of Israeli tankers, as well as the theater of operations. As a result, later he managed to translate his plan into reality. In addition, he became the founder of the IDF - the armored forces, which, under the leadership of this man, achieved the most significant victories in all the wars in which Israel took part. Not surprisingly, the portrait of General Tal is displayed at the Center for American Tank Forces (Hall of the Great Tank Commanders) at Fort Knox (USA).

Design

The history of the Merkava-4 tank began with a modification of the Merkava-1. Initially, only 35 specialists took part in the creation of the project. Thanks to his great authority, General Tal was able to minimize all sorts of bureaucratic nuances. When developing the machine, special attention was paid not so much to maneuverability and firepower as to providing the most possible protection for the crew. As planned, the life of the soldiers was supposed to be preserved even with the complete incapacitation of the tank. Since, according to statistics, the main cause of death of personnel was the detonation of ammunition, crew members and ammunition had to be reliably covered. In August 1970, the final draft of the Merakva-1 tank was approved, after which mass production of the model began.

Perfection

In each new generation of Merkava, Israeli engineers embodied the latest ideas in world tank building. In particular, over time, the hull began to be made in a single casting, and the armor was mounted on bolted joints specially designed for this. The latest version of the machine is equipped with a fully computerized control system. It was developed using the technologies of Israeli designers and has no analogues in the whole world. It should be noted that the principle of active armor for the first time on the planet was embodied on this model. Four generations have already rolled off the assembly lines. The Merkava-4 tank, whose characteristics are described in more detail below, was adopted by the Israeli army after a series of tests in 2004.

Layout: a fundamental difference from analogues

The layout of the machine is fundamentally different from all American and European analogues built according to the classical scheme. In its front part there is a management compartment, in the center - a combat compartment, and behind - a motor-transmission section. The engine of the Merkava-4 model is located in front, thereby playing the role of additional protection for the crew members, because it is the frontal part that takes on most of the shells.

Tower

The vehicle received an updated turret equipped with completely new armor modules on all sides (forehead, sides and roof). In this regard, the designers had to make the commander's hatch more massive and provide it with an electronic mechanism for opening and closing. The loader's hatch has been removed altogether. In connection with this design, the tower is distinguished by stepped outlines. A machine gun is installed on its right side, from which the crew commander can conduct remote fire in all 360 degrees. On top are cassettes of smoke grenade launchers.

A gun

The Israeli Merkava-4 tank is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun. Thanks to a number of improvements, it is now able to withstand increased pressure, which allows the use of powerful high-explosive fragmentation projectiles here. Their peculiarity lies in the fact that already in the charging gun of the barrel, programming takes place depending on the required task. The efficiency of shooting is significantly increased by the integral heat-insulating casing, which, among other things, reduces barrel wear. A machine gun (7.62 mm) is paired with a cannon. The standard is a 60-mm mortar of a new design.

Behind the armored partition there is a semi-automatic cannon loader with an electric drum for ten shots, which it automatically transfers to the loading tanker on its own. The remaining 38 shells are packed in a protective container, which helps prevent an explosion inside the hull or turret of the Merkava-4 tank.

The fire control system boasts the ability to auto-track the target. This includes improved television and thermal imaging channels. The crew commander and gunner have independent stabilization sights.

Engine and transmission

Now a few words about the engine installed on the Israeli Merkava-4 tank. The characteristics of the power plant that is used here are significantly different from the motors of other such machines. Engine power is 1500 horsepower. The designers have improved the mass-dimensional parameters of the unit, power parameters, as well as fuel efficiency. The developers improved the turbocharging system, increased the intensity of oil and liquid cooling of the pistons. In the power supply system, individual fuel pumps with controlled fuel supply are used. The motor functions smoothly in conditions of any banks. This was achieved largely thanks to the use of a new design oil pan and an additional flat oil tank in the car. The engine is controlled by a computer, which provides the driver with all the necessary information through the monitor. It is impossible not to note the five-speed automatic, hydromechanical transmission of the model with a hydrostatic rotary mechanism. It is supplied by the German company Renk.

Active protection

The real pride of Israeli engineers is the active protection system of the Merkava-4 tank, the characteristics of which many world experts after the appearance of the model called a revolution in the protection of armored vehicles. This is not surprising, because the machine is able to detect, track and destroy most modern anti-tank missiles at a considerable distance without causing any damage to itself. This system is produced by two Israeli companies and is called Trophy. In fairness, it should be noted that something similar was used in Soviet tanks in the eighties of the last century. Some sources claim that "Trophy" is an improved version of those systems.

Other features and systems

The mass of the Merkava-4 model is 65 tons. The dimensions of the machine in length, width and height, respectively, are 7970x3720x2660 mm. The crew includes four people. The tank is capable of speeds of 65 km / h, and a full tank will last him about 500 kilometers.

In order to prevent the defeat of the crew commander during the hostilities, the developers provided a special turret for him inside. Four video cameras are installed on the body, which display the image on the driver's screen, thereby helping him in driving. Excellent visibility at the same time is provided both in daylight and in the dark. The Merkava-4 tank, among other things, is equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system. The tower has chains with balls that serve as protection for its lower part from RPG grenades. In order to facilitate the process of maneuvering in narrow places for the driver, marker pins are mounted on the body.

Completion

Models from the Merkava series have proven themselves excellently during the Israeli military operation in Lebanon. Then only five tanks were irretrievably lost, and almost all damaged vehicles returned to service after repairs. This is another proof of their high efficiency. The latest generation of the model is able to perfectly cope with the missile threat. In conclusion, one cannot help but focus on the fact that the concept of round-the-clock use of the tank is embodied here, for which there is a place to accommodate two crews, one of which can rest while the other is working.

Despite its small size, the State of Israel is one of the most significant countries. This is true of both the European-Middle Eastern and global arenas. Founded in 1948, it was forced from birth to fight for independence and the right to exist. Of course, it is impossible to fight without new and modern weapons.

One of the main developments of the Israeli army, the IDF, is the Merkava tank. Created, in fact, in a hurry, in the face of a constantly impending war, this device has become one of the best examples of armored vehicles of the 20th century, and continues to hold its positions in the 21st century.

Creation of the Merkava

Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the self-defense forces have made purchases of equipment from abroad, mainly in Britain and the United States. At first, these were samples left over from the Second World War. Then the IDF began to receive the latest models of the Chieftain tanks at that time. The difficult international situation led to the fact that in 1970 Britain refused to supply Israel with new equipment.

In principle, the Israeli generals were ready for such a development of events. The unfolding work on creating his own model of the tank was headed by Israel Tal.

At the time of the events described, the Talik served in the Jewish Legion of the British Army during the Second World War, and also participated in the Six Day War. A brilliant theorist, it was he who created the tactics and strategy for using the armored forces of the IDF, and also coordinated the creation of an "ideal" tank for operations in the Palestinian climate.

The project was named "Merkava", which translates as "chariot". It is important to know that the name has a religious background. In the sacred Jewish texts, Merkava is the chariot of God, the throne on which the Almighty moves in the book of the prophet Ezekiel. A pretentious name for a tank, in the design of which one of the best tankers in history put his soul into it.

When designing the model, Tal was based on the general strategy of the Israel Defense Forces.

It implied the realization of the enemy's total superiority in manpower and equipment, the impossibility of a strategic or tactical retreat, as well as waging a war of attrition. All the peculiarities of the climate of Palestine and the Middle East, where the tanks had to show themselves, were also taken into account.

The machine had to meet several combat parameters. First and foremost, the new tank was to have a lowered silhouette and a small turret. An analysis of the fighting showed that most of the hits fell on the turret. Penetration of the armor meant most of the death or serious injury to the crew.

Neither Tal nor anyone else wanted to risk the tankers, so the requirements were taken into account. Another important point is long-range shooting. The Israelis were supposed to knock out enemy tanks as early as possible, on the way to defensive positions. Hence the special attention to the gun and to the training of the gunner.

December 1974 was marked by the first serious army testing of prototypes. In 1979, the IDF received the first batch of serial tanks put into service.

The design of the Merkava

Features of both the climate and the small size of Israel made it possible to make a tank unique in its characteristics. The main difference was the location in the bow of the engine and transmission.

Such an unusual layout for a tank made it possible to protect the crew and gave free space in the stern.

It could be used for the safe transport of infantry or supplies. But this arrangement also has its downsides. Among them, the preponderance and significant fluctuations due to the shift in the center of gravity, as well as hot ascending air flows from the engine, knocking down sights, stand out.

The crew consists of four people. The driver is located in the building. His place is made in a reclining position, a revolutionary solution, one of the first to reduce the silhouette of the car.

There are also disadvantages, the location of the transmission and engine moved the driver far to the left, reducing the field of view. The fighter enters his place either through the upper hatch in the armored hull, or together with the rest of the crew through the stern and warhead. The three remaining tankers are sitting in the combat unit, the gunner to the right of the gun, the commander behind him, and the loader to the left. All crew members are located as low as possible in the hull, so that in the event of a hit and penetration of the armor, there are more chances to survive.

The turret of the tank has a wedge-shaped shape to increase the likelihood of a ricochet from an enemy shot. It has a movable gun (which differs depending on the modification of the tank), as well as a heavy machine gun and a pair of standard single machine guns (the installation scheme depends on the modification). The tower, as well as the hull, is of a welded type.

One of the visiting cards of the tower is suspended metal weights on chains. They are necessary to prevent grenades, cumulative projectiles and other potentially dangerous items from getting into the gap between the hull and the turret. Another feature of the tank is a large mass by modern standards. Since the transport of tanks is not a particular problem, due to the small size of the country, the engineers were essentially given carte blanche for any changes in mass that did not interfere with the power plant.

The machine uses a diesel engine of American design AVDS-1790-5A, which develops power up to 900 hp due to turbocharging.

The production of power plants is carried out in the United States. The transmission is also American, but adapted to the specifics of both the climate and the tactics of using armored personnel carriers.

Running independent type, based on the legendary design of John Christie. On each side of the Israeli tank "Merkava" are six rubber-coated rollers and five supporting rollers. The engineers abandoned the torsion bar suspension, which made it possible to strengthen the armor of the bottom. Undermining a mine to the crew of the Merkava is terrible only by the need to change the tracks. The tracks themselves have 110 tracks, 640 mm wide.

The armament of the first models was a licensed American 105-mm M68 cannon, coaxial with a machine gun. The combat packing included 62 shots, high-explosive, armor-piercing, sub-caliber shells. On later models, a 120 mm MG251 smoothbore gun was installed, and then a more advanced MG253. Additional weapons can be considered not only, but even a 60-mm mortar welded onto the tower.

Tank production is 28% concentrated abroad, and these are vital engines and some other systems. The rest is produced and repaired in Israel, including imported parts.

Tank modifications

The development and improvement of the combat vehicle is ongoing to this day. Each modification has hundreds of minor improvements, prompted by daily service and participation in hostilities. The main modifications of the machine:

• Mk.1, the first tank in the series, which has many "childhood diseases", tested during the Lebanese war;
• Mk.2, with enhanced armor protection and power plant;
• Mk.3, which received modular armor;
• Mk.4, the best main tank according to many military agencies, however, has many drawbacks, such as a high hull, problems with aiming and firing on the move. Numerous combat clashes forced to strengthen the protection systems of the car, as well as change the brand of the engine, which seriously increased driving performance.

The development of a new "tank of the future" is ongoing. Whether this will be another modification of the Merkava or a fundamentally new combat vehicle is unknown.

The Israeli government and military know how to keep secrets, so little is known about the Mk.5 yet.

Comparison with analogues

As you know, the characteristics of a tank look best when compared with those of a potential enemy. This table provides a summary of the most common main tanks and their modifications.

	Merkava (Israel)	T-90 (Russia)	Abrams (USA)	"Leopard 2" (Germany)
Weight, t	70	46,5	54,4…63,1	50,5…63
Armor thickness, mm	800	750	750-950	windshield 700
gun	120mm MG253	125 mm 2A46M-5	120 mm M256	Rheinmetall Rh-120mm
Speed, km/h	60	65-70	66-72	68-72
Power reserve, km	500	550…650	440…480	500…550
Number of units, pcs	1970	Over 2000	Over 10000	3264

As can be seen from the table, the Merkava has low running characteristics, but its strength lies elsewhere.

The location of the power plant seriously increases the armor and safety of the crew in case of hit by enemy anti-tank weapons. The development of active and dynamic armor systems for tanks is also not taken into account. The moment of combat use of machines is also important. The crews of Israeli tanks do not have much experience, which cannot be said about, for example, German tankers.

Combat service of tanks "Merkava"

Tal's first-born children were baptized by fire in the 1982 Lebanon War. Then, however, new developments failed to measure their strength with the Soviet T-72s, which were in service with the Syrian army. Perhaps it is for the best, since the first machines had a huge number of shortcomings associated with the chassis and engines.

Raised questions and booking, and firepower.

This was the reason for the refinement and commissioning of subsequent modifications of the machine. There are many legends about this war, each side talks about hundreds of destroyed enemy tanks, so you simply cannot believe everything.

Since then, tanks have appeared whenever the State of Israel is threatened with war. Tanks were widely used during the second Lebanese war. Then the Israeli cars received significant damage, but Tal's idea turned out to be correct. Most of the crew members survived and were able to continue their service.

The combat effectiveness of the vehicles during the clash with the Palestinians causes controversy. Officially, losses in this war are reduced to light damage. However, the Palestinians claim that the IDF data is seriously underestimated to create an aura of Merkava's invincibility.

Conclusion

Among modern armored vehicles, the Israeli Merkava tank looks like one of the best examples. This has been repeatedly noted by numerous military reviews and experts.

It is important to remember that the tank was designed to fulfill specific goals and objectives in a specific area.

No matter how wonderful a tank is in Palestine, its combat use in the conditional Kaluga region or somewhere on the Oder will raise many questions and problems. The tank has undeniable advantages, but it also has enough disadvantages. The fact of the absence of this model on the international arms market speaks eloquently.

The Israelis consider their country to be a great tank power, and they see the Merkava tank, built at their own tank factories, as the best main battle tank in the world. Both statements are justified - indeed, the tank fleet of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF, in Hebrew - “Tsva hagana le Israel”, abbreviated as IDF), the most combat-ready and productive army in the Middle East, has up to 3 thousand tanks, and specially designed for the Middle Eastern theater of operations, the Merkava tank remains one of the most advanced among those currently in operation.

Interestingly, the British contributed in many ways to the early appearance of the Merkava tank. “The Englishwoman crap” - the catchwords attributed to the famous Russian commander Alexander Suvorov and used to define the various “intrigues” of Great Britain are quite consistent with this case. But more on that below.

I must say that the Israeli tank forces did not always have equipment that was at the forefront of technical development. For much of its history, the Israel Defense Forces have had to make do with second-hand tanks - cast-offs from the armies of other countries. So, in the 1950s. The basis of the IDF tank fleet was hopelessly outdated veterans of the Second World War - medium American Sherman tanks, however, there were also a number of more modern French light tanks AMX-13.

The second prototype of the tank "Merkava" in the museum in Latrun

I must say that most Israeli Shermans were bought at the price of scrap metal (which, in fact, they were at that time), and after delivery to Israel they had to be literally restored again. At the same time, much more modern armored vehicles, mostly of Soviet production, were being put into service with Israel's Arab opponents. Under these conditions, the Israeli military had to become specialists in modernizing their combat vehicles and adapting them to local conditions.

For example, by the mid-1960s The forces of the artillery depots of the IDF carried out a deep modernization of the Sherman tanks. These old men received a new engine (diesel Cummings 460 hp) and suspension, but most importantly - a modified version of the powerful French 105-mm tank gun CN 105 Fl (developed for the French AMX-30 tank). This gun gave Israeli tanks a real chance to successfully fight even with the new Soviet T-55 tanks that entered service with the Egyptian and Syrian armies.

Emblem of the Israeli Armored Forces

However, there were limits beyond which obsolete tanks could no longer be effectively upgraded. The IDF desperately needed more modern armored vehicles. In the early 1960s the possibility was considered to establish the production of the hull and turret of a tank of its own design in Israel itself, and to purchase the remaining components necessary for assembly abroad. However, at the time, the proposal was considered too ambitious and costly. Moreover, the "suppliers" managed to get several hundred relatively modern American M48 tanks, as well as older, but reliable British "Centurions" for the IDF.

French light tank AMX-13

With this in mind, Israel, having so far abandoned the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bproducing its own tank, began searching for a suitable vehicle that could be produced under license. Some sources claim that the first candidate for such licensed production was the French AMX-30 tank. Indeed, the Israelis had extensive military contracts with France, and General Israel Tal, then commander of the IDF armored forces, was visiting France to familiarize himself with the new AMX-30. However, there were no preliminary negotiations with France for the joint production of the AMX-30, and the IDF never intended to acquire it.

British "Centurion" modernized in Israel - in this case it is "Shot Kal Aleph"

In fact, the main efforts were focused on negotiations with the UK to acquire a license for the production of the latest British tank "Chieftain". At the beginning of 1966, a preliminary agreement was reached - the British were ready to establish a joint production of the tank, provided that the IDF continued to purchase obsolete and no longer needed "Centurions" from the arsenals of the British army. Israel was ready to go for it.

M51 - a deep modernization of the Sherman tank, equipped with a French 105-mm tank gun CN 105 Fl

In November 1966, two Israeli delegations were already working in the UK - tank troops and weapons, whose task was to comprehensively study the Chieftain. At the beginning of the next 1967, two British tanks were delivered to Israel, where they were subjected to extensive tests. Having driven these "Chieftains" to the full development of the motor resource, they were sent back, receiving two new tanks in return. In total, the tests lasted two and a half years, and according to their results, the IDF put forward its proposals for changing the design of the tank, which would make it more appropriate for local conditions.

American tank M48, modernized in Israel ("Magach 3") with a 105-mm gun

In October 1968, the Israeli government officially approached the UK with a proposal to purchase the Chieftain tank. However, not everything was so simple. After the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Israel came under international sanctions, which included an arms embargo. Against this background, a struggle broke out in the British government between supporters and opponents of the sale of tanks to Israel. The military, represented by the Ministry of Defense, were naturally in favor, while the diplomats, represented by the Foreign Ministry, were against it. In the end, in December 1969, the politicians won, and the UK officially refused Israel - "the Englishwoman screwed up." In the same month, two Chieftain tanks, which were still being tested in Israel, were sent back.

Tank "Chieftain"

The Merkava development team (on the far right, General Tal) during testing

Scheme of the device of the tank "Merkava" Mk 1. For the tank, the layout with the front engine was chosen. The main part of the ammunition was stored in the aft compartment

Under the circumstances, Israel had no choice but to return to the idea of ​​​​producing its own tank. Although this was associated with large financial costs and technical risk, it promised independence from external arms supplies. Already on June 6, 1970, the results of an economic study on the feasibility of developing and producing their own tank were sent to the Israeli Ministries of Defense and Finance. And after just a month and a half, without the usual delays, the Israeli tank program was given the go-ahead.

The program was called the “Merkava Program” (“Tokhnit Merkava”), and later the tank itself became known as the “Merkava”. The word "Merkava" was translated into Russian in different ways. For example, in some sources the phrase "war chariot" or "divine chariot" was used. However, in Hebrew, "Merkava" simply means "chariot", and not a "war chariot", but rather a "carriage", which was used by the Egyptian pharaoh, but by no means a god. The tank was also called "Chariot", which is due to the effect of double translation - Chariot in English means "chariot". In addition, it may be mentioned that in the 1970s there was a version that the new tank being developed in Israel would be called the Sabra. Even when it became known that the name of the new tank was the Merkava, some sources claimed that two tanks were being developed in parallel in Israel - the 60-ton Merkava and the 40-ton Sabra.

General Israel Tal was appointed head of the Merkava program, who led the project until the entry into service of the latest (and according to recent reports, possibly the last) modification of the tank, the Merkava Mk4. It was Tal, an outstanding tank commander and a talented self-taught engineer, that the Merkava owes its most innovative features, in particular its unusual configuration.

The design of the new tank was carried out by specialists from the research center at the state association IMI (Israel Military Industry). Colonel Israel Tilan, who held this post until 1975, was appointed chief engineer of the project. Despite the fact that initially only 35 people took part in the work, the design was carried out at a very high pace. All bureaucratic delays were minimized largely thanks to the authority of Tal himself and the closest cooperation between the military and designers.

When shaping the look of the future tank, General Tal insisted that it should provide an unprecedented level of crew protection. The population of Israel is not so large, so society is extremely sensitive to losses on the battlefield. In addition, the IDF was convinced that if damaged tanks can be restored fairly quickly, then it takes much more time to provide them with new trained crews. Naturally, the protection of the crew was given top priority.

As part of the program, a thorough study of armored vehicles damaged during the battles (both own and enemy) was undertaken. They determined - the type of projectile that hit the tank, the place of impact and the damage inflicted. As a result, it was determined that most often tanks were hit in the frontal area, within a sector of 60 °. Of these hits, about 45% were in the tower. In general, this information was not something unexpected, even during the Second World War, when studying the combat damage received by Soviet tanks during the Battle of Kursk, it was found that not all parts of the turret and tank hull were hit with the same degree of probability. It was the frontal elements that were hit in droves, while the number of hits on the turret was the largest. By the way, on the basis of these statistics, the differential armor of the Soviet heavy tank IS-3 was developed.

Tank shells. From left to right - high-explosive, cumulative, sub-caliber

As for the shells themselves, the Arab side widely used various cumulative ammunition (tank gun shells, ATGMs, RPG grenades). Their warhead was a thin-walled conical funnel (usually made of copper) pressed into an explosive mass (BB) and facing forward with a blunt end. When the explosive was detonated, the metal of the funnel collapsed and stretched along its axis in the form of a cumulative jet. Such a jet of metal with a diameter of 3-4 mm acquired a speed of up to 10 km / s and exerted pressure on the tank's armor of the order of 1 million atmospheres. As a result, a hole was formed in the armor with edges that had a melted appearance (at one time, this was precisely what led to the incorrect definition of cumulative shells as armor-burning ones).

But even after overcoming the armor barrier, the residual elements of the cumulative jet retained enough energy to cause the destruction of equipment, the detonation of ammunition, or the defeat of people in the armored space. The recently appeared armor-piercing sub-caliber feathered shells (BPS) also posed a mortal danger. Their long arrow-shaped core, made of heavy metals (tungsten, depleted uranium), leaving the barrel of a tank gun at a speed of up to 1800 m / s, pierced the armor due to the enormous kinetic energy.

Scheme of protection of the front of the case. In the Merkava, diesel fuel was placed between the armor plates of the hull. Similar tanks integrated into armor protection, with a fuel layer thickness of 7 cm, when hit by a cumulative projectile, were equivalent to 1 cm of rolled armor

The use of new ammunition led to a situation where "the projectile defeated the armor." The armor penetration of cumulative and sub-caliber projectiles exceeded the thickness of armor protection from homogeneous rolled armor of most tanks, and further increase in the thickness of the armor was impossible for practical reasons related to its weight and volume. Consequently, it was necessary either to use new materials to protect tanks, which would be more effective than uniform rolled armor, or to look for new ways to organize protection.

In response to this challenge, in the West and in the USSR, “combined armor” was developed, consisting of alternating layers of various materials (steel, ceramics), which protected well from cumulative ammunition, but did not completely save from BPS. Unfortunately, at the time of the design of the Merkava tank, the secret of such armor was not available to Israeli developers, and they had to look for other ways to provide reliable protection.

Special fire stowage for shots in the stern of the Merkava (view from the turret)

The layout of the crew and troops

Tower "Merkava" wedge-shaped in front, had a minimum height and cross section

Wooden model of the Merkava, stored in the Batey A-Osef Museum (view from the stern, the tower is turned back)

In the design of the Merkava, emphasis was placed on shielding the habitable compartment, and not the overall level of protection of the tank itself. In essence, all the main components and assemblies, such as transmission, suspension, fuel tanks, batteries, were designed and located in such a way as to provide additional protection to the fighting compartment. In the complex, all these nodes formed an additional protective shell integrated into the design of the tank - they had to "sacrifice themselves", preventing the projectile from entering the habitable compartment.

So, in the Merkava, the engine, along with the transmission, was located in front (unlike the classic tank layout - with the engine in the back and the fighting compartment in front), so that it would make an additional contribution to protection if the thick frontal armor was nevertheless pierced by a projectile. As a result of a shell hit, the Merkava will most likely lose mobility, but the tank crew will avoid injury and mutilation.

View of the fighting compartment through the open aft hatch (levers to open its doors are visible on the sides)

Due to the fact that the engine was located in front, it was possible to organize a rectangular hatch in the rear of the hull with two doors that fold up and down. The hatch makes it easier for the crew to leave the vehicle, and also makes it easier to rescue the wounded crew members - their evacuation through the back door is a much simpler task than pulling them up through the narrow round hatches, as on other tanks.

The massive blocks of the Merkava spring suspension provided additional protection to the crew compartment.

The chosen layout made it possible to significantly increase the usable volume in the rear of the hull, which was used to store ammunition. The Merkava has much more of it than is generally accepted, and it is easier to replenish it (through a large rear hatch). If necessary, shells and equipment from the rear of the tank can be removed. The vacated space is used to evacuate the injured crews of wrecked tanks or even to transport an infantry assault group of four or five people in conditions of intense enemy fire. Thus, the Merkava is theoretically capable of performing the functions of not only a tank, but also highly protected armored personnel carriers / infantry fighting vehicles.

Place gunner "Merkava", visible sight and elements of the fire control system

Of course, the unconventional layout of the Merkava also had its drawbacks. The distribution of the weight of the units with this arrangement required the tank hull to be extremely rigid, and this made the vehicle heavier. In addition, due to the forward position of the power plant, the tank gun had to be shifted to the stern, as a result, the angle of inclination of the gun forward at the Merkava was only - 8.5 ° (for typical Western tanks, about - 10 °). Given the fact that the favorite positions of the IDF tankers were on the slopes of the hills, this limited the possibility of firing. Accurate aiming was also complicated by the haze of heated air rising above the running engine. Thermal radiation from it also facilitated the detection and capture of the tank by infrared homing ATGMs.

Novelties in the organization of the protection of the Merkava were not limited to the use of various units in the wooden model of the upper frontal part of the Merkava installed on the jeep with observation devices Prototype with a wooden model of the native tower installed as an additional shield. Experiments conducted by the developers have shown that, with the appropriate design, even fuel tanks are no longer just a potential source of fire hazard that needs protection, but they themselves begin to contribute to security.

In the Merkava, diesel fuel was placed between the armor plates of the sides and bottom of the hull. So, for example, the V-shaped bottom of the hull (this shape was chosen to reduce the effectiveness of anti-tank mines) was made of external and internal armor plates, fuel was poured into the space between them. Such tanks integrated into armor protection, with a fuel layer thickness of 7 cm, when hit by a cumulative projectile, were equivalent to 1 cm of rolled armor, however, such fuel cells were less effective against sub-caliber projectiles.

To reduce the likelihood of ammunition detonation, the shots for the gun were not placed in the turret, but were lowered below its shoulder strap, into the hull. In addition, the shots were placed in special lockable fire boxes (six boxes held two shots each and eleven stores four). Only six shots of the first stage were next to the loader. Thus, the standard Merkava ammunition load was 62 rounds, but, as already mentioned, it could be increased to 85 rounds when using the aft compartment in the area of ​​​​the evacuation hatch.

A wooden model of the future Merkava, on which the designers checked the layout of units and assemblies

Running mock-up on the extended body of the Centurion, on which the placement of the engine, the integration of the main systems, etc. were checked.

Prototype with installed wooden mock-up of native tower

The first prototype of the Merkava (Ts-820001, or simply "0001") left the assembly shop without waiting for its native turret. For weight compensation, a turret from the M48 tank was installed on it

One of the first prototypes of the Merkava under test. The spring suspension with a large dynamic roller stroke is clearly visible.

Israel is considered a great tank power: the IDF tank fleet is one of the largest in the world - it is armed with from 4 to 5 thousand tanks, the Merkava tank built at Israeli tank factories, according to many experts, is the best main battle tank in the world, Israeli tankers have invaluable combat experience gained in numerous wars and armed conflicts.

The Israeli combat example had a significant impact on the development of the strategy and tactics of the armored forces: Israeli tank generals Israel Tal and Moshe Peled are represented in the hall of the Great Tank Commanders at the General Patton Center of the US Armored Forces, along with German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and American General George Patton .

Emblem of the Israeli Armored Forces (Heil HaShiryon)

Creation of tank troops

Israeli armored forces, the main striking force of the IDF ground forces, were born in the battles of the War of Independence. In February 1948, the Armored Service was created under the command of Yitzhak Sade, but there were no tanks themselves yet - the main tank manufacturers - the USA, Great Britain and France, introduced a ban on the sale of weapons to the Jewish state.

Already during the battles of the War of Independence, 10 Hotchkiss H-39 tanks were acquired, which, together with the Sherman M4 tank stolen from the British and two Cromwell tanks, entered service with the first tank unit - the 82nd tank battalion. The battalion commander was a former Major of the Polish Army Felix Beatus, who had gone from Stalingrad to Berlin. The crews of the battalion included tankers - Jewish volunteers from around the world who fought against the Nazis in the ranks of the British Army and the Polish Army.

Israeli tank Sherman M4. War for independence. 1948

Among them were several former tank officers of the Red Army. They were called "suicide bombers" - they deserted from the Soviet occupation troops in Germany and reached Eretz Israel in different ways. In the USSR, they were sentenced to death in absentia for "treason." They went through deadly dangers to fight for the Jewish state.

Already by the middle of 1948, the 7th and 8th tank brigades were formed, which took part in the battles with the Arab aggressors.

Israeli tank general Moshe Peled. Portrait from the gallery "Great tank commanders" in

In those years, the doctrine of tank warfare, adopted by the IDF, began to take shape. It is based on the following principles:
The first one is "Totality of the tank". This means that tank formations, due to mobility, armor and firepower, are capable of independently solving the main tasks of a land war.
The second one is the Armored Fist as the main tank maneuver, which consists in introducing large tank forces into the breakthrough, capable of conducting an offensive at high speed, destroying enemy forces in its path.
The main combat unit of the Israeli armored forces is the tank brigade. In the course of hostilities, tank divisions and corps are formed from tank brigades.

Israeli tank general Yisrael Tal. Portrait from the gallery "Great tank commanders" in
US Armored Forces Center named after General Patton

An analysis of tank battles showed a high percentage of casualties among tank commanders. This is due to the requirements of a kind of code of command honor adopted in the Israeli army:
"Follow me!" - the main team in the IDF, the commander is obliged to lead his subordinates by personal example.
Tanks go into battle with open hatches - the commander, standing in the tank turret with the hatch opened, controls the actions of the crew. This significantly expands the view and allows you to fight with "open eyes", but the commander becomes the primary target for enemy fire.

The formation of tank troops

The first combat test of this doctrine took place during Operation Kadesh in 1956. In three days, the 7th and 27th tank brigades, interacting with infantry and parachute units, broke into the enemy defenses and, having passed the Sinai desert, reached the Suez Canal. During the fighting, up to 600 enemy armored vehicles were destroyed or captured, Israeli losses amounted to 30 tanks and armored personnel carriers.

Israeli tanks AMX-13. Operation Kadesh. 1956

The IDF tank fleet began to be replenished with modern military equipment. During the fighting, the AMX-13 tanks purchased in France showed themselves well - the first modern tanks that entered service with the IDF. In total, the IDF then received about 200 of these tanks.
In the early 60s, hundreds of Super-Sherman M-50 and M-51 tanks entered service with the IDF.

Israeli Super Sherman tanks

In the early 1960s, the US finally agreed to sell the M48 tanks, known in Israel as Magah. However, the Americans tried to hide this deal from their Arab friends. Therefore, the deal was made between Germany and the United States, with Israel formally purchasing these tanks from Germany. In total, as part of this deal, more than 200 M48 tanks entered service with the IDF.

Israeli tanks Magah M48.

Around the same time, several hundred British Centurion tanks entered service with the armored forces, which received the name Shot in Israel (translated from Hebrew - "whip")

Israeli tank Shot Centurion.

With this updated tank fleet, Israel was to fight fierce tank battles in
Six Day War 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

In 1964, General Israel Tal became the commander-in-chief of the tank troops. This most experienced tanker, based on combat experience, developed completely new tactics for tank warfare. Among them is the conduct of sniper fire from tank turret guns at long and ultra-long distances - up to 5-6 kilometers and even 10-11 kilometers. This immediately gave noticeable advantages in battle.

New tactics were tested in combat during the "Battle for Water" in 1964-1966. Then Syria tried to divert the water of the Jordan River, and thereby deprive Israel of water resources. The Syrians began to build a diversion channel, which Israel could not allow.
It was decided to destroy enemy earth-moving equipment, tanks and artillery batteries that were covering the construction by fire from tank guns.

To this end, the Israeli command staffed the units of the Sherman and Centurion tanks with trained crews, and General Tal personally took the place of the gunner in one of the tanks, and the commander of the 7th tank brigade, Colonel Shlomo Lahat, took the loader's place.

As a bait, the Israelis sent a tractor into no man's land. The Syrians immediately bought into the ruse and opened fire. The targets were immediately spotted. All selected targets at a distance of up to 6 kilometers were destroyed by Israeli tank sniper fire, and then tank fire was transferred to targets located at a distance of 11 kilometers.

Such tank fire strikes were carried out many times throughout the year. The Syrians suffered heavy losses and were forced to completely abandon their plans to divert water.

Six Day War. 1967

The Six Day War of 1967 was a true triumph for the Israeli tank forces. For the first time, Israeli tank formations operated simultaneously on three fronts. They were opposed by the many times superior forces of the five Arab states, but this did not save the Arabs from total defeat.

Six Day War 1967 Israeli tankers

On the southern front, the blow was delivered by the forces of three tank divisions of Generals Tal, Sharon and Ioffe. In the offensive operation, called the "March across the Sinai", Israeli tank formations, interacting with aviation, motorized infantry and paratroopers, made a lightning breakthrough of the enemy's defenses and moved through the desert, destroying the encircled groups of Arabs. On the northern front, the 36th Panzer Division of General Peled advanced along the difficult mountain paths, which, after three days of fierce fighting, reached the outskirts of Damascus. On the eastern front, Israeli troops drove Jordanian units out of Jerusalem and liberated ancient Jewish shrines from foreign invaders.

During the fighting, more than 1,200 enemy tanks were destroyed, thousands of armored vehicles, mostly Russian-made, were captured. Captured Russian tanks T-54/55 underwent major modernization at Israeli tank factories and entered service with the tank forces under the name "Tiran-4/5".

Captured Russian armored vehicles captured in the Six Day War at a parade in Jerusalem.

On September 9, 1969, an armored group consisting of 6 captured Russian T-55 tanks and three BTR-50 armored personnel carriers captured in the Six-Day War was secretly transported by landing craft to the Egyptian coast of the Suez Canal. The main goal was the destruction of the Russian air defense system, which interfered with the actions of Israeli aviation. During this brilliantly conceived and executed operation, called Raviv, Israeli tankers for 9 hours went through the rear of the enemy with a shaft of fire, ruthlessly destroying radar stations, positions of missile forces and artillery, headquarters, warehouses and army bases. Having successfully completed the raid without loss, the Israeli armored group returned safely to their base on landing craft.

Yom Kippur War. 1973

The most difficult test for Israel was the Yom Kippur War, which began on October 6, 1973, on the day of one of the most important Jewish holidays, when most of the military personnel were on vacation. Israel was suddenly attacked on all fronts by the vastly superior forces of the aggressors, including the armies of Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Morocco, Jordan, Libya, Algeria, Lebanon, Sudan, thousands of Russian "military advisers", Cuban and North Korean "volunteers". In the vastness from Sinai to the Golan Heights, one of the largest tank battles in the world military unfolded - up to six thousand tanks took part in it on both sides.

A particularly dangerous situation developed on the Golan Heights - there only 200 tanks of the 7th and 188th tank brigades opposed almost 1,400 Syrian tanks over a 40-kilometer stretch. Israeli tankers fought to the death, demonstrating mass heroism.

The names of the tank heroes who stopped the enemy entered the history of Israel. Among them are the platoon commander Lieutenant Zvi Gringold, the company commander Captain Meir Zamir, nicknamed "Tiger", the battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Kahalani.

Lieutenant (pictured already a captain) Zvi Gringold is a tanker who accomplished an unprecedented feat: during the battle, which lasted about a day, he destroyed up to 60 Russian tanks

The tankers fought to the last shell, from the tankers who survived the battle, who had just left the burning tanks, new crews were immediately formed, which again went into battle on repaired combat vehicles. Lieutenant Gringold went into battle three times in new vehicles. Being shell-shocked and wounded, he did not leave the battlefield and destroyed up to 60 Russian tanks. The Israeli tankers survived and won, the 210th Panzer Division, under the command of General Dan Laner, arrived in time to defeat the enemy.

Israeli tanks Centurion. Yom Kippur War 1973 Sinai desert

Israeli tank Centurion. War Yom Kippur 1973. golan heights

During the fighting, the Iraqi tank corps, which was sent to help the Syrians, was also defeated. Israeli troops launched a counteroffensive and on October 14 were already in the suburbs of Damascus.

Destroyed and captured Russian armored vehicles - T-62 tanks. October 1973 golan heights

An equally fierce tank battle took place in the sands of Sinai, where the Arabs at first managed to push back parts of the 252nd Panzer Division of General Mendler. General Mendler died in battle, but stopped the further advance of the enemy. On October 7, the 162nd Panzer Division under the command of General Bren and the 143rd Panzer Division under the command of General Ariel Sharon entered the battle. During heavy tank battles, the main forces of the Arabs were destroyed.

Commander of the 162nd Panzer Division, General Avraham Adan (Bren)

On October 14, the largest oncoming battle of tank formations since the Second World War took place, "tanks against tanks", in which 260 enemy tanks were destroyed. Israeli tankers lost 20 of their combat vehicles.

On October 16, Israeli tank forces launched a counteroffensive. General Sharon's tankers broke through the front, set up a pontoon ferry across the Suez Canal, and Israeli tanks poured onto the African coast. In the ensuing battles, the Egyptian army was surrounded, all its reserves were destroyed, and a direct road was opened for an attack on Cairo.

Video of the 14th Armored Brigade fighting during the Yom Kippur War in Sinai


War Yom Kippur. October 1973

During the fierce tank battles of the Yom Kippur War, Israeli tank forces once again proved their superiority: more than 2,500 enemy tanks (T-62, T-55, T-54) and thousands of other armored vehicles were destroyed in the battles. However, a high price had to be paid for the victory - more than a thousand heroically fighting Israeli tankers died in the battles.

Merkava tank

One of the results of the past wars was the creation of our own tank, in which the requirements of Israeli tankers for a combat vehicle were most fully implemented and their combat experience was taken into account. Another reason that prompted the creation of the Israeli tank was the embargo on the supply of military equipment, introduced by foreign manufacturers every time a war broke out. This situation was intolerable, since a continuous stream of Russian weapons always went to the Arabs.

At the head of the Israeli tank project was General Israel Tal, a combat tank officer who had gone through all the wars. Under his leadership, in just a few years, the project of the first Israeli tank "Merkava-1" was created, which already in 1976 was put into mass production at Israeli tank factories. Such a pace of creation of the tank industry has not yet known the history of world tank building.

The commander of the paratrooper brigade, Colonel Rafael Eitan and the commander of the tank division, General Israel Tal. 1967 Six Day War

General Tal gave the new tank the name "Merkava", which means "war chariot" in Hebrew. This word came from the Tanakh, it is mentioned in the first chapter of the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel as a symbol of movement, power and a stable foundation.

Tank of the first generation Merkava Mk1

Tank of the second generation Merkava Mk2

Tank third generation Merkava Mk3

Tank fourth generation Merkava Mk4

The first Merkava tanks were equipped with a tank battalion commanded by the son of General Tal. The Merkava tank is recognized as the world's best tank for the Middle East theater of operations. Israeli designers were the first in the world to develop dynamic armor, the use of which greatly reduced the likelihood of a tank being hit by projectiles and guided missiles. Blocks of dynamic protection "Blazer" were installed on Merkava tanks, and on most of the "Centurions", M48 and M60, which remained in service with the IDF
.Now the fourth generation of Merkava tanks is being produced, and the Israeli tank industry has become one of the largest in the world - tens of thousands of engineers and workers work at more than 200 enterprises.

War in Lebanon. 1982

"Shlom a-Galil" (Peace in Galilee) - this is how the IDF General Staff called the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, which began on June 6, 1982. in response to attacks by Palestinian terrorists operating from Lebanese territory.

On the Lebanese border, Israel has concentrated 11 divisions, united in three army corps. Each corps was assigned its own area of ​​responsibility or direction: Lieutenant General Yekutiel Adam commanded the Western direction, Lieutenant General Uri Simkhoni commanded the Central direction, Lieutenant General Janusz Ben-Gal commanded the Eastern direction. In addition, two divisions were deployed in the Golan Heights, in the immediate vicinity of Damascus, under the command of Lieutenant General Moshe Bar Kochba. The armored divisions had 1,200 tanks. The overall command of the operation was entrusted to the Chief of the General Staff, Colonel General R. Eitan and the commander of the Northern Military District, Lieutenant General A. Drori.

Panzer divisions advanced in the coastal direction and already on June 10 entered the suburbs of the capital of Lebanon, Beirut. Later, Beirut was completely captured by Israeli troops. During the offensive, the largest amphibious landing operation was carried out, when tank and motorized infantry units were landed behind enemy lines from landing ships of the Israeli Navy.

Particularly fierce fighting unfolded in the eastern direction, where the strategically important highway Beirut-Damascus was the goal of the offensive. Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Israeli tanks were stopped about 30 kilometers from the Syrian capital Damascus.

Israeli tanks and infantry are fighting in Beirut. 1982

operation in Lebanon. 2006

During the operation in Lebanon in July-August 2006. The IDF was practicing completely new methods of warfare against terrorist groups.

The terrorist organization Hezbollah created a system in depth of fortified areas in southern Lebanon, which included many camouflaged underground bunkers connected by tens of kilometers of tunnels. and the equipment accumulated by the militants, according to their plans, should have been enough for many months of defense, during which they expected to inflict heavy losses on the Israeli army.

The terrorists paid special attention to the anti-tank war - they carried out continuous mining in the tank-hazardous areas, including the laying of dozens of land mines with hundreds of kilograms of TNT in each. The terrorists were armed with the most modern Russian anti-tank weapons: ATGMs Malyutka, Fagot, Konkurs, Metis-M, Kornet-E, as well as RPG-7 and RPG-29 Vampire grenade launchers.

Despite such an impressive training of militants, the IDF successfully completed all the assigned tasks with minimal losses and completely eliminated the terrorist presence in the border areas.

According to Israeli data, during the fighting, the militants carried out hundreds of launches of anti-tank missiles, but their effectiveness was quite low: there were only 22 cases of penetration of tank armor, damaged tanks returned to service after repairs during the fighting in Lebanon. Irretrievable losses amounted to only 5 tanks, of which two were blown up by land mines. During the fighting, 30 Israeli tankers were killed.

Israeli Armored Forces

All military experts note the high survivability of Israeli tanks, especially the most modern Merkava 4 tank.
The experience of the battles in Lebanon showed that despite the minimal losses of armored vehicles during the battles, the solution to the problem of the survivability of the main battle tank and its crew on a battlefield saturated with anti-tank weapons is the use of high-tech active protection equipment that ensures a change in the trajectory or the defeat of all types of incoming cumulative ammunition.

In Israel, the development of active protection for armored vehicles is carried out by the RAFAEL military-industrial concern, among the numerous projects, the Iron Fist and Trophy active protection complexes should be noted. Israel is leading in this direction - the Trophy active protection system has become the first in the world to be installed on mass-produced Merkava Mk4 tanks.

Israeli tank troops have come a long way and are rightfully considered one of the strongest in the world - according to open data, it is known that now the IDF is armed with up to 5,000 tanks. This is more than, for example, in countries such as the UK, France and Germany. But the main strength of the Israeli armored forces lies in people whose invaluable combat experience and courage are the guarantor of Israel's security.

At the first stage, the tanks went through only standardization - repair, replacement of machine guns and radio equipment, as well as a number of other minor changes (parts were partly produced independently, partly purchased in Finland). In total in 1968-69. according to official data, 146 tanks were standardized - 139 in 1968 and 7 in 1969 (previously, figures 147, 151 and 154 were found in non-official sources). Later (before the 1973 war), the original 100 mm gun was replaced by the 105 mm M68. According to some sources, a total of 250 T-54/55 tanks were re-equipped in Israel, including 1973 trophies.

Tanks T-54/55 participated in the War of Attrition 1969-1970. (including Operation Raviv on 09/09/69 - a raid of 6 T-55s and 3 BTR-50s with paratroopers along the African coast of the Gulf of Suez), then in the Yom Kippur War of 1973 (by the beginning of the war, they accounted for 7.6% of the Israeli tank fleet). The irretrievable losses of the T-54/55 amounted to 7 vehicles (it should be noted that the brigade equipped with these tanks entered the battle only on October 12).

During the 1973 war, Israel captured about 1,500 Arab tanks (including 200 T-62s), of which 550 were operational. Of these tanks, 400 were commissioned, incl. 72 T-62. In the mid 70s. T-54/55/62 accounted for up to 20% of the AOI tank fleet. The T-62 tanks went through the same standardization as the T-54/55, but retained the 115 mm smoothbore gun. In the late 70s - early 80s. T-54/55/62 received hinged dynamic protection, a heat-insulating casing for the gun barrel, etc. It is possible that after the 1973 war the T-54s were no longer used - more advanced T-55s were enough.

Israeli T-54/55s did not participate in the main battles of the 1982 war. However, after the start of the siege of West Beirut, a number of T-54/55s were transferred by sea to Christian areas to strengthen the blockade of Palestinian-controlled areas from the east. It is not clear whether they were immediately handed over to the Christian militias - Israel has been supplying them with such tanks since the early 80s. - or acted as part of the IDF units. In the 1982 war, Israel captured up to 400 Arab tanks (of which up to 200 were serviceable), mainly T-62s, as well as T-54/55s and others. Perhaps some of these vehicles were subsequently put into service.

Estimates of the number of these tanks in the AOI by the IISS reference book vary greatly in different years - 250-488 for the T-54/55, 70-150 for the T-62. Since 1999, it has been estimated at 200 T-54/55 (in storage) and 100 T-62. As for the JCSS, for the upgraded T-55s, he gave the figure 250 in 1983-1986, then their decommissioning began, ending in 1993. The number of T-62s was estimated at 150 in 1983-1991, 140 in 1992- 94, 70 in 1994-95, 50 since 1996 and still.

As for the re-export of T-54/55, then, as already mentioned, since the beginning of the 80s. they were supplied to the Lebanese Christian militias, as well as to the South Lebanese Army (SLA). For example, about 18 T-54s were delivered to the AJUL in 1987. Since the late 80s. AJUL constantly had about 30 T-54/55s. As early as 12/03/99, less than six months before the withdrawal of the IDF from the Security Zone in South Lebanon, the Bamakhane magazine reported Israel's intention to transfer 15 more such tanks to the SLA (although it was not reported whether the transfer took place). After the collapse of the SLA in May 2000, part of the tanks returned to Israel, part was destroyed (including the bombing of Israeli aircraft), and several hit Hezbollah.

In 1990, 30 T-55s were sold to Ethiopia, and in 1997-98. 15 (11 according to another source) T-55 - to Uruguay.

In the IDF, the T-54/55 tanks, and then the T-62, were called "Tyrant", and the word is not from the name of the island at the exit from the Gulf of Eilat in the Red Sea, but "cruel ruler" ...
Distinguished:
- "Tiran-4" - T-54;
- "Tiran-4Sh" - T-54 with a 105-mm gun;
- "Tiran-5" - T-55;
- "Tiran-5Sh" - T-55 with a 105-mm gun;
- "Tiran-6" - T-62.
Here "Sh" (the letter "shin" in Hebrew) - from the word "Sharir" ("Strong") - this is how the IDF called the 105-mm English gun (both the original L7 and its American version M68, as well as the version produced in Israel under license from IMI).

The Israeli company "Nimda" by 1984 upgraded the T-54/55/62 into the "T-54/55/62 series S" ("Samovar"). The above tanks sold to Uruguay were upgraded under this project. In the IDF, the name "Samovar" was never used.

The last message related to "Tiran" appeared at the end of 2005 ("Hadashot Bamahane", 12/30/2005). The article says that the IDF is changing the Tiran tanks in the units of the Southern Military District to the MAGs, and the old Tirans will be converted into heavy armored personnel carriers.
(Waronline, 2006)