Johnistan
10-10-2003, 03:54
The Merkava Mk B1
http://www.army-technology.com/projects/merkava/images/merkava5.jpg
The Merkava Mk 3 shown here. The Merkava Mk B1 has a smaller turret and a longer gun
Weight: 63 tons
Max Road Speed: 55 mph
Max Ground Speed: 40 mph
Description
The Merkava B1 is a departure from pervious Merkava designs in many ways. The first of being the placement of the crew in what was previously the infantry bay. Now all that resides in the turret is the auto-loader and the tank’s ammunition supply. This greatly increases crew survivability and reduces the tank’s profile. Most of the armor that was previous on the turret is now added to the front, sides, and back of the tank. This configuration makes the Merkava Mk B1 much more survivable and lethal on the battlefield. The tank is also equipped with a deep fording snorkel.
Self-Protection
The Merkava is protected by spaced layers of ceramic, Depleted Uranium, and other high strength, low weight materials. This armor configuration is very resistant against both HEAT and KE projectiles. The Merkava is also protected by MEXAS semi reactive armor. This armor is a combination of chemicals and ceramics at the center of the main armor package that gives the same protection from HEAT rounds as 4th Generation Chobham but is much less bulky and heavy.
The armor is modular and very easy to replace and repair. Changing of a specific module can be done by the crew in less then 10 minutes.
Also protection the Merkava is Kaktus-20 ERA. This ERA is specifically designed to defeat longs using heavy tungsten plates instead of steel. This ERA has shown to reduce the effectiveness of 135mm electro-thermal APFSDS rounds by 30%.
The APS on the Merkava is Arena-5. Arena-5 uses an instant scan radar to detect incoming ATGMs and destroy them by launching a grenade at them
RHA equivalents against long rods
Front: 2,100mm
Sides: 1,500mm
Back: 500mm
Top: 300mm
Weapons Systems
The Merkava Mk B1 is equipped with a 140mm JH-140 electro-thermal cannon. This cannon can fire APFSDS, HEAT, and HE-FRAG. The cannon has a fume extractor and thermal sleeve to reduce barrel wear and increase accuracy. Placed behind the engine is a tank of liquid nitrogen, when the barrel heats up it can be doused to cool it off. This helps reduce barrel wear and thermal signature. The barrel is fed by an auto-loader that hold 50 rounds or 25 missiles with a feed rate of 1 round per 5 seconds. The APFSDS rounds fired by the Merkava are longer then normal ones, increasing their penetrating power.
The Merkava Mk B1 is also capable of firing the Common Modular missile system. The CMM is a family of warheads, guidance packages, and booster engines that can be changed in the field in less then 10 minutes by the crew. There are double, triple, WP, smoke, and HE warheads. There are optical, laser, radar, and thermal guidance packages. There are booster engines that can give this missile an artillery profile, giving it a range of 12 miles.
Also mounted next to the main gun is a 25mm OCSW weapon and a 7.62mm machine gun. The turret holds 300 25mm rounds
Fire Control
The new fire control system, developed by Johnistani El Op includes very advanced features including the capability to acquire and lock onto moving targets, even airborne helicopters, while the tank itself is on the move.
Observation is provided by the EYES observation system. Mounted around the tank are 5 cameras with both thermal and night vision This provides a complete 360 degree view of the surrounding terrain. This greatly increases reaction time and crew situational awarenes.
JDI developed the Merkava's communications system, theJ-RAY battle system has the location of every other system using it and gives their location on a digital map. It allows instant radio or written comm. with them.
Propulsion
The Merkava Mk 10 is powered by a 1800 horsepower hydrogen turbine. The fuel cells operate by pulling the electrons off of an H2 molecule, splitting it into 2H+ molecules and 2 electrons. The electrons pass through the "load" (engines, weapons, avionics, etc.) creating current and powering the systems. Meanwhile, the 2H+ molecules pass from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. At the other "end", the electrons then recombine with the 2H+ molecules and Oxygen (from the air) and are release as water from the rear of the vehicle. The water can be stored in tanks for comsumption. The fuel cells also give off much less heat then normal combustion engines, making it less observable on the battlefield.
Cost: 7.5 million USD.
http://www.army-technology.com/projects/merkava/images/merkava5.jpg
The Merkava Mk 3 shown here. The Merkava Mk B1 has a smaller turret and a longer gun
Weight: 63 tons
Max Road Speed: 55 mph
Max Ground Speed: 40 mph
Description
The Merkava B1 is a departure from pervious Merkava designs in many ways. The first of being the placement of the crew in what was previously the infantry bay. Now all that resides in the turret is the auto-loader and the tank’s ammunition supply. This greatly increases crew survivability and reduces the tank’s profile. Most of the armor that was previous on the turret is now added to the front, sides, and back of the tank. This configuration makes the Merkava Mk B1 much more survivable and lethal on the battlefield. The tank is also equipped with a deep fording snorkel.
Self-Protection
The Merkava is protected by spaced layers of ceramic, Depleted Uranium, and other high strength, low weight materials. This armor configuration is very resistant against both HEAT and KE projectiles. The Merkava is also protected by MEXAS semi reactive armor. This armor is a combination of chemicals and ceramics at the center of the main armor package that gives the same protection from HEAT rounds as 4th Generation Chobham but is much less bulky and heavy.
The armor is modular and very easy to replace and repair. Changing of a specific module can be done by the crew in less then 10 minutes.
Also protection the Merkava is Kaktus-20 ERA. This ERA is specifically designed to defeat longs using heavy tungsten plates instead of steel. This ERA has shown to reduce the effectiveness of 135mm electro-thermal APFSDS rounds by 30%.
The APS on the Merkava is Arena-5. Arena-5 uses an instant scan radar to detect incoming ATGMs and destroy them by launching a grenade at them
RHA equivalents against long rods
Front: 2,100mm
Sides: 1,500mm
Back: 500mm
Top: 300mm
Weapons Systems
The Merkava Mk B1 is equipped with a 140mm JH-140 electro-thermal cannon. This cannon can fire APFSDS, HEAT, and HE-FRAG. The cannon has a fume extractor and thermal sleeve to reduce barrel wear and increase accuracy. Placed behind the engine is a tank of liquid nitrogen, when the barrel heats up it can be doused to cool it off. This helps reduce barrel wear and thermal signature. The barrel is fed by an auto-loader that hold 50 rounds or 25 missiles with a feed rate of 1 round per 5 seconds. The APFSDS rounds fired by the Merkava are longer then normal ones, increasing their penetrating power.
The Merkava Mk B1 is also capable of firing the Common Modular missile system. The CMM is a family of warheads, guidance packages, and booster engines that can be changed in the field in less then 10 minutes by the crew. There are double, triple, WP, smoke, and HE warheads. There are optical, laser, radar, and thermal guidance packages. There are booster engines that can give this missile an artillery profile, giving it a range of 12 miles.
Also mounted next to the main gun is a 25mm OCSW weapon and a 7.62mm machine gun. The turret holds 300 25mm rounds
Fire Control
The new fire control system, developed by Johnistani El Op includes very advanced features including the capability to acquire and lock onto moving targets, even airborne helicopters, while the tank itself is on the move.
Observation is provided by the EYES observation system. Mounted around the tank are 5 cameras with both thermal and night vision This provides a complete 360 degree view of the surrounding terrain. This greatly increases reaction time and crew situational awarenes.
JDI developed the Merkava's communications system, theJ-RAY battle system has the location of every other system using it and gives their location on a digital map. It allows instant radio or written comm. with them.
Propulsion
The Merkava Mk 10 is powered by a 1800 horsepower hydrogen turbine. The fuel cells operate by pulling the electrons off of an H2 molecule, splitting it into 2H+ molecules and 2 electrons. The electrons pass through the "load" (engines, weapons, avionics, etc.) creating current and powering the systems. Meanwhile, the 2H+ molecules pass from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. At the other "end", the electrons then recombine with the 2H+ molecules and Oxygen (from the air) and are release as water from the rear of the vehicle. The water can be stored in tanks for comsumption. The fuel cells also give off much less heat then normal combustion engines, making it less observable on the battlefield.
Cost: 7.5 million USD.