More of 1,500 dead in Israel and nearly 3,000 in Gaza They are proof that the war conflict in the Middle East is in one of its most critical moments.
Sources specialized in the matter speak of a possible land advance by the Israeli army towards the territory of Gaza. It is one of the most dangerous operations in this type of conflict, since Hamas forces are integrated into the urban territory with the civilian population of Palestine.
Furthermore, Hamas soldiers have a network of tunnels and protection mechanisms in Gaza, which gives them a certain advantage over Israeli forces.
To execute this advance, the Israeli army shows one of the most powerful arms in its arsenal: the famous Merkava tanks, which is really what we are here to talk about in this review.
With cutting-edge technology, these heavy machines of destruction stand out as the most powerful of any army in the world.
Merkava tanks
They have some of the best technology in the world. They were designed to be rugged and capable of operating in harsh environments, such as those found in the Middle East.
They are equipped with a variety of capabilities among which we can highlight:
- Composite shielding: The Merkava’s composite armor is designed to protect the tank from a wide range of threats, including missiles, rockets and artillery shells.
- Active Protection System (APS): The Merkava’s active protection system (APS) is designed to intercept missiles and rockets before they impact the tank.
- Fire control system: The Merkava’s fire control system is designed to allow the tank to accurately aim and fire at distant targets.
- Armament: Merkava tanks are equipped with a 120 mm main gun, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
🇮🇱 The large deployment of Israeli Merkava Mark lV main combat vehicles continues in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip as a ground invasion appears almost certain:pic.twitter.com/dCpZJRrAyt
— Emmanuel Rincón (@EmmaRincon) October 8, 2023
These powerful devices measure around 9 meters and weigh around 65 tons. They are almost 4 meters wide and 2.6 meters high, including the 120 mm main gun, with a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. They have capacity for four soldiers and reach speeds of 60 kilometers per hour.
They have been used in several wars and conflicts, including the Yom Kippur War, the 2006 Lebanon War, and the 2021 Gaza War.
In the current war in Gaza, Merkava tanks are being used to attack Palestinian militia positions. Tanks are equipped with high-explosive (HEAT) ammunition that can penetrate the armor of light armored vehicles and buildings.
Merkava tanks are a powerful force on the battlefield and can play a decisive role in the war in Gaza.