Tag Archives: armored

Technology

All About The Israel-Made Merkava Main Battle Tank

Before the Merkava was designed, Israel had no expertise in making massive armored autos. However, it did attempt to create a tank that match its particular wants as a small nation that wanted to maintain its troopers as protected as attainable. Because of this, the Merkava battle tank was designed with safety because the precedence. 

For this cause, the Merkava employed a singular design whereby its engine and transmission have been positioned in entrance of the automobile, performing as a defend for the tank’s inhabitants. Aside from this, it additionally saved ammo in protecting containers and had fast-reacting fireplace suppression mechanisms to keep away from explosions. However, these similar adjustments additionally launched distinctive points to the Merkava, particularly with dangers of frontal assaults damaging the engine shortly.

Despite this, the Merkava retained these traits throughout its varied iterations. Since 2004, the IDF started utilizing its fourth model, the Merkava IV, as its predominant battle tank. It may maintain eight infantry troopers, had an all-electric turret, and a safety suite that used electromagnetic risk identification. The Merkava IV is fitted with the Trophy Active Protection System (APS),  which supplies protection for threats whereas launching countermeasures.

According to Army Technology, the Merkava IV’s engine elements are manufactured by German firm MTU and USA-based General Dynamics Land Systems manufactures its GD 883 engine beneath licensed manufacturing. However, the Jerusalem Post claims that 90% of the elements within the Merkava IV are domestically produced.

Technology

The Story Of The US Army’s First-Ever Tank

When the U.S. entered the Great War in 1917, it had no armored autos. Gen. John Pershing requested a tank corps for frontline deployment, however you can not create a tank pressure if you do not have tanks, so the U.S. Army wanted a fleet. However, developing and building tanks takes time, extra so when you create them from scratch.

In a present of unity, the French and the British shared their tank designs with the Americans, with the British proposing the Mark VIII Heavy Tank. However, this tank took too lengthy to provide, with the manufacturing facility the place it was speculated to be assembled solely ending development by November 1918 — simply because the conflict ended.

On the opposite hand, the French determined to license the Renault FT Light Tank design to the U.S., hoping it might produce the tank in numbers Stateside. Because it was an already present design, it was meant to be a fast repair whereas the heavier Mark VIII was nonetheless being developed.

This licensed-built tank was named the M1917 Light Tank, with the US initially ordering 4,440 tanks to be constructed, however solely 950 had been produced. It was meant to be the primary mannequin for the U.S. Tank Corps — the first-ever American armored division. It was assembled by then-Capt. George Patton, who finally grew to become the commanding common of the first Armored Corps in World War II.

There had been a number of delays in constructing the M1917. For instance, American and French factories used completely different unit measurements. The former used imperial models, whereas the latter used metric. This meant that American manufacturing services weren’t suited to construct issues utilizing French plans.

Of the 4,400 ordered tanks, solely 64 had been accomplished by the point the conflict was declared over. Just 10 made it to France, and none noticed fight.