Posted on 02/12/2014 8:48:20 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Based in the Golan Heights, the 7th Armored Brigade has relied on Merkava Mark II tanks for more than 20 years.
An Armored Corps brigade based in the North is set to do away with its aged tanks and begin receiving the IDF’s last word in tank warfare, the Merkava Mark IV, equipped with the Trophy antitank- missile shield.
Based in the Golan Heights, the 7th Armored Brigade has relied on Merkava Mark II tanks for more than 20 years. Some of the older tanks were manufactured in the late 1970s, but have since undergone a series of technological upgrades.
The 7th Armored Brigade’s tank crews have begun training with the new, hi-tech replacement at the Shizafon Advanced Armor Training Base in the Negev. New recruits to the brigade are now sent to train in the Merkava Mark IV, while battalions that worked the Mark II until now will this year take a two-month “conversion” course, enabling them to switch platforms. The first battalion to undergo a conversion course will begin using the Mark IV in August, according to the army.
The Mark IV is one most technologically advanced and deadly tools available to the ground forces.
It is fitted with on-board computers that improve the accuracy of weapons systems, and can send and receive precise target locations, allowing for improved command and control communications, and better cooperation with other forces.
The Trophy defense system provides 360 degree-protection for the tank, and can intercept multiple incoming anti-tank missiles. It has proven itself on the Gaza border, destroying an anti-tank missile in 2012.
Maj. Javier Gochman, head of the Armored Corps Merkava section, said battalions that make the switch over will have “significantly enhanced” operational abilities. In the long run, the IDF plans to upgrade the tanks of all enlisted and reserve armored brigades.
bump in the night
Too bad the old ones won’t show up on the Sarco Inc website
Merkava Mark IV is an awesome tank!
Give it some time.
Sarco Inc ftw.
I wouldn’t mind owning an old BMP. I actually saw a Viet Nam era PBR for sale a few years back for about 10k. Damn near bought it. Would have made a hell of a weekend boat for running up and down the Mississippi.
Merkava Mark II
Merkava Mark IV
talk about standing one’s ground.. in the Vale of Tears.
Free Republic Treadhead Ping
Thanks for the ping Snippy !!
Grateful ...
I quit dealing with SARCO more than a dozen years ago.
They advertised a genuine COLT upper along with a separate COLT barrel assembly, picture showed all the correct markings on the upper, etc....both for SP-1 version.
I ordered them both and they sent me a badly cast upper clone from china or somewhere and didn’t even mention about the barrel. Paid for a COLT, got a $25 crude aluminum casting with bad machining. Total misrepresentation. Sent it back and never ordered anything again from them.
Lol.... SARCO “hand select” I bet!
A PBR looked like a lot of fun, only seen a real one in a museum.
I used it a lot playing battlefield Vietnam though.
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