No country in the world is more synonymous with armored warfare than Israel. And with good reason: no country is more dependent for its very survival on the quality of its armored formations. Thus armed with the experience of almost 30 years of tank warfare, and with full knowledge of its needs, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has come up with a marvel of tank engineering that boasts firsts in a number of categories: the world's only Main Battle Tank (MBT) with a forward mounted engine, and the world's only MBT capable of carrying an infantry squad or performing crew/ casualty extrication under battlefield conditions, to name a few. And that's not mentioning its impressive array of weaponry, and its fully integrated battlefield information recording and distribution system.
The driving factor in the Merkava's development was crew survival, followed by firepower, and then mobility. The engine for example, is mounted in front, where its mass serves as additional armor. While a penetrating hit to the front might disable the tank, the crew will survive (it takes several weeks to fabricate a new engine; it takes several years to fabricate a new tank crew). All main gun ammunition is stored in the hull, below the turret ring (where it is protected not only by the thicker hull armor, but by earth as well, when the tank is "dug in" in a hull down defensive position). Not only does the Merkava carry more tank ammunition than any modern MBT (the Merkava MK1 carried 85 rounds of 105mm ammunition), but the ammunition is also stored in removable modules. This, coupled with the fact that the Merkava comes with a rear access hatch in the hull means that ammunition modules could be removed to create space to enable a Merkava to safely recover a tank crew stranded in a disabled vehicle. Alternatively, Infantry can be carried in the Merkava's expanded crew compartment, thus providing the tank with an added measure of protection in urban or built-up areas. The turret of the Merkava is also uniquely sloped; where most tanks slope the turret armor vertically (i.e., the M1, Challenger, and new Leopard II series) the Merkava's armor slopes horizontally. This not only provides a smaller forward aspect, but also presents a greater realized depth or armor to frontal direct fire threats. This configuration gives the tank greater armor protection through a smaller amount of actual armor.
As for the guns themselves, suffice it to say that the Merkava is one of the most heavily armed tanks in history. In addition to the main gun, Merkavas are also armed with a 7.62mm COAX machine gun, the loader and commander each have a 7.62mm machine gun, and a .50 caliber MG is often mounted directly to the gun mantlet for use by the gunner as a light vehicle weapon. Finally, the Merkava is also one of the only MBTs to mount a 60mm infantry mortar, capable of firing both HE and illumination rounds.
The Merkava series tanks are some of the most effective, purpose built tanks ever produced. Everything about the Merkava is designed to enhance not only crew safety, but crew recoverability as well. The layout of the tank's systems, from the forward mounted engine to the hull stowed ammunition, is specifically intended to dovetail with how the Israelis expect to defend themselves (properly dug in, a 105mm Merkava MK2 with 85 rounds of ammunition would be all but indestructible, and sustain itself for days without having to withdraw in order to replenish its ammunition supply). The Merkavas have often been criticized for their relative lack of speed, compared with the M1 series or the Leopard IIs. Yet for Israel, speed is secondary to survival; the Israelis are concerned with defending their country, not racing across Eastern Europe.
Finally, as conflicts transition into low intensity, "bush war" affairs, where most combat takes place in urbanized or built-up areas, the Merkava may prove to be the most appropriate armored vehicle ever made. Heavily armed and armored, with a digitally integrated communications system, AND the ability to carry a full 8 man squad of infantry, the Merkava MK4 is quite possibly the best city tank ever built.
