T-90C against the "Merkava"
Israeli "Chariot" left far behind
Comparison tanks different manufacturers in the conditions of combat use and daily operation leaves no choice for potential buyers or independent experts.
In the last decade of the last century, and especially now, various ratings have entered into fashion, the purpose of which is to identify the best product for its successful promotion to a potential buyer. There was no exception and the global market weapons. The comparative characteristics of airplanes, ships, cannons, small arms, etc., etc., have flooded the pages of special military publications. Comparable figures in the hundreds and even thousands.
But as they say the military, who took part in the armed conflicts of recent years, there is comparative statistics, on paper demonstrating the superiority of a particular model over its counterpart, and there is a battlefield - the present, where the technique manifests itself in different ways. It is here, and not in the virtual space of computer exercises, that victory or defeat are determined, the obvious advantage of one combat vehicle over another.
Rating party
At the end of the first five years of this century, analysts Forecast International prepared another tank rating. According to them, the best in the world at that time was the American M1A2 SEP Abrams (manufacturer - General Dynamics Corporation). He established himself during the war in Iraq. In second place was the Israeli tank Merkava Mark IV (manufacturer - Israel Ordnance Corps). In combat, it seemed to demonstrate good opportunities. The third position was taken by the Japanese "Type 90" (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries). The tank was created on the basis of the German Leopard 2 and positioned as the most high-tech. However, this machine did not pass the run-in battle, so it can only be estimated theoretically. Not tested the fire of battles and the German Leopard 2A6 (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann), and therefore was in fourth place. The fifth line went to the British Challenger 2 (Vickers Defense Systems Division), which also took a sip of fire and dust in Iraq, but did not meet some NATO standards.
Five years later, the Military Ordnance magazine (USA) replicated its view of the best tanks in the world, based on the main combat properties - mobility, firepower, armor protection. In this ranking, the places in the top five were distributed as follows: “Leopard-2А5” (Germany), М1А2 (USA), “Type 90” (Japan), “Leclerc” (France), “Challenger-2” (United Kingdom). The Russian T-90S took the seventh position, and the Israeli “Merkava Mk3” closed the top ten, leaving behind the legendary Soviet car, the T-72 tank.
A few years later, the same American magazine announced a new rating. As before, the first position was occupied by the German “Leopard-2А6”. From the second to the third place, the American M1А2 SEP flew off, passing the Japanese ahead, changing the positions of Leclerc and Challenger 2. The Russian main battle tank (MBT) T-90C was unable to break into the top five. But it was he who became the most popular machine in the international arms market in those years. And this is not a rating, but a specific fact, confirmed by real contracts. Following the Russian tank housed the "Leopard-2", "Leclerc" and M1-X2.
Fighting not rated
Let us take for comparison not only tactical and technical characteristics, but also parameters such as the novelty of tank technology, conceptual features of combat vehicles, price-quality, and, most importantly, participation in real combat operations. According to these criteria, only two cars will have to be compared - the Russian T-90C and the Israeli “Chariot” (this is how the “Merkava” is translated), more precisely, the “Merkava Mk4”. Some experts consider this tank the best in the world.
The rest either did not participate in battles (German Leopard 2A6, Japanese “Type 90”, Chinese “Type 99”, South Korean K1A1 and K2), or conceptually created in 70 – 80 of the last century. In addition, the price characteristics of the tanks M1А2, "Leclerc" and "Leopard" just going wild and can not afford the absolute majority of buyers of military equipment.
Read more about Merkava Mk4. The tank took part in the second Lebanese war in 2006. Then it was involved about 400 tanks. They were mainly used to support infantry and evacuate the wounded from the battlefield. This is the conceptual difference between the "Merkava" and the T-90С MBT, created, like all Soviet / Russian tanks, for an offensive battle and the destruction of tanks, artillery and enemy fortifications. An indestructible armor fist, sweeping everything in its path with powerful fire — that is Russian T-90C.
There is no exact information about the losses of Israeli tanks in 2006. But even according to the obviously underestimated data that was published in the Israeli newspaper Globes, one can judge about the serious damage. Of the 400 tanks involved in the operation, three modifications (Mk2, Mk3, Mk4) were hit by 52. Fifty cars were hit by anti-tank missiles, two were blown up by land mines. But according to the Lebanese military estimates, the Israel Defense Forces lost more than two times more tanks.
“Black Sabbath” for armored vehicles fell on the Saturday day of August 12 2006. During the attack of the 401 th brigade “Iquot ha-Barzel”, equipped with the latest “Merkavami Mk4”, 11 machines from 24, which took part in hostilities, were hit by anti-tank missiles. The enemy did not have heavy weapons, moreover, Israel ensured its full air supremacy. Under such conditions, even the officially published Israeli media losses can be considered very large.
From 50, 22 (44%) rocket-hit "Chariot" armor was broken through, causing 208 crew members to die from 30, 25 were injured. For comparison: in the first Lebanese campaign 1982 of the year 47 percent of Israeli tanks were pierced through, in the Yom Kippur war such injuries received 60 percent of cars. Thus, the 2006 conflict of the year showed that it is not at all necessary to pierce the Merkava armor in order to neutralize the car. To defeat a tank, just hit it. Statistics of the dead by type of tanks: in the three "Merkava Mk2" 10 people were killed, in four Mk3 - 9, in six Mk4 - 11. Hence the extremely disappointing conclusion: the majority of crew members were killed in the most modern Israeli tanks, the Merkava Mk4.
Trying to restore the tarnished reputation of their new cars, the Israelis claimed that the Merkava Mk4 tanks were destroyed exclusively by the Kornet-E ATGM. Although there are numerous cases of the defeat of Israeli tanks and earlier Russian ATGMs. Only one conclusion can be drawn from this: the widely publicized protection of the Merkava Mk4 tank can be penetrated even by outdated cumulative ammunition, not to mention modern means such as the Kontrik and Kornet-E ATGMs. Major-General Udi Adam, commander of the northern grouping of Israeli troops, praised the effectiveness of the Russian ATGM. He identified Russian anti-tank weapons as the most serious problem for Israeli tanks. The situation with the mine resistance of the Merkava Mk4 is no better. There have been cases of serious damage and even death of crew members during explosions of these tanks in mines during military operations.
Export prospects
Nevertheless, in recent years, the Israeli leadership has been pushing its Chariot into the world market, including in the dynamically developing countries of Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia). However, the top military leadership of these states, which has experience in fighting, is very cautious about such proposals. They are well aware that the Merkava Mk4 was created exclusively for use by the IDF and can be effectively used in the conditions of the Middle East theater of operations (theater of operations). There is a hot and dry climate, sandy and stony soils, limited territories, there are no impassable forests and water barriers, and tanks are delivered to trailers at the place of combat use.
How will this car behave in the tropical jungle, on soft and marshy soils, in the absence of an extensive road network with hard surface, long distances, an abundance of rivers, marshes and rice plantations? There are no answers to these questions, since the tests of the “Merkava Mk4” in such climatic zones were not conducted, there is no experience of using the Israeli tank in the difficult physiographic conditions of the Southeast Asian region.
However, you do not need to be a major analyst to understand the obvious: a heavy tank “Merkava Mk4”, whose weight is 67 tons, will get stuck right on the tower, becoming a helpless target. In addition, in this region there are very few stone bridges that can support the weight of an armored monster. And to overcome the water obstacles along the bottom of the "Merkava Mk4" can not, because it has no equipment for underwater driving.
Another thing is MBT T-90С. It is based on the operating experience and combat use of the T-72 tank and is its further development. T-72 - one of the most popular in the world, is in service with many states. Moreover, it is this machine that has unsurpassed combat experience in many local wars and armed conflicts in various climatic and physiographic conditions. MBT T-90С preserved all the best features of its predecessor, embodied the new achievements of the Russian military-technical ideas and modern developments in the domestic tank building. Therefore, the machine has gained recognition in the global market for weapons and military equipment. Before making large-scale purchases, potential customers arranged for the Russian tank the most severe survival tests in the most severe climatic conditions and training situations as close as possible to the combat ones. It was T-90C that turned out to be the most reliable and robust in the conditions of the Indian Thar desert (Rajasthan). After successfully passing the exams, Jaswant Singh, who was then Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs of India, said that T-90C is the second after nuclear weapon deterrent factor of potential military threats.
Another important detail, which draws the attention of potential buyers. In the production of the Israeli tank Merkava Mk4 28 percent of components are imported from abroad, including such important units as the engine and transmission. The MT883 engine components are manufactured by MTU (Germany), assembled under license from General Dynamics Land Systems in the USA, and then exported to Israel as a GD883 propulsion system. Transmission RK325 produced by Renk (Germany).
This puts the production and export of Israeli tanks in a tough dependence on several foreign suppliers from different countries at once, which creates additional problems for buyers. For example, repair of the engine or transmission should be carried out at the factory - the manufacturer of these components, which increases the repair time and its cost. In addition, any change in the political vector may lead to a ban on the supply of spare parts, equipment and ammunition. As a result, the tank becomes a pile of scrap metal.
Compare and think
An unbiased look at military equipment allows us to make objective conclusions. Let's compare the main characteristics of two tanks.
A characteristic feature of the tank "Merkava Mk4" is the layout with the location of the engine compartment (MTO) in front of the hull with an offset to the starboard. To his left is located the department of management. According to the developers, this constructive solution provides additional protection for the crew. But the control compartment is not covered by the engine and transmission on the left side. In addition, due to the shift of the workplace of the driver to the left side and the slight angle of inclination of the upper armor sheet MTO, the view to the right is very limited. This makes it harder to control the machine, for example when maneuvering between obstacles.
Placement in the aft part of the Merkava Mk4 tank compartment for infantrymen, stretchers with wounded or an additional set of ammunition significantly increased the internal reserved volume. It is twice the booked volume of Russian T-90C. Such internal volume is very difficult to protect against modern anti-tank weapons, even with a weight of almost 70 tons. An attempt to bring the protection of the "Chariots" to the level of T-90C will lead to an even greater increase in the weight of the Israeli machine.
In turn, the T-90C has a classic layout with a rear-mounted engine compartment. Thanks to the optimal layout solutions and the use of the automatic loader, the tank has the minimum volume reserved, which allowed us to provide protection at the level of modern requirements for the weight of the 47,5 ton machine.
The location of the driver of the T-90C in the center gives him a good overview and the ability to accurately control the tank in difficult driving conditions. The crew of the Russian tank consists of three, not four, as in the "Chariot". The entire crew of the T-90C is landing / disembarking in 8 – 12 seconds. On the “Merkava Mk4” this takes much more time, since the loader does not have its own hatch, and the commander’s is so heavy and massive that the drive is used to open it.
The firepower of the Merkava Mk4 is provided by a range of weapons, including 120-mm cannon-launcher, 7,62-mm and 12,7-mm machine guns. The latter can be replaced with an 40-mm automatic grenade launcher. Installing an 40-mm grenade launcher confirms the main purpose of the tank - the fight against enemy manpower.
The T-90C tank is armed with an 125-mm high-accuracy cannon-launcher, paired 7,62-mm and anti-aircraft 12,7-mm machine guns.
The loading of the tank gun "Merkava Mk4" manual. In this case, 10 shells are placed in an electric drum mechanism, supplying shells to the loader, the remaining 36 shots are in fireproof containers in the stern of the hull. The absence of an automatic loader reduces the rate of fire, and also increases the internal reserve volume, which again significantly increases the mass of the tank.
The loading of the T-90 tank gun is automatic. The presence of an automatic loader increases the combat rate of fire of the tank to eight rounds per minute, which exceeds the capabilities of the Mk4 Merkava. The main thing is that this rate of fire does not depend on fatigue, injury, and the psychological state of the loader.
The fire control systems of both tanks are similar in composition and combat properties and include combined (day / night) sights with stabilization of the aiming line, two-plane weapon stabilizer, automatic target tracking, digital ballistic computer, guided weapons complex.
The security of the Merkava Mk4, like the T-90C, is multi-layered. It is provided with armor, an automated smoke screening system, active protection.
For a car with an internal volume, as on the Mk4 Merkava, it is impossible to provide all-round protection against modern anti-tank ammunition with passive means alone. This was confirmed by the experience of combat use. As a result, an active protection system was installed on the tank.
Strengthening the protection against damage from above led to an increase in the size of the Merkava Mk4. As a result, the tank became significantly higher, which markedly reduced its camouflage properties, increased the area of the frontal and lateral projections.
The smaller size of the T-90С tank, its height and the frontal projection area make it difficult to detect the vehicle on the battlefield due to better use of the protective properties of the terrain and significantly reduce the likelihood of being hit by the opposing vehicle. For the T-90C, a Cape camouflage set has been developed, which significantly reduces the visibility of the machine in the optical, thermal and radar ranges, and its masking properties increase accordingly.
Another plus of the T-90C is the dozer blade, thanks to which, in 20 – 30 minutes, a tank is capable of digging a full-sized trench without aids. On the "Merkava Mk4" this is not.
The analysis of the armor protection of two tanks allows to conclude about the superiority of the T-90С tank over the “Merkava Mk4” in terms of the ballistic resistance of the hull and turret due to the spaced armor and the quality of the armor plates, as well as the presence of dynamic protection. Dynamic protection, which is equipped with a tank T-90С, is by far the best in the world. Its feature is high efficiency against both cumulative and armor-piercing-caliber ammunition.
Protection of the Merkava Mk4 tank is primarily aimed at reducing the destructive effect of cumulative ammunition. This once again confirms the fact that the Israeli "Chariot" is designed for use in specific conditions and against a specific enemy - manpower armed with an ATGM and RPG. In the conduct of hostilities against tanks, armed with powerful armor-piercing-sifting projectiles, the protection of the Merkava Mk4 is ineffective.
As for the automated system of setting smoke screens, which warns about laser homing and provides automatic shooting of the smoke bomb to the source of the beam, both machines are equipped with it.
The dimensions and weight of the Merkava Mk4 significantly limit both operational tactical and strategic mobility. The Israeli tank is equipped with a 1500 horsepower engine. The T-90 has horsepower 1000 engine power. But if you decompose the horsepower to the weight of the tanks, their capabilities are comparable. Increased power leads to increased fuel consumption. Cruising on the asphalt of both tanks is about 500 kilometers. But the “Chariot” will eat 1400 liters of fuel, and T-90C - only 1200. The military understands that in combat conditions the difference is significant. In addition, the Merkava Mk4 only works on diesel. The engine of the T-90C is multi-fuel, which gives obvious advantages in wartime.
Not everyone knows that the Merkava Mk4 is equipped with a spring suspension. When driving on rough terrain, it limits the speed of the car and the accuracy of shooting on the move, since the body vibrations seriously affect the stabilization error when you hover your weapon. On the armored vehicles of the main armies of the world, this type of suspension is almost never used.
The T-90С tank is equipped with a torsion bar suspension, which provides high smoothness, the ability to move over rough terrain at high speeds, and increased shooting accuracy on the move. The automatic gearshift increases the control comfort, reduces the physical loads and fatigue of the driver, especially on long marches when moving in a column.
T-90C is distinguished by its highest reliability. This is one of the principles guided by Russian engineers when creating tanks. Our tanks have a huge reserve for modernization and are distinguished by the simplicity of crew and technical personnel training, high operational characteristics, which significantly reduces the requirements for the level of training of operators.
And finally, in terms of the “price-quality” parameter, the Russian T-90С left far behind not only the Merkava Mk4, but also tanks from other leading manufacturers. Therefore became the most sold in foreign markets.
Read more: h
Comparison tanks different manufacturers in the conditions of combat use and daily operation leaves no choice for potential buyers or independent experts.
In the last decade of the last century, and especially now, various ratings have entered into fashion, the purpose of which is to identify the best product for its successful promotion to a potential buyer. There was no exception and the global market weapons. The comparative characteristics of airplanes, ships, cannons, small arms, etc., etc., have flooded the pages of special military publications. Comparable figures in the hundreds and even thousands.
But as they say the military, who took part in the armed conflicts of recent years, there is comparative statistics, on paper demonstrating the superiority of a particular model over its counterpart, and there is a battlefield - the present, where the technique manifests itself in different ways. It is here, and not in the virtual space of computer exercises, that victory or defeat are determined, the obvious advantage of one combat vehicle over another.
Rating party
At the end of the first five years of this century, analysts Forecast International prepared another tank rating. According to them, the best in the world at that time was the American M1A2 SEP Abrams (manufacturer - General Dynamics Corporation). He established himself during the war in Iraq. In second place was the Israeli tank Merkava Mark IV (manufacturer - Israel Ordnance Corps). In combat, it seemed to demonstrate good opportunities. The third position was taken by the Japanese "Type 90" (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries). The tank was created on the basis of the German Leopard 2 and positioned as the most high-tech. However, this machine did not pass the run-in battle, so it can only be estimated theoretically. Not tested the fire of battles and the German Leopard 2A6 (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann), and therefore was in fourth place. The fifth line went to the British Challenger 2 (Vickers Defense Systems Division), which also took a sip of fire and dust in Iraq, but did not meet some NATO standards.
Five years later, the Military Ordnance magazine (USA) replicated its view of the best tanks in the world, based on the main combat properties - mobility, firepower, armor protection. In this ranking, the places in the top five were distributed as follows: “Leopard-2А5” (Germany), М1А2 (USA), “Type 90” (Japan), “Leclerc” (France), “Challenger-2” (United Kingdom). The Russian T-90S took the seventh position, and the Israeli “Merkava Mk3” closed the top ten, leaving behind the legendary Soviet car, the T-72 tank.A few years later, the same American magazine announced a new rating. As before, the first position was occupied by the German “Leopard-2А6”. From the second to the third place, the American M1А2 SEP flew off, passing the Japanese ahead, changing the positions of Leclerc and Challenger 2. The Russian main battle tank (MBT) T-90C was unable to break into the top five. But it was he who became the most popular machine in the international arms market in those years. And this is not a rating, but a specific fact, confirmed by real contracts. Following the Russian tank housed the "Leopard-2", "Leclerc" and M1-X2.
Fighting not rated
Let us take for comparison not only tactical and technical characteristics, but also parameters such as the novelty of tank technology, conceptual features of combat vehicles, price-quality, and, most importantly, participation in real combat operations. According to these criteria, only two cars will have to be compared - the Russian T-90C and the Israeli “Chariot” (this is how the “Merkava” is translated), more precisely, the “Merkava Mk4”. Some experts consider this tank the best in the world.
The rest either did not participate in battles (German Leopard 2A6, Japanese “Type 90”, Chinese “Type 99”, South Korean K1A1 and K2), or conceptually created in 70 – 80 of the last century. In addition, the price characteristics of the tanks M1А2, "Leclerc" and "Leopard" just going wild and can not afford the absolute majority of buyers of military equipment.
Read more about Merkava Mk4. The tank took part in the second Lebanese war in 2006. Then it was involved about 400 tanks. They were mainly used to support infantry and evacuate the wounded from the battlefield. This is the conceptual difference between the "Merkava" and the T-90С MBT, created, like all Soviet / Russian tanks, for an offensive battle and the destruction of tanks, artillery and enemy fortifications. An indestructible armor fist, sweeping everything in its path with powerful fire — that is Russian T-90C.
There is no exact information about the losses of Israeli tanks in 2006. But even according to the obviously underestimated data that was published in the Israeli newspaper Globes, one can judge about the serious damage. Of the 400 tanks involved in the operation, three modifications (Mk2, Mk3, Mk4) were hit by 52. Fifty cars were hit by anti-tank missiles, two were blown up by land mines. But according to the Lebanese military estimates, the Israel Defense Forces lost more than two times more tanks.
“Black Sabbath” for armored vehicles fell on the Saturday day of August 12 2006. During the attack of the 401 th brigade “Iquot ha-Barzel”, equipped with the latest “Merkavami Mk4”, 11 machines from 24, which took part in hostilities, were hit by anti-tank missiles. The enemy did not have heavy weapons, moreover, Israel ensured its full air supremacy. Under such conditions, even the officially published Israeli media losses can be considered very large.
From 50, 22 (44%) rocket-hit "Chariot" armor was broken through, causing 208 crew members to die from 30, 25 were injured. For comparison: in the first Lebanese campaign 1982 of the year 47 percent of Israeli tanks were pierced through, in the Yom Kippur war such injuries received 60 percent of cars. Thus, the 2006 conflict of the year showed that it is not at all necessary to pierce the Merkava armor in order to neutralize the car. To defeat a tank, just hit it. Statistics of the dead by type of tanks: in the three "Merkava Mk2" 10 people were killed, in four Mk3 - 9, in six Mk4 - 11. Hence the extremely disappointing conclusion: the majority of crew members were killed in the most modern Israeli tanks, the Merkava Mk4.
Trying to restore the tarnished reputation of their new cars, the Israelis claimed that the Merkava Mk4 tanks were destroyed exclusively by the Kornet-E ATGM. Although there are numerous cases of the defeat of Israeli tanks and earlier Russian ATGMs. Only one conclusion can be drawn from this: the widely publicized protection of the Merkava Mk4 tank can be penetrated even by outdated cumulative ammunition, not to mention modern means such as the Kontrik and Kornet-E ATGMs. Major-General Udi Adam, commander of the northern grouping of Israeli troops, praised the effectiveness of the Russian ATGM. He identified Russian anti-tank weapons as the most serious problem for Israeli tanks. The situation with the mine resistance of the Merkava Mk4 is no better. There have been cases of serious damage and even death of crew members during explosions of these tanks in mines during military operations.
Export prospects
Nevertheless, in recent years, the Israeli leadership has been pushing its Chariot into the world market, including in the dynamically developing countries of Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia). However, the top military leadership of these states, which has experience in fighting, is very cautious about such proposals. They are well aware that the Merkava Mk4 was created exclusively for use by the IDF and can be effectively used in the conditions of the Middle East theater of operations (theater of operations). There is a hot and dry climate, sandy and stony soils, limited territories, there are no impassable forests and water barriers, and tanks are delivered to trailers at the place of combat use.
How will this car behave in the tropical jungle, on soft and marshy soils, in the absence of an extensive road network with hard surface, long distances, an abundance of rivers, marshes and rice plantations? There are no answers to these questions, since the tests of the “Merkava Mk4” in such climatic zones were not conducted, there is no experience of using the Israeli tank in the difficult physiographic conditions of the Southeast Asian region.However, you do not need to be a major analyst to understand the obvious: a heavy tank “Merkava Mk4”, whose weight is 67 tons, will get stuck right on the tower, becoming a helpless target. In addition, in this region there are very few stone bridges that can support the weight of an armored monster. And to overcome the water obstacles along the bottom of the "Merkava Mk4" can not, because it has no equipment for underwater driving.
Another thing is MBT T-90С. It is based on the operating experience and combat use of the T-72 tank and is its further development. T-72 - one of the most popular in the world, is in service with many states. Moreover, it is this machine that has unsurpassed combat experience in many local wars and armed conflicts in various climatic and physiographic conditions. MBT T-90С preserved all the best features of its predecessor, embodied the new achievements of the Russian military-technical ideas and modern developments in the domestic tank building. Therefore, the machine has gained recognition in the global market for weapons and military equipment. Before making large-scale purchases, potential customers arranged for the Russian tank the most severe survival tests in the most severe climatic conditions and training situations as close as possible to the combat ones. It was T-90C that turned out to be the most reliable and robust in the conditions of the Indian Thar desert (Rajasthan). After successfully passing the exams, Jaswant Singh, who was then Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs of India, said that T-90C is the second after nuclear weapon deterrent factor of potential military threats.
Another important detail, which draws the attention of potential buyers. In the production of the Israeli tank Merkava Mk4 28 percent of components are imported from abroad, including such important units as the engine and transmission. The MT883 engine components are manufactured by MTU (Germany), assembled under license from General Dynamics Land Systems in the USA, and then exported to Israel as a GD883 propulsion system. Transmission RK325 produced by Renk (Germany).
This puts the production and export of Israeli tanks in a tough dependence on several foreign suppliers from different countries at once, which creates additional problems for buyers. For example, repair of the engine or transmission should be carried out at the factory - the manufacturer of these components, which increases the repair time and its cost. In addition, any change in the political vector may lead to a ban on the supply of spare parts, equipment and ammunition. As a result, the tank becomes a pile of scrap metal.
Compare and think
An unbiased look at military equipment allows us to make objective conclusions. Let's compare the main characteristics of two tanks.
A characteristic feature of the tank "Merkava Mk4" is the layout with the location of the engine compartment (MTO) in front of the hull with an offset to the starboard. To his left is located the department of management. According to the developers, this constructive solution provides additional protection for the crew. But the control compartment is not covered by the engine and transmission on the left side. In addition, due to the shift of the workplace of the driver to the left side and the slight angle of inclination of the upper armor sheet MTO, the view to the right is very limited. This makes it harder to control the machine, for example when maneuvering between obstacles.
Placement in the aft part of the Merkava Mk4 tank compartment for infantrymen, stretchers with wounded or an additional set of ammunition significantly increased the internal reserved volume. It is twice the booked volume of Russian T-90C. Such internal volume is very difficult to protect against modern anti-tank weapons, even with a weight of almost 70 tons. An attempt to bring the protection of the "Chariots" to the level of T-90C will lead to an even greater increase in the weight of the Israeli machine.
In turn, the T-90C has a classic layout with a rear-mounted engine compartment. Thanks to the optimal layout solutions and the use of the automatic loader, the tank has the minimum volume reserved, which allowed us to provide protection at the level of modern requirements for the weight of the 47,5 ton machine.
The location of the driver of the T-90C in the center gives him a good overview and the ability to accurately control the tank in difficult driving conditions. The crew of the Russian tank consists of three, not four, as in the "Chariot". The entire crew of the T-90C is landing / disembarking in 8 – 12 seconds. On the “Merkava Mk4” this takes much more time, since the loader does not have its own hatch, and the commander’s is so heavy and massive that the drive is used to open it.
The firepower of the Merkava Mk4 is provided by a range of weapons, including 120-mm cannon-launcher, 7,62-mm and 12,7-mm machine guns. The latter can be replaced with an 40-mm automatic grenade launcher. Installing an 40-mm grenade launcher confirms the main purpose of the tank - the fight against enemy manpower.
The T-90C tank is armed with an 125-mm high-accuracy cannon-launcher, paired 7,62-mm and anti-aircraft 12,7-mm machine guns.
The loading of the tank gun "Merkava Mk4" manual. In this case, 10 shells are placed in an electric drum mechanism, supplying shells to the loader, the remaining 36 shots are in fireproof containers in the stern of the hull. The absence of an automatic loader reduces the rate of fire, and also increases the internal reserve volume, which again significantly increases the mass of the tank.
The loading of the T-90 tank gun is automatic. The presence of an automatic loader increases the combat rate of fire of the tank to eight rounds per minute, which exceeds the capabilities of the Mk4 Merkava. The main thing is that this rate of fire does not depend on fatigue, injury, and the psychological state of the loader.
The fire control systems of both tanks are similar in composition and combat properties and include combined (day / night) sights with stabilization of the aiming line, two-plane weapon stabilizer, automatic target tracking, digital ballistic computer, guided weapons complex.
The security of the Merkava Mk4, like the T-90C, is multi-layered. It is provided with armor, an automated smoke screening system, active protection.
For a car with an internal volume, as on the Mk4 Merkava, it is impossible to provide all-round protection against modern anti-tank ammunition with passive means alone. This was confirmed by the experience of combat use. As a result, an active protection system was installed on the tank.
Strengthening the protection against damage from above led to an increase in the size of the Merkava Mk4. As a result, the tank became significantly higher, which markedly reduced its camouflage properties, increased the area of the frontal and lateral projections.
The smaller size of the T-90С tank, its height and the frontal projection area make it difficult to detect the vehicle on the battlefield due to better use of the protective properties of the terrain and significantly reduce the likelihood of being hit by the opposing vehicle. For the T-90C, a Cape camouflage set has been developed, which significantly reduces the visibility of the machine in the optical, thermal and radar ranges, and its masking properties increase accordingly.
Another plus of the T-90C is the dozer blade, thanks to which, in 20 – 30 minutes, a tank is capable of digging a full-sized trench without aids. On the "Merkava Mk4" this is not.
The analysis of the armor protection of two tanks allows to conclude about the superiority of the T-90С tank over the “Merkava Mk4” in terms of the ballistic resistance of the hull and turret due to the spaced armor and the quality of the armor plates, as well as the presence of dynamic protection. Dynamic protection, which is equipped with a tank T-90С, is by far the best in the world. Its feature is high efficiency against both cumulative and armor-piercing-caliber ammunition.
Protection of the Merkava Mk4 tank is primarily aimed at reducing the destructive effect of cumulative ammunition. This once again confirms the fact that the Israeli "Chariot" is designed for use in specific conditions and against a specific enemy - manpower armed with an ATGM and RPG. In the conduct of hostilities against tanks, armed with powerful armor-piercing-sifting projectiles, the protection of the Merkava Mk4 is ineffective.
As for the automated system of setting smoke screens, which warns about laser homing and provides automatic shooting of the smoke bomb to the source of the beam, both machines are equipped with it.
The dimensions and weight of the Merkava Mk4 significantly limit both operational tactical and strategic mobility. The Israeli tank is equipped with a 1500 horsepower engine. The T-90 has horsepower 1000 engine power. But if you decompose the horsepower to the weight of the tanks, their capabilities are comparable. Increased power leads to increased fuel consumption. Cruising on the asphalt of both tanks is about 500 kilometers. But the “Chariot” will eat 1400 liters of fuel, and T-90C - only 1200. The military understands that in combat conditions the difference is significant. In addition, the Merkava Mk4 only works on diesel. The engine of the T-90C is multi-fuel, which gives obvious advantages in wartime.
Not everyone knows that the Merkava Mk4 is equipped with a spring suspension. When driving on rough terrain, it limits the speed of the car and the accuracy of shooting on the move, since the body vibrations seriously affect the stabilization error when you hover your weapon. On the armored vehicles of the main armies of the world, this type of suspension is almost never used.
The T-90С tank is equipped with a torsion bar suspension, which provides high smoothness, the ability to move over rough terrain at high speeds, and increased shooting accuracy on the move. The automatic gearshift increases the control comfort, reduces the physical loads and fatigue of the driver, especially on long marches when moving in a column.
T-90C is distinguished by its highest reliability. This is one of the principles guided by Russian engineers when creating tanks. Our tanks have a huge reserve for modernization and are distinguished by the simplicity of crew and technical personnel training, high operational characteristics, which significantly reduces the requirements for the level of training of operators.
And finally, in terms of the “price-quality” parameter, the Russian T-90С left far behind not only the Merkava Mk4, but also tanks from other leading manufacturers. Therefore became the most sold in foreign markets.
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