IDF Ground Forces Equipment #s
- Thread starter Big-E
- Start date
A
Aussie Digger
Guest
Israel uses Merkava main battle tanks (an indigenous design with Mk 4 being the most advanced version) , M109 Paladin 155mm SPG's, plus idigenous designs, upgraded M113 APC's and Acharitz APC's (basically an upgraded T-54/55 series tank, upgraded and converted into an extremely heavily armoured APC), Blackhawk and AH-64 Apache helo's (under local designations).Big-E said:I'm having a heck of a time trying to guess at what the IDF has in the way of MBTs, IFVs, APCs, self propelled artillery and MLRS. Can anyone give me some good guesses?
The IDF homepage can be found here:
http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/homepage.asp?clr=1&sl=EN&id=-8888&force=1
One of the main facts one have to understand when reading about the equipment of the IDF is that they have not the same way of using Infantry. Nearly everbody who adopted NATO or WarPac tactics uses MBTs supported by Infantry with IFVs. The IDF uses no mechanized Infantry in the same way. They think that a troop carrier should only bring the Infantry into position and than get out of there. So they use no IFVs but only APCs (Many of them well armored former tanks).
That's very interesting and I still do not understand why they are doing so because they adopted the rest of combined arms tactics.
That's very interesting and I still do not understand why they are doing so because they adopted the rest of combined arms tactics.
I dont claim their tactics are otherwise.
But they use the tank as an IFV when necessary. IDF has much better armored warfare experience than any western country. They are very well aware that IFVs wouldnt mean much for them , since most of the time they would have to fight an outnumbered fight against enemy armor. Thus they developed their Tanks like IFVs and APCs with very heavy armor to use Infantry together with the Tank force.
But they use the tank as an IFV when necessary. IDF has much better armored warfare experience than any western country. They are very well aware that IFVs wouldnt mean much for them , since most of the time they would have to fight an outnumbered fight against enemy armor. Thus they developed their Tanks like IFVs and APCs with very heavy armor to use Infantry together with the Tank force.
By putting infantry into it the Merkava is still not an IFV.
I am aware of the fact that the IDF are one of the most experienced countries but seeing the intense of not using real IFVs is hard to understand.
Maybe a real mobile defense is not the best solution for such a small country, the Merkava is also more build for survivability than for mobility.
I am aware of the fact that the IDF are one of the most experienced countries but seeing the intense of not using real IFVs is hard to understand.
Maybe a real mobile defense is not the best solution for such a small country, the Merkava is also more build for survivability than for mobility.
(???)Waylander said:
No, The Merkava 4 MBT is a highly mobile platform and out performs the M1A2 in rough terrain. (i.e. its faster going over big rocks).
The Merkava series was carefully designed from the get go to be improved in increments as Israeli Industry became more capable, so (to coin a phrase) its a tank for Israel, by Israel. A low power to weight ratio with the Merkava 1 has led to a myth that protection is the priority, where in reality it was going with the best tank that Israel could produce at that time to fight in Israeli conditions.
Cross country mobility has always been one of the series' strengths due to an incredible suspension system and by default makes it an excellent platform for complicated urban environments.
For example: I would back a Merkava any day over an M1 platform to get over things like concrete highway separation barriers (you know, the 5 to 7 foot barrier you see on US highways) and the like without getting stuck.
cheers
W
With mobility I meant constant speed for relocating tank units from one area to another not the ability to cross rough terrain.
For me an IFV is a vehicle which provides covered transport capabilities for a group of infantry and is able to support it with fire against other infantry and armored vehicles up to other IFVs. You can provide it with some AT capabilities by using ATGMs but its main task is to fight against other (mechanized/motorized) infantry.
The main task of the Merkava remains antitank even if it has some infantry in it. BTW infantry should be able to fight from onboard of the IFV.
For me an IFV is a vehicle which provides covered transport capabilities for a group of infantry and is able to support it with fire against other infantry and armored vehicles up to other IFVs. You can provide it with some AT capabilities by using ATGMs but its main task is to fight against other (mechanized/motorized) infantry.
The main task of the Merkava remains antitank even if it has some infantry in it. BTW infantry should be able to fight from onboard of the IFV.