Editing Merkava (section)

==Derivatives==
Following the [[Second Intifada]] the Israel Defense Forces modified some of their Merkavas to satisfy the needs of [[urban warfare]].

===Merkava LIC===
[[File:Merkeva Mk 3D - Israeli Tanks 2019-04-21 IZE-36.jpg|thumb|Merkava Mk 3D Baz with LIC upgrades]]
These are Merkava Mark 3 BAZ or Mark 4 tanks, converted for urban warfare. The LIC designation stands for "[[low intensity conflict]]", underlining its emphasis on counter-insurgency, street-to-street inner-city asymmetrical type warfare of the 21st century.<ref name="defense1">{{cite web |url=http://www.defense-update.com/products/m/merkava-lic.htm |title=LIC Modeled Merkava Mk-3 Baz |access-date=2008-07-04 |work=Defense Update |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627140305/http://www.defense-update.com/products/m/merkava-lic.htm |archive-date=June 27, 2007}}</ref>

The Merkava is equipped with a turret 12.7&nbsp;mm caliber coaxial machine gun, which enables the crew to lay down fairly heavy cover fire without using the main gun (which is relatively ineffective against individual enemy combatants). Like the new remote-operated weapon station, the coaxial machine-gun is fired from inside the tank without exposing the crew to small-arms fire and snipers.

The most sensitive areas of a tank, its optics, exhaust ports and ventilators, are all protected by a newly developed high-strength metal mesh to prevent explosive charges being planted there.<ref name="defense1"/>

Rubber whip pole-markers with LED tips and a driver's rear-facing camera have been installed to improve navigation and maneuverability in an urban environment by day or by night.

===Merkava ''Tankbulance''===
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}
Some Merkava tanks are fitted with full medical and ambulance abilities while retaining their armament (but carrying less ammunition than the standard tank, having both ammunition racks in the rear removed). The cabin area is converted for carrying injured personnel and includes two [[stretcher]]s and [[life support]] medical station systems supplemented by a full medical team complement to operate under combat conditions with a Merkava battalion. The vehicle retains its rear door to facilitate evacuation under fire, and can provide cover-fire/fire-support to infantry.

The "tankbulance" is not an unarmed ambulance and consequently is not protected by the [[Geneva Convention]]'s provisions regarding ambulances, but it is far less vulnerable to accidental or deliberate fire than an ambulance or [[armored personnel carrier]].

===Merkava IFV ''Namer''===
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2023}}
{{Main|Namer}}
[[File:IDF-Namer003.jpg|thumb|Namer in [[Yad La-Shiryon]] 62nd [[Independence Day (Israel)|Independence Day]] exhibition]]
[[File:IDF-Nammer-CEV-01-Zachi-Evenor.jpg|thumb|Namer CEV in [[Yad La-Shiryon]] 68th Independence Day exhibition]]

Namer (Hebrew: [[leopard]], which is also an abbreviation of Nagmash (APC) Merkava"), is an [[infantry fighting vehicle]] based on the Merkava Mark 4 chassis. In service since 2008, the vehicle was initially called ''Nemmera'' (Hebrew: leopardess), but later renamed to ''Namer''.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}}

Namer is equipped with a [[Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station]] (RCWS) armed with either a .50 M2 Browning Heavy Machinegun or a [[Mk 19 grenade launcher|Mk 19 Automatic Grenade Launcher]]. It also has a 7.62&nbsp;mm [[FN MAG|MAG]] machine gun, 60&nbsp;mm mortar and smoke grenades. Like the Merkava Mark 4, it is optimized for high level of crew survival on the battlefield. The ''Namer'' has a three-man crew (commander, driver, and RCWS gunner) and may carry up to nine infantrymen and a stretcher. An ambulance variant can carry two casualties on stretchers and medical equipment.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}}

The [[Golani Brigade]] used two ''Namer'' IFVs during [[Operation Cast Lead]]. During [[Operation Protective Edge]] more than 20 vehicles were operated with great success and post operation analysis recommended procuring more of them.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}}

===Merkava ARV ''Nemmera''===
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}
The Merkava armored recovery vehicle initially called ''Namer'' (Hebrew: leopard), but subsequently renamed ''Nemmera'' (Hebrew: leopardess) is an [[armored recovery vehicle]] based on a Merkava Mark 3 or 4 chassis. It can tow disabled tanks and carries a complete Merkava back-up power pack that can be changed in the field in under 90 minutes.

===Merkava Howitzer ''Sholef''===
{{More citations needed section |date=April 2019}}
[[File:Sholef-beyt-hatotchan-2.jpg|thumb|Sholef in Beit ha-Totchan, [[Zikhron Ya'akov]], Israel.]]
Two prototypes of ''Sholef'' ("Slammer", Hebrew slang for "Gunslinger") 155&nbsp;mm self-propelled howitzer with an automatic loading system were built by [[Soltam]] in 1984–86. The 45-tonne vehicle had a long [[155 mm]] gun barrel giving a range of 45+ km. Using [[GPS]], [[inertial navigation]], and an internal [[fire-control system|fire control]] computer, it was also capable of direct fire while on the move. It never entered production.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/self_propelled_artillery/slammer/Slammer.html |title=Slammer |access-date=2008-07-04 |publisher=Israeli Weapons |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617225521/http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/self_propelled_artillery/slammer/Slammer.html |archive-date=June 17, 2008}}</ref>

The Slammer is a heavily armored [[artillery|artillery gun]] mounted on a modified Merkava Mk 1 chassis. Many of these vehicles are Merkava Mk 1 that were retired after the Merkava Mk 2 and Merkava Mk 3 came into service. The Slammer has a long 52-caliber gun barrel that allows +10% range. Reload speed may be decreased to 1 for one minute every 10 minutes through use of an automatic loader. Ammunition racks are large. The Slammer is ready for autonomous operation (without an [[Fire Direction Center|FDC]]) if the target's location is known within 15 seconds of a halt, using GPS, inertial navigation, and an internal fire control computer.

The Slammer 155&nbsp;mm self-propelled howitzer is based on a modified Merkava MBT chassis fitted with a new welded steel turret, designed by Soltam Systems.

Development commenced in the 1970s. The project was considered of high national priority and incorporated the newest technological developments. Instead the Israeli Defense Forces selected an upgraded version of American [[M109 howitzer]].

The Sholef's chassis, aside from a few minor modifications, is identical to that of the Merkava Mk 3. The [[glacis plate]] is unchanged, except for the addition of a support bracket for the [[gun turret]], which is folded down when not in use. As such, the Sholef and Merkava series share a large percentage of common components. The front-left side of the chassis has a prominent exhaust [[louver]], along with a much smaller port just in front of it; the exact function of this port is uncertain, though the soot seen around it in photos of the Sholef suggests it may be a new or additional exhaust port, or perhaps an outlet for a [[smoke screen|smoke generator]].

The Sholef can be ready to fire only 15 seconds after coming to a complete stop, and fire three projectiles in only 15 seconds. It is compatible with standard NATO 155&nbsp;mm ammunition, and a total of 75 projectiles can be stowed in one Sholef, 60 of which are ready for combat.

The Sholef's 155&nbsp;mm/52 gun is an original design created by Soltam, though it bears a resemblance to South Africa's [[G5 howitzer]]. It has a [[fume extractor]] and [[muzzle brake]], and is kept stationary by a travel lock while the vehicle is on the move. This gun has a maximum rate of fire of 9 rounds/min, and a range in excess of 40,000 m when firing an ERFB-BB round. Though loaded automatically, the gun may be cycled and fire manually if the need arises. While the gun is normally carried by a travel lock as with most other self-propelled howitzers while the Sholef is on the move, the weapon is stabilized and can actually be used for direct-fire while the vehicle is moving, giving it much greater self-defense ability than most other vehicles of its type.

A crew of four is required to fully operate the Sholef. Air conditioning and heating for the crew are provided, as is a [[ration heater]].{{dubious|date=April 2024|Ration heater}}

The hull has the same ballistic protection as the Merkava Mk.III. The armor on the turret is sufficient to defeat [[small arms]] fire, [[shell (projectile)|shell]] splinters, [[blast overpressure]], and most [[heavy machine gun]] rounds. The armor is augmented by [[spall liners]], and the same overpressure [[CBRN defense|NBC system]] as the Merkava Mk.III is fitted. There is also a back-up collective NBC system.

The running gear consists of six unevenly spaced rubber-tired roadwheels on each side, and five [[return roller]]s, the second from the rear of which is noticeably larger than the others. The [[drive sprocket]] is forward, and the conspicuously spoked [[idler wheel|idler]] is rear. These may be partially obscured by track skirts, of which the Merkava Mk.III has ten panels, with a wavering underside, and little coverage of the sprocket or idler.

The ordnance is fitted with a fume extractor and a double-baffle [[muzzle brake]]. When travelling, the ordnance is held in position by a travel lock that is mounted on the forward part of the glacis plate and this is remotely operated from the crew compartment.

Firing an ERFB-BB projectile, the 155&nbsp;mm 52 calibre ordnance has a maximum range of 40,000+ m.

The 155&nbsp;mm 52 calibre ordnance and recoil system is of the companies well-proven type already used in its towed weapons. The [[breech block]] assembly is of the semi-automatic wedge type that contains an automatic primer feeding system that enables manual reloading of the primer without opening the breech. Turret traverse and weapon elevation is [[hydraulic]], with manual controls for emergency use.

A maximum rate of fire of 9 rounds/min can be achieved due to the automatic computerised loading system, and a burst rate of fire of three rounds in 15 seconds.

The high rate of fire can be achieved using the onboard ammunition supply or from ground-piled ammunition. The loading cycle is operated by two turret crewmen only, with the commander operating the computer and charge loader.

The automatic loader has five main subsystems: projectile storage system; projectile transfer system; loading tray with flick rammer; charge loading tray and elevator for external charge supply; and projectile elevator for reloading the external storage or directly loading the gun.

The internal projectile storage contains 60 projectiles ready for automatic loading with the remaining 15 stored in other locations. The system enables the handling of all kinds of projectiles in use without any adaptation.

Charge loading is accomplished manually using a loading tray with the ignition primer being inserted automatically. All systems have a manual back-up so that, in the case of failure, the loading system may be operated partly or completely manually by only three crewmen, so allowing a continuous firing rate of 4 rounds/min.

The computer also controls the functioning of the gun. The Loader Control System (LCS) consists of five main units:
# The commander's panel provides the means for the commander to control the automatic loader and has a dedicated keyboard and supporting electronic circuits
# The Central Control Unit (CCU) is based on the [[Intel 80286]] and produces all of the system's logic equations. The unit transfers commands through the serial communications ([[RS-422]]) to the computerised units and controls the display on the commander's panel
# The Terminal Units (TUs) are based on the 8031 controller for purposes of independent control of the drive elements according to a functionally determined division. With the assistance of the terminal unit, a local mode can also be used in working with selected elements
# For guiding operators and making round identification and fusing, the Operator's Panel (OP) includes a [[liquid-crystal display]] with fixed instructions and one [[dot matrix]] line.
# The Loader Keyboard Panel (LKP) includes breech block closing switch, fire and local activation of the trays.

The main operational roles are: firing from internal storage; firing for elevator – ground-piled ammunition; loading from elevator – external pile; synthesising fire programs; unloading; manual firing; identification; and fusing and checks.

Standard equipment includes an NBC system of the overpressure type and an inertial navigation and aiming system designed for autonomous operations.

According to Soltam Systems, the 155&nbsp;mm/52 caliber ordnance and automatic loader, or parts of the system, could be installed in other self-propelled artillery systems and used to upgrade other self-propelled systems such as the US-designed and built 155&nbsp;mm [[M109 howitzer|M109]] and [[M44 self propelled howitzer|M44]].