Editing Merkava (section)

===Merkava Mark II===
{{multiple image
|width = 150
|footer_align = center
|footer = '''The Merkava Mark II'''
|image1 = Merkava-2-latrun-2.jpg
|alt1 = Merkava Mark II at Yad La-Shiryon
|caption1 = Merkava Mark II at [[Yad La-Shiryon]]
|image2 = Merkava-2-latrun-4.jpg
|alt2 = Merkava Mark II with chain netting installed behind the turret
|caption2 = Merkava Mark II with chain netting installed behind the turret
}}

The Mark II was first introduced into general service in April 1983. It incorporated numerous small adjustments as a result of the previous year's incursion into Lebanon.

The Mark II used the same 105&nbsp;mm main gun and 7.62&nbsp;mm machine guns as the Mark I, but the 60&nbsp;mm mortar was redesigned during construction to be located within the hull and configured for remote firing to remove the need to expose the operator to enemy small-arms fire. An Israeli-designed automatic transmission and increased fuel storage for increased range was installed on all further Mark IIs. Anti-rocket netting was fitted for increased survivability against infantry equipped with anti-tank rockets. Many minor improvements were made to the [[fire-control system]]. Updated [[meteorology|meteorological sensors]], [[crosswind]] analyzers, and [[thermography|thermographic]] optics and [[image intensifier]]s gave greater visibility and battlefield awareness.

Newer versions of the original Mark II were designated:
* '''Mark IIB''', with thermal optics{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} and unspecified updates to the fire control system.
* '''Mark IIC''', with more armor on the top of the turret to improve protection against attack from the air.
* '''Mark IID''', with modular composite armor on the chassis and turret, allowing rapid replacement of damaged armor.

In 2015 the IDF had begun a plan to take the old models out of storage and repurpose them as heavy armored personnel carriers. Cannons, turrets, and spaces used to store tank shells inside the hull were removed to create a personnel carrier that outperforms the lighter M113 APC. Converting hundreds of Mark II chassis provides a low-cost way to upgrade support units' abilities to perform medical, logistical, and rescue missions.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

By late 2016, the last conscripted brigade to operate Merkava 2 was scheduled to transition to Merkava III and Merkava IV tanks for battlefield missions, relegating the vehicles to reserve forces for border patrols during conflicts and conversion to personnel carriers.