Image source: Photo: "Bravery2004"
The main battle tanks "Merkava 2", as it turned out, have not been withdrawn from the Israeli ground forces and continue to serve in the border areas with the Gaza Strip.
As noted by "RG: Russian weapons" , it was previously reported that the "Chariots" of the second generation will be completely withdrawn from parts by the end of 2021, and they will not remain even in reserve formations.
This turned out to be deliberate misinformation, which was believed, for example, by "specialists" who make up Western reference literature. In these publications it was reported that only various versions of modern Merkava Mk 4 are in parts, in addition, Merkava Mk 3 are in storage.
This year it was forty years since the Merkava Mk 2 were put into service. They are equipped with 105 mm guns, one 12.7 mm and three 7.62 mm machine guns. There is also a 60 mm mortar.
Image source: Photo: "Bravery2004"
The 908-horsepower diesel engine is able to accelerate a 60-ton machine on a good road up to 46 km/h. The fuel reserve is 500 km. The crew consists of four military personnel.
By modern standards, such tanks are difficult to resist anti-tank guided missiles and grenade launcher shots of recent generations.