Credit
Source: Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson Unit Derivative: User:MathKnight · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
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Measured figures
excl. gun barrel
Single sourceincl. gun barrel
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Merkava | Type 15 tank |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Main battle tank[source] | Light tank[source] |
| Place of origin | Israel[source] | China[source] |
| In service | 1979–present[source] | — |
| Used by | See Operators[source] | See Operators[source] |
| Wars | 1982 Lebanon War South Lebanon conflict First Intifada Second Intifada 2006 Lebanon War Gaza War Operation Pillar of Defense Operation Protective Edge Gaza war |
9.04 m or 29.7 ft (incl. gun barrel) 7.60 m or 24.9 ft (excl. gun barrel)[source]
9.2公尺(含炮管)/ 車體長度7.5m[source]
commander, driver, gunner, and loader
Single source4 (commander, driver, gunner, and loader)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| — |
| Designer | Mantak[source] | 201st Research Institute[source] |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Mantak, IDF Ordnance Corps (assembly)[source] | Jianglu Electromachinery Baotou Tank Plant[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | $3.5 million (Merkava IV for delivery to the IDF, FY2003) (c. $5.85 million, FY2023) $10 million (Merkava IV) (2014 price for sales to other countries)[source] | — |
|---|
| Produced | 1979–present[source] | — |
|---|
| No. built | Mark 1: 250 Mark 2: 580 Mark 3: 780 Mark 4: 360 in service + 300 units being delivered[source] | 1000+[source] |
|---|
| Armor | Classified composite / sloped armour modular design.[source] | — |
|---|
| Main armament | 120 mm (4.7 in) MG251-LR smoothbore gun, capable of firing LAHAT ATGM[source] | — |
|---|
| Secondary armament | 1 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) MG 3 × 7.62 mm (0.300 in) MG 1 × Mk 19 grenade launcher 1 × 60 mm (2.4 in) internal mortar 12 × smoke grenades[source] | Remotely operated weapon station armed with coaxial 12.7mm machine gun and QLZ-04 automatic grenade launcher[source] |
|---|
| Power/weight | 18.8 kW/t[source] | 30.30 hp/tonne 27.8 hp/tonne (Enhanced armor package installed)[source] |
|---|
| Payload capacity | 48 rounds[source] | — |
|---|
| Transmission | Renk RK 325[source] | — |
|---|
| Suspension | Helical spring[source] | Hydropneumatic suspension[source] |
|---|
| Ground clearance | 0.45 m (1.5 ft)[source] | — |
|---|
| Fuel capacity | 1400 litres[source] | — |
|---|
| Engine | — | Electronically controlled diesel engine 8V132 with fully-automatic transmission 1[source] |
|---|
| Status | — | The Type 15 ( Chinese : 15式轻型坦克 ; pinyin : yīwǔ shì qīngxíng tǎnkè , also designated ZTQ15 ), codenamed the Black Panther ( Chinese : 黑豹 ; pinyin : hēi bào ), is a Chinese third generation light tank family operated by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force , People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps , and People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps [source] |
|---|
| Reported operators | — |
|
|---|