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Armor/AFV: IDF [Israeli Defense Forces]
Armor and AFVs of the IDF army from 1947-today.
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No balls and chains on early Merkava I's?
rowdycat
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Posted: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 - 08:44 PM UTC
Some photos of Merkava Mk I's show that they did not have the balls and chains on the rear of the turret> Is this correct?
Thank you
Rowdycat
Tankerman
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Posted: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 - 08:50 PM UTC
Yes. It is true that the early Merkava I did not have the ball and chain anti RPG screen fitted. Photos through their first combat in Lebanon show them without it.

HTH
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 - 08:55 PM UTC
The feature was added after the war based on the experience gained...
GTDeath13
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Posted: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 - 09:20 PM UTC
The first Merkava I vehicles had no antiskid too. This was added later, after the Merkava II came into service.

You can model a Merkava I with the following configurations:

Without balls and chains and no antiskid

With balls and chains and no antiskid

With balls and chains plus antiskid.

I have not seen a vehicle with antiskid but without balls and chains.







grunt136mike
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Posted: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 - 08:27 AM UTC
Hi;

Now if you want, you can go back even further than this and mount A M-48 turret on the Merkava hull. early in the Development the M-48 turret was installed while the turret was being developed and the hull was under-going test's ! Many years ago I made this conversion useing the old Tamiya Merkava and A M-48 turret.

CHEERS; MIKE.
Frenchy
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Posted: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 - 03:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi;

Now if you want, you can go back even further than this and mount A M-48 turret on the Merkava hull.







H.P.
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Thursday, April 27, 2017 - 12:10 AM UTC

Quoted Text

early in the Development the M-48 turret was installed while the turret was being developed and the hull was under-going test's !



Correct. An M48 turret was used as a counterweight.

ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Thursday, April 27, 2017 - 12:15 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The first Merkava I vehicles had no antiskid too. This was added later, after the Merkava II came into service.



AFAIK the rear hull-baskets appeared on the Mk.II as well.
frogman_13
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Posted: Friday, August 04, 2017 - 09:14 AM UTC
That is incorrect information. The ball and chain device feature was incorporated in the design as a retrofit DURING the 1982 war and there are some very well known photos of Merkava-1 tanks of the 200th reserve brigade advancing in the streets of Beirut clearly showing the chains.
GTDeath13
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Posted: Friday, August 04, 2017 - 02:25 PM UTC

Quoted Text

That is incorrect information. The ball and chain device feature was incorporated in the design as a retrofit DURING the 1982 war and there are some very well known photos of Merkava-1 tanks of the 200th reserve brigade advancing in the streets of Beirut clearly showing the chains.



why is it incorrect? The first Merkavas entered service with the IDF in 1978 or 1979, if I recall correctly. Since the ball and chain were fitted in 1982, the operational vehicles before 1982 were without ball and chain.

If you are reffering to the posts that Merkava I tanks without ball and chain were deployed at Lebanon in 1982, I will have to agree with you. Almost all of the photos available from that operation show the ball and chains fitted.
juljon
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Posted: Friday, August 04, 2017 - 03:27 PM UTC
Hi Guys,

the reason why the ball and chains were fitted it was found that RPG and other projectiles hit the tank underneath the rear basket and exploded used to lift the turret off the hull.
so the balls and chains were fitted to explode the projectile before it could hit the rear of the turret.
glock17c
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Posted: Friday, August 04, 2017 - 05:41 PM UTC
Ed is right
There were Ball N chain on Merkava Mk. 1 of the 211 Brigade in their move along the shore line towards Beirut.
Many photos shown them with this feature.

and.. yes.. not all Mk. 1 in 1982 had those chains.

Michael
JSSVIII
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Posted: Friday, August 04, 2017 - 06:38 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Hi;

Now if you want, you can go back even further than this and mount A M-48 turret on the Merkava hull.







H.P.

It looks like you would have to make some modifications to the sponsons to make that work, I wish there were better photos.

I would love to see some photos of yours Mike, sounds cool!
juljon
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Posted: Saturday, August 05, 2017 - 01:12 AM UTC
Hi guys,

Desert Eagle Publication are bringing out book number 20 on the Merkava 1 and the Merkava 1 Hybrid.
knewton
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Posted: Saturday, August 05, 2017 - 02:50 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi guys,

Desert Eagle Publication are bringing out book number 20 on the Merkava 1 and the Merkava 1 Hybrid.



And Sabinga Martin...
https://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/sabingamartin.html

Both were released within days on each other, and the Takom announcement.
SabIngaMartin
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Posted: Saturday, August 05, 2017 - 08:38 AM UTC
There was NO ball and chains on Merkava 1 tank in the beginning of the Lebanon war in 1982, including in 211 Brigade and any one that say so make mistake. See full explanation and supporting info in my new book as posted above by K. Newton.

Robert

Dr. Robert Manasherob
www.SabIngaMartin.com
propnut1940
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Posted: Thursday, August 10, 2017 - 10:16 PM UTC
This might not be the proper forum, but I am building the Hobby Boss Merkava IV, and am having big problems with the ball/chain. I have heard that single piece castings are available, but can't find them. Can anyone help me with that info?
GeraldOwens
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Posted: Thursday, August 10, 2017 - 11:09 PM UTC

Quoted Text

This might not be the proper forum, but I am building the Hobby Boss Merkava IV, and am having big problems with the ball/chain. I have heard that single piece castings are available, but can't find them. Can anyone help me with that info?



Airwaves had cast white metal ball and chain armor. They needed some serious clean-up, but were usable. It was set number Airwaves - Nr. AFV35007.
I haven't seen that set in many years, though Hannants has reissued the Airwaves photoetch brass sets recently.
rfbaer
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Posted: Friday, August 11, 2017 - 07:12 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi guys,

Desert Eagle Publication are bringing out book number 20 on the Merkava 1 and the Merkava 1 Hybrid.



Perfect timing!
propnut1940
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Posted: Friday, August 11, 2017 - 09:27 PM UTC
Thanks! I now have a starting place.
Jerry
youngtiger1
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Posted: Thursday, August 17, 2017 - 11:09 AM UTC
Great bunch of information here about Merkava I. I really need to get some of those Desert Eagle Publications.

Is there a list of information online that shows pics by pic with whats the difference in the IDF MBT?
glock17c
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Posted: Thursday, August 17, 2017 - 05:50 PM UTC
See some photos from Peace for Galilee operation in 1982, showing Merkava 1 WITH BallN Chain in Beirut and on the road along the sea shore.
In my FB page here:
https://www.facebook.com/Desert-Eagle-Publishing-717786671630653/
And my new Merkava 1 book with page samples and some extra photos in here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/deserteagle.publishing/

Shabbat Shalom to all IDF modeling fans
Michael Mass
youngtiger1
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Posted: Friday, August 18, 2017 - 09:49 AM UTC
Nice photos on your FB page. Thanks for sharing and Shabbat Shalom to you as well.
cabasner
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Posted: Friday, December 08, 2017 - 10:47 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The first Merkava I vehicles had no antiskid too. This was added later, after the Merkava II came into service.

You can model a Merkava I with the following configurations:

Without balls and chains and no antiskid

With balls and chains and no antiskid

With balls and chains plus antiskid.

I have not seen a vehicle with antiskid but without balls and chains.



Nikos,

Thanks for this info, sir! I now have both the Takom Merkava Mk.1 and the Mk. 1 Hybrid. Based on your info, I'm thinking I'll make the Mk. 1 with the balls and chains with no antiskid, but do the b&c AND antiskid for the Hybrid. A little more variety in the display of these tanks when they are both done!
GTDeath13
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Posted: Friday, December 08, 2017 - 04:34 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Nikos,

Thanks for this info, sir! I now have both the Takom Merkava Mk.1 and the Mk. 1 Hybrid. Based on your info, I'm thinking I'll make the Mk. 1 with the balls and chains with no antiskid, but do the b&c AND antiskid for the Hybrid. A little more variety in the display of these tanks when they are both done!



I am going for this option too.

Just have to find the correct stowage setup...
 _GOTOTOP