July 20, 2007:
Israel has put
its new Nemer IFV (infantry fighting vehicle), which is based on the chassis of
older Merkava I and II series tanks, into production. The Nemer will be built
from the chassis of older Merkavas that are being retired. Thus Nemer will have
the thick armor of the Merkava. With the turret removed, a remotely controlled
(from inside the vehicle) heavy machine-gun has been added.
The Merkava lends itself to
this kind of modification, because the engine is mounted in the front and there
is already a door in the back of the vehicle. The Israelis liked the speed of
the Stryker, which they considered ordering, but they felt they will still be
fighting in urban areas, against Palestinian terrorists, in the next ten years.
There, the Nemer has an edge, because of its thicker armor. Out in the open,
the Stryker has an edge. If the Israelis cannot afford to build enough Nemers,
they will add armor to their existing supply of M-113 APCs. But based on tests,
trooper prefer the Nemer.
The Nemer will carry eleven
people (a driver, gunner, vehicle commander and eight infantry). The passenger
compartment is also equipped with a stretcher, that enables one casualty to be
carried along with a full load of 11 troops. In addition to the remotely controlled
12.7mm machine-gun, there is also a roof hatch on the left forward part of the
vehicle, for the commander to use, and also operate a 7.62mm machine-gun. The
vehicle also has the Merkava battle management system, as well as four cameras
providing 360 degree vision around the vehicle. The remotely controlled
machine-gun has a night vision sight. The vehicle also has a toilet, an
addition based on troop feedback (and many missions where they had to stay on
board for up to 24 hours at a time in combat zones.)
Israel has over two
hundred Merkava I tanks, the oldest are
at least 25 years old. Removing the turret leaves you with a 44 ton Nemer, the
heaviest IFV ever built. Earlier, Israel had experimented with using T-55 and
Centurian tanks as IFVs. This did not work because the engines in these
vehicles were in the rear, where the exit doors of AFVs usually are. Thus
troops had to enter and exit via top hatches. This was not a good idea in
combat. When the older Merkavas became available, IFV conversions were an
obvious application. Israeli troops were not happy with their elderly and
poorly protected M113 APCs (Armored Personnal Carriers), and were eager to get
a safer vehicle.
The first fifteen Nemers will
be delivered next year, and over a hundred more will eventually equip two
combat brigades.