Tank Merkava II

Merkava tank design works began in 1970. In Israel at that time there was no tank's industry or experience in this matter at all. It was started from scratch, like so much else in this country. Israel Tal, the commander of IDF armored troops was leader in developing of Merkava tanks. They began with an analysis of the statistics of hits to the tanks during previous wars and envisioning: secured and firepower at the expense of mobility.
Behind the tower is visible the protection against shaped-charge projectiles in the form of poles and chains with little weights.