Okay, now I have time.
The Merkava, meaning “chariot” was the first tank to be designed and produced in Israel, with the project beginning in 1970, following the British-Israeli deal on the Cheiftain falling apart in 1969. The project was spearheaded by Yisrael “Talik” Tal. And in April 1979 the first Merkava Siman 1 (Merkava Mark 1) would leave the production line and head towards Battalion 82 “Ga’ash” of Brigade 7 “Sa’ar Megulan”.
The brigade, up to this point had used the Shot Cal Bet, a further improvement of the Shot Cal Alef which the brigade had fought with in 1973.
Production of the Merkava Siman 1 would continue until September 1983. By this point the Merkava had participated in its first war, Operation Peace for Galilee, an Israeli invasion of Lebanon, in which they fought Palestinian militias and the Syrian army.
Brigade 211 “Yechidat Shomrey Yerushalaim” often abbreviated Yishay, and meaning Jerusalem Defenders Unit. Had entered the war with the Magach 6 Bet, M60A1 RISE which by then had gotten Israeli modifications, most notable the Baltan ERA (also known as Blazer) and the likes. The brigade would convert to Merkavas during the operation, they would reach Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, with Merkava Siman 1. My grandpa was involved with the unit’s conversion, as at the time he was the supplies officer of the brigade.
I believe the following photo is of officers of Brigade 211 inspecting one of their first Merkavas. There is a non-zero chance my grandpa is somewhere in the photo.
The Merkava Siman 1 has thin metal side-skirts, in Hebrew called Bazooka Plates. Like all mark 1s it has the basic rear turret storage basket, with the notable rounded corners.
Starting in September 1983 the Merkava Siman 2, retroactively re-designated 2 Alef (once the 2 Bet came about), began production. One of the issues with the mark 1 was the transmission, in the mark 2 a new transmission would be installed (Renk R304?). The keen-eyed would notice that between the Merkava Siman 1 and Siman 2, the line of bolts running down from the driver’s hatch to the glacis, had changed. This is due to the enlargment of the access hatch for the new transmission, and is an important identifior for Merkava Siman 2 Alef. Additionally the old rear turret storage basket would be replaced with a new “ballistic” one, much more similar to what we have on the mark 3 and 4.
Otherwise the vehicle looks very similar to Merkava Siman 1 and would be easy to get confused with. It would enter service in aformentioned brigades, 7 and 211. And would serve there until 1986 at least. It would continue serving in the reserves, I believe in Brigade 847 for example until 1990 at least. Eventually, I do not know when but before 2003, the Merkava Siman 2 Alef would become an ‘extinct’ tank, when all would be converted to 2 Bet.
Merkava Siman 2 Alef, of Brigade 7, Battalion 75 “Romach”, “Machatz” company. I believe during an exercise in 1986.
In October 1984, just thirteen months following the start of production of the Merkava Siman 2 Alef, the Merkava Siman 2 Bet would replace it in the production line, and would become the most iconic variant of the Mark 2. With new armor panels for the turret sides, a thermal capable gunner-sight, and an internal 60 mm mortar, instead of external.
I believe in 1988 or sometime around that they had recieved the smoke grenade launchers on either side of the turret. Again, it would enter service in Brigades 211 and 7, Brigade 7 would continue to use this variant until 2014, and Brigade 211 would dissolve with this variant in 1992. Brigade 847 would begin converting away from this variant to Merkava Siman 4 in 2016 but would be dissolved in 2020. And Brigade 10 would convert away from the Merkava Siman 2 Bet in 2020 as well, being the last unit to operate a Merkava Mark 2.
Merkava Siman 2 Bet serial number 815837 fresh off the production line sometime in the 1980s.
The exact same tank, 815837 as spotted by a friend of mine… Somewhere, not too long ago.
There is one variant of the Mark 2 which did not see service in the timeframe which you have asked about, the Merkava Siman 2 LeBatash. Also known online as Merkava Mark 2D. Came about in 1997/98, and for that vehicle if you are interested I can reccomend Michael Mass’ and Adam O’brian’s book on it, Desert Eagle Publishing number 32. I have it in my library.
Regarding the Merkava Mark 1 Hybrid, or as it was actually called Merkava Siman 1 Meshupar, meaning “improved”. I have an internal IDF booklet from 1987 detailling tank variants in the IDF which I will not share here, but I will say that variant is absent. I have seen a part’s plate stating that it was from a Merkava Siman 1 and it had been revamped in 1991. So I am inclined to believe that sometime in 1991 or roughly around that era, Merkava Siman 1 was brought up in some capacity to Merkava Siman 2 Bet standard. Receiving smoke launchers, thermal capable gunnersight and the likes. Michael Mass explains in his literature that this variant was more or less a combination of retrofits which were given to Mark 1s over the years.
They would serve until 2014, when Brigades 263 and 264 finished dissolving.
(There is also a rare variant of a Merkava Siman 1 Meshupar with the turret armor modules from a Merkava Siman 2 Bet! I believe it was called Merkava Siman 1 Bet but I have no proof! One is accesible to the public in the Brigade 7 memorial near their base in the Golan Heights!)
Flag kits for tanks serial numbers 829976, 829977, and 829978 photographed when serial production and transferral of the first Merkava Siman 3s to the IDF Armored Corps on the 16th of May 1990.
Regarding the Merkava Siman 3. In early 1989, serial number 829969, which is today at the Yad LaShiryon tank museum, was sent to IDF Range 24 for testing! So it did exist then! In May 1990 the production line had openned up, tanks were seemingly already going out to units.
I am pretty certain that they did manage to enter service with some parts of Brigade 188 “Barak” before the dissolval of the USSR in 1991. Although I know for sure that the brigade continued operating Shot Cal Dalet tanks until 1992 at least.
