A recent video shared by DefenceBlog reveals how Palestinian fighters employed a tactic commonly seen in Ukraine to target an Israeli Merkava Mk 4 tank. The method involves using a drone to drop a grenade onto the tank.
In the attack, Hamas used an RPG-7 cumulative grenade, a tactic that has been prevalent in Ukraine for some time. The video shows the grenade landing on the rear part of the tank. However, it's unclear what specific damage was inflicted on the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Before the explosion, the Merkava Mk 4's unique ammunition separation could have potentially mitigated the damage. Unlike other modern tanks, the Merkava stores only four rounds in the crew compartment, with an additional 10 rounds stored in fireproof containers in the turret and hull.
The Merkava, exclusively used by the Israeli military, is considered by some to be the world's most advanced tank. Its features include robust armor and an array of weaponry, such as an IMI 120 mm gun, a 12.7 mm machine gun, two 7.62 mm rifles, and a 60 mm mortar.
The Merkava is equipped with moving armored plates that disperse the impact of incoming projectiles. It also has a massive shield on its bottom hull to repel attacks from anti-tank grenade launchers. Additional defensive features include jammers against radio-detonated explosives and the ability to create a smoke screen by injecting fuel into the intake manifold.
The RPG-7 missile, commonly used by Hamas fighters, has a shaped charge and can penetrate armor up to approximately 11.8 inches thick. However, this is generally insufficient to effectively target the latest armored vehicles.
