The Israelis have at least two ex-tank APCs.
One uses a Centurion hull, the other a T-55.
The Merkava is another kettle of fish altogether.
What little reading I have done suggests that tanks have peaked as far as mass
goes and that future tanks will be smaller, having a lot of parts in common
with the same generation APCs to reduce costs. Small, low vehicles with remote
turrets... How boring. The Maus, that was a tank (unless you needed to either
move it or equipment a regiment with them).
Here's a page with pics of a model of the Centurion APC and the T-55
APC:
http://www.elitegrp.com.lb/modeling/arabisrael/gallery1.htm
The names are "Akhzarit" (ex-T-55, though you'd hardly know it) and
"Nagmash'ot" (ex-Centurion, and much more recognizable). Anyone know
what the names mean?
> On Tue, 1 Feb 2000, Robin Paul wrote:
> Here's a page with pics of a model of the Centurion APC and the T-55
wow, great models....really great models...
> The names are "Akhzarit" (ex-T-55, though you'd hardly know it) and
Funny, I got curious about the pronunciation and asked a friend of mine
to look it up. Achzarit (ach-zah-RHEET I think) roughly translates as
the masculine form of Cruelty...