The Merkava is capable of carrying eight infantry soldiers or three litter patients along with the four man tank crew (commander, loader, gunner, and driver). Like the U.S. Abrams MBT, it can fire on the move.
The Wife on a Merkava II
The Merkava Mk.IV entered service in 2004. It is slightly larger than the Mk.III and has a new 120mm gun, new modular ballistic armor, and a new fire control system developed by El-Op. The Armored Corps Museum now has a Mk.IV on display, and we saw it in 2008.