Thread by @talhaahmad967

Many have asked me about the efficiency of these Rockets fired by Hamas on Israeli Merkava tanks. Merkava IV is equipped with a trophy, an active protection system designed to protect it from anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) -1/n

It intercepts them by firing counter projectiles. However, not all variants of Merkava are equipped with an APS system. Merkava IV can survive not one but several Standard RPG-7 and grenades. Merkava IV is a big challenge but it also has its limitations in Urban settings -2/n

that are being exploited by Hamas. APS is not very effective when it comes to intercepting projectiles fired from a range less than 45m and very fast like Russian Kopyo SPG-9, Heavy Antitank Grenade Launcher, which does not give APS enough time to react. -3/n

Hamas is operating not standard PG-7 but PG-7VR tandem-charged with an explosively formed penetrator (EFP). Along with Al Yasin, an anti-tank tandem charged 105mm calibre rocket which is effective against reactive armour. -4/n

Tandem charge refers to a projectile having two or more stages of detonation. So basically the first stage impact creates a hole allowing the the remaining part of the projectile to penetrate the case of amour more easily.-5/n

Since the start of the war, we have seen multiple strategies executed by Hamas to deal with Israel Merkava IV Tanks.
1)Drone-dropped PG-7VR tandem heat PGs. Merkava IV is most vulnerable from the top. Hamas released a video of one successful attack. -5/n

https://twitter.com/i/status/1714038847195996286

IDF was preparing for such tactics when moving deeper into Gaza that's why we saw Merkava tanks on the Gaza border having "salt armour". -6/n

https://twitter.com/talhaahmad967/status/1714038772524892197

2) Firing Al Yassin 105 tandem heat Anti-Tank missile from 'zero distance' (<50m). Video released earlier had visuals suggesting these missiles bypassed Trophy to hit armoured vehicles But keep in mind any engagement from the rear would for sure lead to penetration. -7/n

Moreover, they likely fire multiple in quick succession.
3) Placing warhead right under the Trophy Active protection system on the Merkava tank, firing Al-Yassin after denoting the warhead to bypass the system. -8/n

4) Hamas also have AT-14 Kornet ATGMs, which were also used by Hezbollah during the ongoing border skirmishers with Israel, successfully targeting and destroying multiple Merkava IV Tanks. -9/n

5) Hamas also have operational Bulsae-2 laser-guided HEAT missiles.
Though I read reports about Kornet but still haven't seen any video or report mentioning the operationalization of Bulsae 2 yet during the ongoing conflict. -10/n

Having said that, there are multiple factors involved when it comes to these anti-tank missiles; distance, area of impact, and missile used but even in case it doesn't fully penetrate, any successfully hit Merkava would likely need repair or in cases would be beyond repair. -11/n