Repost from another forum.
Hi,
There are two distinct reasons why the IDF does not mount turreted 30 mm cannon and the like on its APCs and heavy tank based carriers. (I am not talking about the use of Gatlings and other rapid fire weapons,mounted on AFV platforms, but regular troop carriers.)
The reasons are -
Firstly, doctrine. Secondly, costs.
Doctrine. The IDF do not believe in the IFV. They would rather use APCs as a battle taxi, to deliver infantry onto an objective where they disembark and fight. IFVs are seen as expensive, over-complex and vulnerable. The job of fending off enemy MBTs and IFVs is left to tanks accompanying Israeli APCs.
Indeed the IDF has drawn the sensible conclusion that if anything, APCs need even heavier protection than the tanks they accompany. An MBT can stand off an objective and destroy it at a distance. Given boots on the ground are required to take and hold an objective, an APC is subject to greater risk than a tank.An APC has to advance through a fire beaten zone and deliver its infantry load on to the objective. Hence the Achzarit, designed as a heavy assault carrier, capable of crossing the rough terrain of the Lava fields west and south of Damascus, whilst survivng enemy fire.
The Achzarit is equipped with a remote weapon station. Unlike the turret of a typical IFV, this has a minimal internal footprint, it doesn't take up space and volume better used for the machine's primary purpose, carrying infantry. Those of you who have been in the Achzarit and an IFV, will know that although the former is cramped, there is much more room than say on a Bradley or Warrior.
Costs. Finance, as ever, is a real problem. If the IDF had more money it would have bought more remote weapon stations and equipped them with 7.62mm MAGS or 12.7mm weapons. I have also seen 40mm grenade launchers fitted to some of the Rafael remote weapon stations. Indeed the Achzarit, as first envisaged, was meant to have three of these stations armed with 7.62 MAGS.
When the IDF considered the Bradley, the first thing that Rafael did with some loaned vehicles, was strip off the turret, replace it with a simple remote weapon station and add extra applique armour. Unfortunately the suspension struggled with the extra weight.
Incidently it is a common mistake to think that the Achzarit was designed for urban warfare. It was not. It was intended for Combined Arms warfare in a heavy threat environment. Similarly the tank based low intensity warfare carriers such as the Nagmashot, Nagmachon and Nakpadon were designed for use in the hills of Lebanon, not the narrow streets of Hebron or Gaza.
cheers
Marsh Edited for clumsy fingers!
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