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3 hours ago, N-L-M said:

Renk 304 which goes with the 1200 HP AVDS 1790

Do you have a source stating explicitly that Renk 304 is the transmission used on Merk Mk.2-3? I´m convinced from photo evidence that´s indeed the case but i´ve been unable to find a source proving it unequivocally. 

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What about the Merk 3 chassis makes you consider it impossible to convert in such a manner? Doubly so, that you consider it more likely that they went to all the trouble to convert a merk 2 chassis to merk 3 suspension?

This is especially odd given that we've already seen one based on a Merk 3 hull:

44167245572_bed89d9567_c.jpg

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18 minutes ago, Serge said:

Because the rear hull of the Mk-3 based Ofek is not extended. The clamshell rear door is kept. 
This Mk-2´s got a ramp.

Ok, so 2 questions.

1. What is the source for the claim that the mk3 based Ofek retains the clamshell doors and was not converted to a ramp?

2. Seeing as we know that one mk2 Ofek has the clamshell and one has a ramp, how is it more sensible to assume that the entire suspension was replaced off the hull rather than, say, another mk3 Ofek existing, this one with a ramp too?

 

The pics in the post we are discussing have a Merk 3 sponson and Merk 3 suspension. Seeing as the Ofek doesn't appear to be in series production yet, and is by all accounts supposed to be a quick and cheap repurposed hull, even if we assume point 1 as given, the odds are good that its another prototype, not a case of "lets take a Merk 2 hull and start making deep complex changes in it".

This appears to be an assumption on your part that I have a hard time accepting.

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1 - it’s easier to move both battery and CBRN compartment than rearrange the Mk-3 fuel tanks.
2 - suspension modifications were already made with Centurion based chassis. 

First third of Mk-2 and 3 sponsons are similar and we can’t see the rear part.
I don’t know if it’s in series production after 5 years, but, strangely, it appears in plenty of ceremonies.

I’m not sure they need a large number of them (they have the same satellite communication on the move capability with the Namer now) but it’s easier to maintain. 

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5 minutes ago, Serge said:

1 - it’s easier to move both battery and CBRN compartment than rearrange the Mk-3 fuel tanks.
2 - suspension modifications were already made with Centurion based chassis. 

First third of Mk-2 and 3 sponsons are similar and we can’t see the rear part

1. Fuel tanks are very easy to move, what with fuel being liquid. Also we have some pics of blown up merk 3s which suggest the rear fuel tanks are just bolted on, which would make them fairly easy to remove: 

9qixlbzmrzv31.jpg

2. The most the Israelis ever did to Centurion hulls was fit them for Merk 2 bogies, which may have been designed with a similar interface in the first place; as we have previously discussed, the hull body for the single swing arm suspension is substantially different, and would require major hull cutting, welding, and machining operations, hardly a minor deal.

 

3. There are a few differences in the front sponson between the 2 and 3. One is the exact location of the red handle, which is slightly aft and high in the merk 3 vs the 2; another is the slight dimples in the side, presumably where the armor pack is, which isn't a thing in the 2; and a third is the single headlamp in the 3, where the 2 has a double (white/IR) headlight.

All of which point to this being a merk 3 sponson.

 

So yeah I don't buy the "converted merk 2 to merk 3 suspension" claim, given the current evidence.

 

Should new photos come up we should revisit this topic.

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On 2/22/2021 at 6:42 AM, Newtonk said:

Taken from an Israeli site, the interior of an Ofek, the love child of a Merkava and I don’t know what... a M577 Mugaf?

That "Israeli site" you reffer to is actually the Forum i manage and admin - and the photos were posted by me. At least have the courtesy of giving proper credit!

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