Merkava carries infantry.From memory the Merkava is the heaviest MBT made, this extra girth is all the armor I am sure. No doubt the RPG's are jacking up the armor, to what degree is the question. With the Ukraine conflict we see countless videos of secondary and sometimes tertiary cook offs and explosions, blown off turrets etc.. I am waiting to see that yet with the Gaza coverage.
Whatever weakness that has eroded into the IDF over the years of inaction is going to be quickly compensated for, the Israelis are incredibly smart and capable when motivated. One would think a 9/11 level attack would be very galvanizing on a nation.
It’s a heavy armored/gunned APC.
Got to be cramped as fuck in there but releasing some infantry after breakthrough has to be a good thing.