Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: fiddler@Sun.COM (Steve Hix)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: MBT Tank Turrets - (question)
Message-ID: <7605@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 20 Jun 89 03:47:34 GMT
References: <7405@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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From: fiddler@Sun.COM (Steve Hix)

In article <7405@cbnews.ATT.COM>, cindi%bucsb.BU.EDU@bu-it.bu.edu (Cynthia Fong) writes:
> 
>     In the Israeli Merkava with it's turret behind the engine, I can see a
> lot of advantages going for it :
>     
>     a) Extra protection provided by the mass of the engine in front of the
>        crew and ammo.

This is where a tank's armor is usually heaviest anyway...the engine in back
should provide a bit of mass where the armor is thin.

>     b) Fast evacuation for the crew in case of emergencies through the back
>        exit, an option not available for the "middle turret" tank crews.
>        This, I'm  sure saves a lot of lives as a lot of tank crews were 
>        killed whilst exiting through top hatches in face of enemy fire.
>        (of course this assuming that it is knocked out)

Several types of tanks have a belly hatch for such departures.  This has
the advantage of providing a bit of cover once you're outside.  Bailing
out during battle often has the disadvantage of putting your soft self 
out where bits of hard stuff are zipping about at high rates.