Merkava.

[kevineduguay1]

From another site....


"Following the model of contemporary self-propelled howitzers, the turret assembly is located nearer the rear than in most main battle tanks. This gives the crew additional protection against a frontal attack by putting the engine between them and the front of the tank. This arrangement also creates an otherwise unused space in the rear of the tank that allows increased storage capacity, as well as a rear entrance to the main crew cabinet allowing easy access even under enemy fire. This allows the tank to be used as a platform for medical disembarkation, a forward command and control station, and an armored personnel carrier. The rear entrance's clamshell-style doors provide overhead protection when off- and on-loading cargo and personnel"

[Imp]

There is no disputing it can carry some passengers that much is obvious, unless you can find a better photo though Merk rear compartment is a tight space with 8 troops on board causing ammo to be stored against the rear hull.
The crew compartment is seperated from it by a wall with a doorway on the left (if facing tank front)
This arrangement looks therefore like it is not possible to use the storred ammo with passengers on board.
From a storage point of view does look more sensible than it sounds.
Rear hull has 2 large bustles attached with additional equipment in which will help defeat HEAT.
The ammo is as far away from the crew as possible & in a seperate compartment if fire fighting equipment needs to go off.
Any penetration in the dead space where the engine normaly is should be survivable by the tank with at worst some crew injury if internal wall spalls, several videos showing this.

[Marcello]

Originally Posted by kevineduguay1

From another site....
This arrangement also creates an otherwise unused space in the rear of the tank that allows increased storage capacity, as well as a rear entrance to the main crew cabinet allowing easy access even under enemy fire. This allows the tank to be used as a platform for medical disembarkation, a forward command and control station, and an armored personnel carrier.

Putting the engine to the front does not automatically create any new space. By itself it only makes possible rear access and the creation of a multipurpose rear compartment.
But it a design choice which comes with trade offs.
Otherwise a simple "engine to the front" configuration would result in something like this:


Not much in the way of storage space, even if a rear hatch was added.

The Centauro has a configuration similar to Merkava: front engine, rear turret and rear hull access. But adding troops there means reducing ammo (or creating a lenghtened version, as it was done).

[Imp]

It is quite intresting actually if you look at a Merk side profile the turret is not that far back compared to a standard layout. This begs the question where is the fuel thats a very compact engine bay if a reasonable amount is stored forward. My thinking is wherever they have put the rest of the fuel has created the rear storage space.
Very quick unsubstantiated look capacity is between Leo 2 + Chally, Abrams obviously needs to carry a lot more.

[kevineduguay1]

If you had bothered to read that very disorganised site I posted you would have known thet the fuel in a Merk is stored between the hull plates. In other words both sides of the hull are the fuel tank. This arrangement also reduces the effect of HEAT rounds. The diesel fuel helps extingish the jet produced by an exploding HEAT round. It also eliminates the need for traditional fuel tanks ans saves more space in the vehicle. It is a self sealing system.


/Steel/Fuel/Steel/ Space \Steel\Fuel\Steel\

[Marcello]

Originally Posted by kevineduguay1

/Steel/Fuel/Steel/ Space \Steel\Fuel\Steel\

I would not be so sure of that. Granted, I can't vouch for the source but it seems consistent with what I have seen elsewhere in terms of composite armor.



I have not done any analysis of this pic but I don't see any sign of fuel leaks there.

[Imp]

The main tanks are I think beside the engine bay & either side on rear flanks, sandwiching between inner & outer hull would be a sensible place to stick those.

[kevineduguay1]

I can't explain it but I'm sticking by what I posted as fact.

Go to the MBT thread and read what FASTBOAT TOUGH posted. And watch the videos!