Merkava Mk 1/Mk 2, Israel

Mag'ach (Upgraded M48/M60 series Patton) Israel

M48 Modified Patton - the original 200 ex-West German M48A2C procured in 1962-4 and modified during 1966-68 with 105 mm L7 rifled main gun and minor stowage arrangements. Approximately 40 served in,the 1967 Six Day War, the remaining M48 Pattons used by the Israelis were the 90 mm gun version. M48 Upgraded Patton (or Mag'ach) Some 600 plus Modified M48, M48, M48A1, M48A2 and M48A3 model vehicles upgraded 1968-75 (and unofficially called M48A4 by the Americans) to an equivalent M60 standard with V-12 AV-1790-2A diesel engine, new transmission, modified air filter boxes, low profile commander's cupola and VSS-2 white light/infra-red searchlight. Used extensively in 1973 YomKippurWar. M48 Mag'ach (Blazer ERA) - 1979-80 conversions of the Improved M48 Mag'ach together with over 150 M48A5 procured 1997-79 for Blazer reactive armour and heavier anti-aircraft/personnel armament. Used extensively in 1982 Lebanon War. M60/M60A1 Mag'ach - standard models procured 1970-77 and modified with Israeli equipment such as radios, stowage facilities etc. M60A1 version used in 1973 Yom Kippur war. M60/M60A1 Mag'ach (M1980) - the original M60 series Mag'ach tanks further upgraded with Blazer reactive armour, a new Israeli fire control system, CL-3030 IS-10 smoke discharger system, and heavier anti-aircraft/personnel armament. Used extensively in 1982 Lebanon War. Mag'ach 7 - standard M60A3 model procured from 1979 onwards and rebuilt 1988 onwards with new passive armour package for turret, hull and side skirts, new diesel engine, transmission and tracks and new state-of-the art fire control system equivalent to that fitted to the Merkava Mk 3. The designation 7 may well mean that there have been six previous Mag'ach model standards. Support vehicles based on the Mag'ach

chassis include the standard Israeli Army MET bulldozer blade, Full Track Width Mineplough and Mine Roller conversions by using add-on kits. The 17 M88 and 30 M88A1ARV used by the Israeli Army and based on M48 automative components Army have also been upgraded with the Blazer reactive armour and heavier anti-aircraft/personnel weapon package. The Israelis also operate some 50 odd M48/M60 AVLBs and 15 M728 Combat Engineer Vehicles all with local modifications.

Israeli Army Mag'ach with Blazer reactive armour package. Specification:

First prototype: 1966 First production: 1967-current (progressive upgrade programmes -some 800 M48 series and 1400 M60 series Fattens converted) Current user: Israel (400 plus M48 and 1400M60Mag'achs)

Crew: 4

Combat weight: M48 Mag'ach and OM6/OA1 Mag'ach include 1000 kg of Blazer ERA. blocks Powerpack: M48/M60/M60A1 Mag'ach TCM AVI 790-2A V-12 air-cooled diesel developing 750 hp and coupled to an Allison CD-850-6 automatic transmission; M60A3 Mag'ach TCM AVDS1790-6AV-12 air-cooled diesel engine developing 908 hp, coupled to an Allison CD-850-6B automatic transmission Armament: (main) 1 x 105 mm gun; (coaxial) 1 x 7.62 mmMG; (anti-aircraft) 1 x 12.7 mm and 2x7,62 mmMG; (anti-personnel) 1 x 60 mm light mortar No other accurate information is available.