Sweet Israeli tank modifications

Before starting the production of their own Merkava tank, Israel was forced for quite some time to buy and use second rate equipment. To even the odds, they introduced overhauls, upgrades, and changes of larger subcomponents. I'll post some of my favorites here, a bit randomly...



The M60... a Sherman equipped with the Hyper Velocity Medium Support 60 mm AT gun!



The Sabra, a modernised M60A3, equipped with the 120 mm smoothbore gun later destined for the Merkava Mk. III



The Magach 7A, a extensively modernized version of the M48.



The Tiran, a captured T-54/55, with the old guns switched in favor of the 105 mm gun used in the Centurion and Patton tanks (not sure if it has been replaced in those picture, though)

Add some of your favorte vehicles !

All pictures and information found at: http://www.israeli-weapons.com/

 

Panzerman:
Look closely at the rear deck of that ISherman M-60. 'Looks like a muffler and exhaust-pipe to me. Leave it to the Israelis' to take the Sherman to new levels. That big french 105mm version makes for the ultimate Sherman I think.
I'm a big fan of Israeli armor. Who could forget those crews and their Centurians defending the Golan Heights. They fought like tigers and their Centurians made their mark in history.
Who but the Israelis would use captured T-62s, re-gunned with 105mm main guns, re-engined diesels and a turret bustle to make the Ti-67?
The Merkava wass a unique solution to a unique requirement, and a deadly MBT able to carry infantry. I always liked the unique shape of it's turret and alot of it's design solutions.
Yes, they always found a way to make the most of what they had... and also with whatever they might capture from the enemy!

Tim

 

Dont forget the M-51 Sherman that has a 105mm gun

 

Yeah, but it was the French CN-105-F1, a smooth-bore weapon that fired ONLY HE and HEAT rounds until sometime in the early eighties...