M-51 "Isherman"

     Notes:  The Israelis began using Sherman tanks pretty much since day one of their country in 1948, and the last tank versions were used in combat as late as 1973’s Yom Kippur War.  They have also formed the basis of more types of vehicles than any other is Israeli service, from armored ambulances to ground-to-ground missile launchers.  One of these versions was the M-51, a heavily-modified version produced (at first) with French assistance; the M-51 was the version of the Sherman primarily used during the 1973 War.  Most were modified in the late 1960s, with some 180 eventually being modified.

     The M-51 grew out of a desire by the Israelis to keep their Shermans in service a bit longer; they also realized that the Sherman was pretty much outclassed by the tank designs of the early and mid-1960s (especially the T-54 and T-55, which were becoming common among Israel’s enemies).  The predecessor of the M-51, the M-50, used a high-velocity CN-75-50 75mm gun which could wreck earlier tank designs, but had a lot of difficulty against the frontal armor of the T-54 and T-55.  The Israelis wanted to mount the French CN-105 F1 105mm gun in the M-50’s turret, but the Sherman could not mount a large enough turret to take up the recoil space of any 105mm tank gun design at the time.  The Israelis took delivery of the guns, but then modified them greatly by shortening the gun’s length to 44 calibers, which greatly reduced the required recoil space by accepting a drastic reduction in the gun’s muzzle velocity.  In addition, the gun’s muzzle was tipped with a large, multi-baffle muzzle brake, and a counterweight was fitted in the mantlet to balance the weight of the long gun barrel.  The turret was extremely cramped, but the gun fit into a modified version of the M-50’s turret.  The modified gun was called by the Israelis the CN-105 D1; the ammunition was a modified form of that fired by the AMX-30’s main gun.

     Of course, the Israelis did not stop there with their modifications.  The hull of the M-51 was based on the M-4A1 Sherman, but the suspension was replaced with E8 HVSS-type suspension.  The engine was replaced with a Cummins 460-horsepower diesel engine, with an automatic transmission and a steering yoke; the tracks were also widened for better traction in sand.  The bustle of the turret was enlarged to allow for some ammunition storage.  The large and bulky battery charger of the Sherman was replaced with a compact dynamo-type charger.  The gun’s hydraulic controls were replaced with controls based on those of the AMX-13 light tank, which were quicker to respond and less maintenance-intensive.  Over the main armament, a white-light/IR searchlight was fitted, and two smoke grenade launchers were mounted on each side of the turret.  The glacis, hull sides, and turret sides have been fitted with appliqué armor.  The M-51 does not have a radio operator’s position or a hull machinegun; these have been replaced with racks for main gun ammunition.

     When the Chileans bought most of Israel’s surplus M-50 and M-51 tanks, about 50-65 of them were modified with a new Israeli autocannon: the 60mm HVMS (Hyper-Velocity Medium Support).  These were designated the M-60 (but sometimes called the M-51/60mm or M-51 [HVMS]).  The guns were sold to the Chileans separate from the tanks, with Chilean engineers fitting them to the tanks with Israeli assistance in Chile.  These were used for a little over a decade as heavy support vehicles for infantry and as ad hoc AAA vehicles.  Matching fire control systems were fitted, and this, combined with the high velocity and flat trajectory of the 60mm HVMS, gave the Chileans a surprisingly accurate and effective support tank despite the fire control systems’ relative simplicity.  In addition, mobility is increased, as the suspension is beefed up and the engine and transmission are replaced with ones adapted from those of the Cadillac Gage Stingray light tank; the engine develops 535 horsepower.  The use of an autocannon made a loader crewman unnecessary.  Though the war with Peru that the Chileans were preparing for never materialized, it was believed by the Chileans that the 60mm HVMS autocannon would have been able to kill Peruvian T-55s even from the front.  The Chileans continued to employ their M-60s (and M-50s and M-51s) until the mid-1990s; after that, most of them ended up as gunnery targets.  The 60mm HVMS autocannons, however, were removed and mounted in license-built 6x6 Piranhas manufactured in Chile.

     It should be noted that the Israelis never called the M-51 the Isherman; this was an appellation hung on it by the Western press (Isherman = I-Sherman = Improved Sherman). 

Magach Series

     Notes: The Israelis have been using the Magach (the Israeli name for the M-48 and M-60 Pattons) since the early 1960s.  The Israelis had attempted to buy M-48s from the US since 1955, but they had been repeatedly rebuffed.  In the early 1960s, they signed a deal with West Germany to purchase 150 M-48A2s, but due to political pressure (primarily from Arabic nations) the deal was nullified after only 40 were delivered.  The US then decided to sell the Israelis the remaining 110 M-48A2s as well as another 100 M-48s.  During the Six-Day War of 1967, they managed to capture intact another 100 M-48s and M-48A1s from Jordan.  The Israelis later themselves undertook the modification of these into M-48A3 standards, and later M-48A5 standards (though their M-48A5s are a bit different than standard M-48A5s).

     Israel began receiving M-60A1 tanks from the US in 1971.  After massive tank losses during the 1973 war, the US rushed large amounts of M-48A3, M-48A5, and M-60A1 to Israel – much of the latter being taken from stocks that were actually intended for US Army units.  In the late 1970s, more M-48A5s arrived, and in the early 1980s, some 300 M-60A3s. 

Magach 3/5

     But the Israelis have always had a penchant for modifying their weapons to better suit their purposes. The Israeli M-48s were modified to M-48A5 standard – with a few extra features.  The Israeli M-48A5s (though in some sources, these Israeli-modified M-48A5s are referred to as M-48A4s) have a low-profile Israeli-designed Urdan cupola, and normally use MAG machineguns instead of M-60s and M-219s.  The Urdan cupola reduces somewhat the already-high silhouette of the M-48; in addition, the commander can lock the hatch closed, all the way open, or in an intermediate position that forms a sort of roof over the commander’s hatchway opening; the commander can therefore look out of the hatch, and around the vehicle to a great extent and yet still have a good chance of not getting his head shot off by small arms fire.  Israeli M-48A5s have lugs for reactive armor on their turret front, turret side, and hull front, and appliqué armor has been added to the glacis, turret front, and turret sides, with side skirts also being added.  Though sometimes referred to in the West as the “Magach 1,” the Israelis simply call this version of the M-48A5 “Magach.”  In the same way, the M-60A1 and M-60A3 have been called the “Magach 2” and Magach 3,” though the correct designations in the IDF are the Magach 3 for M-48s, M-48A1s, M-48A2s, and M-48A3s brought up to this Israeli M-48A5 standard, and Magach 5 for Israeli M-48A5s brought to that standard.

     The Israeli M-48-based Magach fleet is largely out of service except for some training purposes (mostly as gunnery targets, and useless for combat purposes).  Many were also sold to other countries.

Magach 6

     The Israelis refer to the more-or-less stock M-60s, M-60A1s, and M-60A3s in the IDF as Magach 6s.  They do, however, have their cupolas replaced with Urdan cupolas, and have lugs for ERA.  Coaxial and commander’s machineguns are replaced by MAG machineguns. For game purposes, they are otherwise identical to their US counterparts.

     The Magach 6B has been modified with a RISE automotive train, simplifying maintenance and repair of the engine and transmission.  The tracks have also been replaced with the same tracks as the Merkava Mk 1, simplifying supply issues.  In some Magach 6Bs, the fifth roadwheel on each side has been replaced with a steel roadwheel (standard M-60 roadwheels are aluminum), as the Israelis found that the No. 5 roadwheel is the most prone to failure.  The main gun has been a thermal sleeve to reduce barrel droop.  They also have lugs for ERA and the Urdan cupola.  These tanks are also otherwise identical to their US counterparts.  The Magach 6B went into service in the early-1980s.

     The Magach 6B Gal is identical to the Magach 6B, but with a new fire control system (the Gal Fire Control System) and a roomier bustle rack.  The Magach 6B Gal is otherwise identical to the standard M-60A3 for game purposes.  The Magach 6B Gal Batash is the Magach 6B with new lugs for mounting 4^th Generation ERA.  The glacis, lower front hull, turret front, and turret sides have appliqué armor, and armored side skirts have been added.  The Magach 6B Gal appeared in the early-1990s, with the Magach 6B Gal Batash appearing in the mid-1990s.

Magach 7

     Concurrent with the Magach 6B, the Israelis developed the Magach 7.  The Magach 7 (the first iteration being the Magach 7A) took a different approach to upgrading the M-60A1 and A3.  The most obvious external difference is the thick, spaced armor added to the hull front and sides and turret front and sides.  Lugs for ERA are also present on the Magach 7.  Other modifications include the fire control system, being Israeli-built; when necessary (as on M-60A1-based Magach 7s), modifications to fire control were extensive, including main stabilization.  The Magach 7 also has a minimal hunter-killer capability, with the commander having an image intensifier separate from the gunner’s sights, as well as his own sights for the main gun.  The standard Urdan cupola has also been fitted.  The main gun has been given a thermal sleeve, and the original machineguns on the M-60A1 and A3 have been replaced with MAG machineguns.  The ammunition racks have been modified to allow them to store long-rod APFSDS rounds.  The Magach 7 uses the same engine as the Merkava 1, the AVDS-1790-5A developing 908 horsepower, with a matching transmission.  The Magach 7 began service in the mid-1980s.  The Magach 7C has redesigned appliqué armor, primarily for maintenance purposes, and for game purposes, is identical to the Magach 7A.  The Magach 7D Kochav is equipped with "saucer"-shaped armor for the turret and better armor for the hull, resulting in superior protection and better armor sloping for less shot traps.

Sabra

     Notes:  The Sabra is in many ways similar to the Magach 7, as it uses similar appliqué spaced armor with a better ballistic shape, leading to a turret with a wedge-shaped front and slightly-sloped sides, as well as a larger bustle rack.  The armor of glacis and lower front hull is likewise improved, and side skirts are added – essentially, the armor is improved virtually all over.  New fire control and night vision equipment have been heavily upgraded (in a similar system to the Magach 7), and the engine is also the AVDS-1790-5A, with the same transmission and driver controls.  Israel herself does not use the Sabra, but it is offered for export (primarily as an upgrade kit for existing M-60 tanks), and Turkey has taken advantage of this in a big way.

     Perhaps the greatest difference between the Sabra and the Magach 7 is the main gun – it is the same 120mm IMI gun as used on the Merkava Mk 3.  The Sabra likewise uses the same turret-mounted 60mm mortar as the Merkava series (though. Like the Merkava Mk 1, it must be externally-loaded).  The Israelis offer an interesting option for the Sabra if a customer wishes it – the coaxial MAG machinegun may be replaced with a Minimi 5.56mm SAW.  The commander’s and loader’s machineguns can also be replaced by Minimis if desired, and the commander’s cupola is an Urdan cupola. The Sabra also has lugs for ERA on the glacis, turret front, turret sides, and hull sides.

     The Sabra Mk 2 is a Sabra that itself has been modernized.  Chief among these modifications is the armor package; it offers somewhat more protection, and is modular so that damage can be repaired more easily and more modern armor packages can be fitted when available.  On each side of the turret are six smoke grenade launchers.  The night vision suite has been upgraded, and LCD panel screens give the commander and gunner a wide variety of information to make their operations more efficient.  The Mk 2 has laser and IR detection systems to inform the crew when they are being laser designated or targeted by IR sources.  Ammunition in the turret bustle (10 rounds) are protected by blow-off panels similar to those of the M-1 Abrams series, and the rest of the ammunition is stored in an armored bin behind a blast door.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Some 40 surviving Magach 3s and 5s were put into service in the Twilight War by the Israelis, and gave a surprisingly good accounting of themselves.  The Magach 6 models were common in IDF service in the Twilight War. At least 150 Magach 7s were available for the Twilight War. Few Sabras were picked up for Israeli service, but some 200 were sold to Turkey to help replace their aging M-48 and M-60 tanks.  The few Sabras used by Israel during the Twilight War were diverted from those shipments to replace Israeli tank losses.  The Sabra Mk 2 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

*Belly armor for the Sabra and Sabra Mk 2 is AV 8.

Merkava Series

     Notes: The Merkava was developed after repeated arms embargoes by various countries, hard-won combat experience, and the fact that by the time of the Merkava’s development, the Israelis had the capability and know-how to undertake such a project.  The Merkava thus would be a tank tailor-made to the IDF and their needs, and would also insulate them from any refusal by other countries to supply them with arms.

Merkava Mk 1

     This is the first iteration of the Israeli Merkava series, first introduced in 1982.  The layout of the Merkava is unconventional, with the turret and crew compartments to the rear of the vehicle and the engine up front, to the right of the driver’s position.  This was done to improve crew survival in the case of an armor-penetrating hit on front quarter.  The Merkava has one of the lowest profiles of any modern main battle tank.  The various crew equipment storage and modules are positioned around the walls of the hull and turret; this, along with a Kevlar anti-spall liner, further increase crew survival probabilities.  The ammunition of the Merkava Mk 1 is primarily stored in the rear of the hull in heat-resistant containers; six rounds of ready-use ammunition are stored in the turret bustle.  Flammable materials have extra protection and are not stored in crew compartments.

     The Merkava Mk 1 has a hatch on the center deck forward of the turret for the driver, and hatches in the turret for the commander and loader; the commander uses a modification of the Urdan cupola designed for the Merkava.  Both the commander and loader have machineguns on pintle mounts.  The Merkava Mk 1 also has an interesting wrinkle: a clamshell hatch on the rear for crew escape or access under fire.  This hatch can also be used for the rescue of personnel, and for every 12 rounds of ammunition that is removed, the Merkava Mk 1 can seat a passenger (up to six).  Armor consists of all-around spaced armor, including armored track skirts; at the rear of the turret is a sizeable bustle rack for crew equipment or other items.  Because of the Merkava Mk 1’s layout, it is capable of carrying a formidable amount of main gun ammunition.  Another unusual feature of the Merkava Mk 1 is the inclusion of a 60mm mortar in the turret; though it is primarily intended for the laying of smoke screen, it can fire any sort of ammunition a C-06 mortar can fire.  The mortar is loaded from the open commander’s or loader’s hatches.  The Merkava Mk 1 has an NBC overpressure system, and air conditioning is provided for the crew.  The crew also has the benefit of a water cooler, which is pumped into the turret by a pipe.  The crew also has access to a hand-held 1kW spotlight, connected to the tank by a cable.  The engine is an improved version of the Magach’s (M-60) engine developing 900 horsepower, and the transmission is semi-automatic and also developed from the Magach’s transmission.  Deliveries of the Merkava Mk 1 began in 1979.

Merkava Mk 2

     The Merkava Mk 1 was a success, but there was room for improvement, as the Lebanon War of 1982 revealed.  The suspension of the Mk 1 was a problem, as it limited the off-road performance of the tank.  (Unfortunately, the increased weight largely negates these gains.)  An improvement in the transmission led to improved fuel mileage.  The fire control system also had room for improvement, particularly in the areas of upgraded ballistic computers and stabilization, and an updated laser rangefinder was also fitted.  The externally-loaded 60mm mortar exposed the crew to considerable danger when the tank was under fire.  Armor protection was dramatically increased with the use of composite armor over the frontal arc.  An M-2HB machinegun was mounted on the turret on a pintle mount near the main gun, for additional firepower against soft-skinned vehicles and personnel; this can be aimed and fired from inside the Merkava Mk 2.  Some other improvements for the Mk 2 include greater local production of components, especially electronics.  The first Merkava Mk 2s began service in 1983.

     The Merkava Mk 2B is essentially the Merkava Mk 2A (the tank described in the previous paragraph), but further improves the ballistic computers and adds thermal imagers to the gunner’s and commander’s positions.  The Merkava Mk 2C is as the Merkava Mk 2B, but with additional protection for the turret roof.  The Merkava Mk 2D further increases armor protection with improved composite armor and appliqué armor for the turret and hull. 

Merkava Mk 3

     First issued to units in 1989, the Mk 3 outwardly resembles the earlier Merkavas, but most of the subsystems and assemblies are new and of Israeli design.  On the exterior, the most marked difference is the replacement of the 105mm gun with a 120mm gun designed by IMI, but essentially similar to the 120mm Rheinmetall gun.  The turret was lengthened by 230mm to accommodate this gun and a new modular armor array which allows the armor panels to be repaired or replaced in the field, or upgraded in the future. The hull is also longer by 457mm, which allows for the carriage of the larger 120mm ammunition and also larger fuel tanks. In addition to the mortar, five smoke grenade launchers are found on each side of the hull.  Turret controls and traverse are all-electric, and gun elevation and stabilization is also all-electric.  Night vision, the laser rangefinder, and the ballistic computer are upgraded.  Up to eight passengers can be carried in the rear, but 6 rounds must be removed per passenger.  Ten rounds are carried in the turret bustle.

     The Mk 3 incorporates a threat warning system, which detects targeting lasers and allows the commander to plot enemy and friendly forces.  Friendly forces are automatically kept track of, but Mk 3s can also communicate directly with each other’s systems to help keep track of enemy units and information like logistics, supply points, and objectives.  This information is displayed on a small panel in the commander’s cupola.  Armor is generally improved in protection.  The suspension is improved, allowing for greater roadwheel travel and thus improving off-road performance.  Engine power has been given a great boost, with the Mk 3 being powered by an Israeli-built General Dynamics AVDS-1790-9AR diesel.

     The Merkava Mk 3 Baz further increases armor protection, both with improved armor packages and by changing the shape of the turret to a more elliptical shape that is more effective against incoming rounds.  The gunner has a small panel that helps him keep track of targets as well as the condition of the main gun and the amount of ammunition available.  Another panel is available that displays target information and a magnified picture of the target; this picture is stabilized and also shows a crosshairs for aiming.  The Mk 3 Baz has been in service since 1990.

     Some Mk 3 Bazs have been equipped with an active defense system which launches shotgun-like projectiles against incoming rounds.  This system is similar to the Russian Shtora-1 system, and detonates any sort of HE-type projectile before it can impact the tank.  Other types of projectiles have their effectiveness degraded by one-fourth.  It deploys automatically when the sensor suite detects an incoming round; this sensor suite is constantly active unless deliberately turned off by the commander.  The countermeasure system carries 12 rounds on each side of the main gun.  These tanks have been designated below Merkava Mk 3 Baz (AD) for this purpose, though it is not an official designation.

Merkava Mk 4

     The Merkava Mk 4 also externally resembles the Merkava Mk 3 and earlier models (but is slightly larger), but has a host of improvements.  Chief among these is the main gun; though still the same IMI L/44 120mm gun, the gun and breech have been redesigned to withstand higher pressures; this allows the Merkava Mk 4s main gun to fire both the most modern ammunition using higher pressures as well as some new ammunition the Israelis are rumored to be working on.  It is also able, along with a new fire control system, to fire new gun-based ATGMs such as the Lahat.  Again, the fire control system, night vision and day vision sights, gun stabilization, and turret drive are all upgraded to modern standards, some of which exceed any other Western tank.  The armor is still modular, but is a bit more advanced in construction as well as shaping.  First fielding began in 2004.

     Another major increase is the use of the Elbit Systems Battle Management System – similar to systems used on the latest generation of US and NATO tanks.  It essentially makes the Merkava Mk 4 a part of a wireless computer network, which allows quick sharing and plotting of friendly and enemy positions and vehicles, and keep this information continuously updated.  This system also makes use of IFF, particularly in friendly vehicles.  The system uses a central computer loaded with proprietary software inside the Mk 4 that can also keep track of the tank’s own condition at all times, and tie together fire control information from the Mk 4 as well as other units.  Each crewmember has at least one (if not more) color LCD display, giving them pertinent information as required; information from external visual sensors can also be displayed for when the Mk 4 is buttoned up.  The driver can even see, day or night, information from the front and sides and rear (though side and rear vision is limited) of the tank, and this information can be fed to other crewmembers (in fact, any required information can be fed to any of the crewmember monitors).  A side-effect of this computerization is that virtual training can be done inside of the crews’ tanks, including gunnery practice and drivers’ training.

     The engine has again been given a boost in power, having been replaced by a license-built version of the General Dynamics/MTU GD-833 1500-horsepower supercharged diesel (a variant of this engine is used by the French Leclerc and the latest versions of the German Leopard 2).  The Mk 4 also has a modified version of the Mk 3’s transmission to cope with the new engine, and the suspension has also been beefed up to handle the greater mobility.

     Like the Mk 3, the Mk 4 has a laser and radar warning system, and while sources vary, most seem to indicate that an active defense system like that of the Mk 3 Baz (AD) is standard on the Mk 4. (The Merkava Mk 4 as presented here assumes the use of an active defense system.)  The mortar is retained, as are the five smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret.  Armor is likewise improved, particularly in the frontal arc, turret deck, hull deck, and hull floor.  The Mk 4 also adds a 5kW APU to keep electrical systems running while the engine is off.  In addition to general air conditioning of the fighting compartment, the Mk 4 can provide cooling to a special undergarment that can be worn by crewmembers, reducing the amount of power required to keep crewmembers cool.  Like the Mk 3, the Mk 4 can carry passengers, but 6 rounds of main gun ammunition must be removed to make room for each passenger, up to a maximum of 8 passengers.

     The main gun is fed by a ten-round autoloader in the turret bustle – essentially, only limited interaction is required from the loader to fire those ten rounds, and when firing those ten rounds in the autoloader, fire rate is doubled.  The ammunition in the autoloader is protected by blow-off panels similar to those of the M-1 Abrams series of tanks.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Merkava Mk 4 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.  A limited number of Merkava Mk 1s and Mk 2s were exported to Turkey (perhaps 20 of each).

*Turret roof AV for the Merkava Mk 2C, 2D and Mk 3 is 10.  Turret roof armor for the Merkava 4 is AV 12, and the hull floor has AV 10.

Sho’t

     Notes:  In the early 1960s, the Israelis were still having considerable problems obtaining new armored vehicles, particularly main battle tanks, from other countries.  Meanwhile, their enemies were obtaining more and in some cases, better tanks from the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries.  This situation began to get critical when several of the surrounding Arab countries began to receive shipments of T-62 tanks from the Soviet Union.

     At this point, the British offered an interim solution.  The British badly needed funds to complete the development of the Chieftain. They offered to sell the Israelis hundreds of Centurion tanks, which, while obsolete at that time, were better than most of the tanks the Israelis had at the time.  The British also promised to later sell them Chieftains when their development was completed, as well as allow the Chieftains to be license-produced in Israel.

     Of course, this was too good to be true.  The Israelis got the Centurions, as well as two Chieftain prototypes, but the British backed down under pressure from the Arab countries as well as the UN.  By 1969, the deal had fallen through.

     The Centurions delivered were Mk 3s and Mk 5s.  The Israelis got to work on them immediately, and the Centurions were heavily upgraded, so much that they essentially became the best Centurions in the world, and could match the T-62 tanks of their neighbors.  The main guns were replaced with 105mm M-68 guns.  US-built radios were installed, and the ranging machinegun was replaced with more modern fire control equipment.  The commander’s machinegun was generally a MAG, but some were armed with M-2HBs.  Armor was given a bit of a boost as well.  An improved ammunition layout allows more to be carried.  The Sho’t does not have an NBC overpressure system, but does have a collective NBC system into which the crewmembers plug their protective masks. An improved fire extinguishing system, better electrical system and brakes, and an increased fuel capacity complete the modifications.  These improved Centurions were designated the Sho’t, and often called in the Western press the “Super Centurion.”  By the 1967 War, the Israelis had some 290 Sho’ts, and during that war, they captured 30 Centurions intact from Jordan which were also upgraded.

     The Sho’ts were later given the further improvement of an AVDS-1790 engine, the same as on the M-48 and M-60 tanks.  They were also given matching transmissions.  These were designated the Sho’t Kal.  The Sho’t Kal can be distinguished from the Centurion by its raised rear deck, to accommodate the bigger engine.  Some 1000 were available for the 1973 War.  Another later improved version, the Sho’t Kal Mk D (also called by the Israelis the Brak-Or), added thermal sleeves to the main gun and lugs for ERA on the glacis, turret front, turret sides, and hull sides, as well as six smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret.

    By the 1980s, the Sho’ts were moved to reserve units, and by the late 1980s, were no longer in use for the most part.  Some, however, were again heavily modified, this time into heavily-armored APCs and AEVs, or ARVs.  Many of these modified Sho’ts are still in use, though in a far different role into which they were designed for.

Tiran 4-6

     Notes: The chronic shortage of armor in the IDF in the 1960s led to the Israelis to utilize as many captured enemy armored vehicles as possible.  Much of the Soviet-supplied tanks captured by the IDF were T-54 and T-55 tanks, as her enemies used them in droves.  These vehicles, depending upon the modifications, are known as Tiran 4s or Tiran 5s (though in the West, both were called the Ti-67).  They were typically used in reserve armor formations until the early 1980s, when they were sold off to various countries or converted to heavy APCs.

     Of course, the Israelis did not simply use the captured vehicles “as-is.”  The Tiran 4s received a minimum of modifications, having the fire control replaced with a much better Israeli-made system using a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer as well as better stabilization.  The Tiran 4 retains the 100mm gun, but has the coaxial machinegun replaced with an M-1919A4 and the DShK at the commander’s position replaced with an M-2HB.  Radios are replaced with standard IDF radios.  Lugs for ERA are also fitted on the turret front, turret sides, hull front, and hull sides.  The night vision has also been somewhat upgraded, and four smoke grenade launchers are found on each side of the turret.

     The Tiran 5 takes the Tiran 4 idea even further; the Tiran 5 has not only the Tiran 4 modifications, but much more.  The min gun of the Tiran 5 has been replaced by the same 105mm gun as found on the Magach and the Sho’t.  The commander’s cupola has been modified to provide more protection, as has been the driver’s hatch, and the loader’s hatch has been given vision blocks.  The rear of the turret has a bustle added, allowing for more ammunition to be stored and gives space for ready ammunition.  The loader’s hatch has a pintle mount for a machinegun, and the turret also has a 60mm mortar installed (but must be loaded by someone standing in the commander’s or loader’s hatches).  On each side of the turret are stowage boxes and space for five standard IDF jerry cans.  At the rear of the hull is a box for a decent-sized medical kit as well as a telephone for infantry to communicate with the crew.  The fuel tanks have been replaced with flexible bag-type tanks, and in general the transmission, electrical system, and some other automotive components have been updated.  The Tiran 4 and 5 sowed considerable confusion in rear-area raids during the 1973 war.

     The Israelis did capture some T-62s during the 1973 war, but quite few in relation to the huge number of T-54s and T-55s they had captured intact.  Therefore, the Israeli variant of the T-62, the Tiran 6, was made in rather small numbers; most sources say that less than 100 such conversions were made, and that none of them were ever actually used in combat.  Except for the T-62 base, the Tiran 6 essentially had the same modifications as the Tiran 6.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Most of these vehicles have been retained for home defense in the Twilight 2000 timeline

     Merc 2000 Notes: The upgrade kits that generated these vehicles have been a big moneymaker for Israel in the Merc 2000 timeline