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Latrun Armour Museum

Just a one hour drive from Tel Aviv in the direction of Jerusalem is the Israeli Armour museum at Latrun. The museum is mostly comprised of an open air exhibition, a small indoor exhibition, and a souvenir shop. I did not count the tanks, but there must be more than a hundred. Most of the exhibition is supported in both Hebrew and the English language. Free entrance and free tours with English speaking army guides are available on most days. For anyone travelling in the region it is well worth a visit.

The exhibition contains some very interesting AFV’s. Almost all of the tanks from the Middle East wars are included in the open air exhibition, these also include among others;

Jesper has kindly offered to send higher resolution pictures of subjects to anyone who send him a personal message. Hotchkiss tank captured by the Germans and given the German Eagle stamp on the armour. This stamp is still faintly visible; ironically this tank was later used in the initial battles to secure the Israeli state.

Panzer IV modified with among other things a new MG post at the turret cupola, and was used by the Egyptians and captured by Israel.

T-54 APC used by Lebanese forces and captured by Israel. This version is a T-54 tank rebuilt to be used as an APC by removing the turret and adding armoured shields.

Numerous Israeli rebuild "funnies". Among them the Sherman "monster" moving target. A modified Sherman with extra armour plates on the hull used as a moving target. Despite the armour I would not want to be the driver in this tank when the bullets start to hit.

I highly recommended the Latrun Armour Museum if you are in the region and list it as a "must see" for anyone interested in Middle Eastern armour and the many unique Israeli conversions.