Armor/AFV: IDF [Israeli Defense Forces]
Armor and AFVs of the IDF army from 1947-today.
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IDF Light/Heavy Metal
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 06:23 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Edit: Looking at the photos above I think that the Mk3 chassis vehicles have a split cover at the foremost part of the engine deck (diagonal split hatches) while the Mk4 chassis vehicles have one single piece cover on the foremost part of the engine deck. Plus the front hull geometry difference and wheel spacing.



Well spotted, Nikos. Indeed that seems to be the case.
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 06:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text

But the Mk.3 power train, right?





Quoted Text

Yep!



I guess 1.200 HP is sufficient, you don't really need the 1.500 HP of the MT833. Probably a lot more cost effective too.
GTDeath13
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 06:38 AM UTC
Those were just sent to me. Magach 6M tank with Ramta mine plough. The mine plough is not a common choice for the IDF.

1916.


1917.
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 07:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The mine plough is not a common choice for the IDF.



I suppose it's more common on Pumas, but sometimes also tanks were equipped it:

This looks like an exhibition piece:

1918.


Merkava Mk.1

1919.


1920.




GTDeath13
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 07:57 AM UTC
1921.

jps
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 07:59 AM UTC
As always thank you for this epic posting. Is the Ramta mine plow the same as the US uses on Abrams?
GTDeath13
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 08:03 AM UTC
I think it is almost identical to the Abrams one with the exception of the mounts on the idler wheels on Magach tanks and perhaps some minor differences on the mount on the front glacis. I have bought 2 Trumpeter Abrams 5 in 1 kits for the mine plough (they are really cheap online)

1922.

GTDeath13
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 08:06 AM UTC
1923.



1924.


1925.

Removed by original poster on 03/28/20 - 20:13:04 (GMT).
Northwoods
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 08:18 AM UTC
Some info about #72

https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2018/08/18/israeli-use-of-fixed-tank-turrets/
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 08:19 AM UTC

Quoted Text

As always thank you for this epic posting. Is the Ramta mine plow the same as the US uses on Abrams?



Yes. In '89 they bought some 400 units to be used on US Army M1s and USMC M60s. The US designation is 'M1 Mine Clearing Blade System' (MCBS). They were used during operation Desert Storm.

https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m1mcbs.htm



ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 07:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text

The mine plough is not a common choice for the IDF.



I suppose that's because the topography of the Northern region (especially that of the Golan Heights) makes them difficult to use effectively.
Marsh
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 04:03 AM UTC
If anyone is in Facebook's "IDF Tanks & AFV- The inquiry corner" group, Michael Mass has published an exceptional photo of a Merkava II in a three tone camouflage. The photo shows the camouflage colours clearly.
(I will not post the photo directly on here. Sorry. It's not fair to Michael).
GTDeath13
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 05:06 AM UTC
Perhaps you are interested in the other side of the vehicle too...

1926.
Marsh
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 05:06 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Perhaps you are interested in the other side of the vehicle too...

1926.



Nice photo!
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 05:25 AM UTC
There are a few more on page #8.
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 05:40 AM UTC
Marsh, you have a rather long incubation period: joined in 2003, first post in 2020...
Marsh
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 09:15 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Marsh, you have a rather long incubation period: joined in 2003, first post in 2020...



I prefer to lurk to check sites are OK. Also, had bad experiences on other sites, when people asked for photos and I couldn't provide them. (Although they were in my copyright, they had been sold on for further usage and I couldn't release them). Then they got upset. Alternatively, I did give people photos to use for modelling on the condition not to put them out anywhere and a week later, they would be all over the net. Got my fingers burnt too many times. There is just a couple of people I trust completely to provide photos and that is it. It made me very wary. I go on Tanknet, Sturgeon's House and War online to contribute and that it is it really.

Should say i am also a bit old, in my mid-60s and i probably manage the web a little differently to most people on here
jps
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Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 11:32 AM UTC
thanks
OLDDOG78
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Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2020 - 02:54 PM UTC
In photo #347 (Pg4) it appears that the Sho't Kal has 2x .30cal mounted. Did this ever happen? Did crews ever mount an additional MG on the turret or are my eyes getting old and deceiving me? Cheers for any info
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2020 - 06:36 PM UTC

Quoted Text

In photo #347 (Pg4) it appears that the Sho't Kal has 2x .30cal mounted. Did this ever happen? Did crews ever mount an additional MG on the turret or are my eyes getting old and deceiving me?



Those are indeed 2x.30 cals, a common feature on later (post YKW) Shot's. Take a closer look, there are other, similarly equipped tanks among the pictures. The. 30 cals were later replaced with MAGs.
Removed by original poster on 06/26/20 - 06:48:14 (GMT).
Buq-Buq
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Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 01:30 PM UTC

Quoted Text

In photo #347 (Pg4) it appears that the Sho't Kal has 2x .30cal mounted. Did this ever happen? Did crews ever mount an additional MG on the turret or are my eyes getting old and deceiving me? Cheers for any info



Speaking of Photo 347 (page 4) -- and please forgive me if this has been raised already (this is a rather long thread) -- is that a camouflage scheme on the turret of the Shot Kal in that image?

It kinda looks like a MERDC scheme, complete with 'crow's feet' . . . and I'm pretty sure it is not shadows.



Mark Neukom
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Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 02:35 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

In photo #347 (Pg4) it appears that the Sho't Kal has 2x .30cal mounted. Did this ever happen? Did crews ever mount an additional MG on the turret or are my eyes getting old and deceiving me?



Those are indeed 2x.30 cals, a common feature on later (post YKW) Shot's. Take a closer look, there are other, similarly equipped tanks among the pictures. The. 30 cals were later replaced with MAGs.



Common among post YKW but could I get away with two on a YKW Sho't? I like more MGs lol thanks for the info mate
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Sunday, June 28, 2020 - 06:30 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Common among post YKW but could I get away with two on a YKW Sho't?



Not really. The second MG on the turret-top started to appear en masse after the YKW. See related discussion here: https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/285982&page=1

BTW, during the opening days of the '73 war, many of the reserve tanks were rushed to the fronts with missing equipment and/or crew; I'm sure many of them were thrown into the thick of it without MGs at all.