Nagmachon heavy APC at the LIC 2004 exhibition. But they had serious design flaws, particularly with respect to the cramped turret (Russian tank crews were selected from the shortest 5 percent of draftees). Refitted with new guns, engines and fire control, they equipped reserve brigades. In the 19 wars, Israel captured hundreds of Soviet-built T-55 tanks, many abandoned intact by Arab crews. In the 1973 war, they suffered painful losses.īeginning in 1987, some 276 T-55s were rebuilt by removing the turret and constructing a compartment for 10 troops. They were nicknamed “Zelda,” Hebrew slang for an American Jewish girl. Aluminum armor kept out bullets and shell fragments, but was easily penetrated by rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM). Made of welded aluminum, the M113 could “swim” in water, propelled by its tracks.

Israel acquired 3,500 surplus half-tracks, using them in the 19 wars after most armies had upgraded to fully-enclosed boxes such as the M113. The IDF’s Combat Engineering Corps training aboard M113 “Zeldas.” The shortcomings of the M113 were one spur to the development of heavy armored personnel carriers.

Military 113 tank engine