The very first M48s to reach Israel arrived via circuitous route from West Germany, ostensibly as part of reparations for the Holocaust. These initial vehicles were M48A1s and M48A2Cs. Following the media's discovery & coverage of the transfer, these sales were stopped and only later were they reinstated directly from the US.The first test in combat for the Israeli 'Patton's' was during the Six Day War. By the out break of the war very few of the M48s were up gunned with the British L7 105mm rifled main gun. Combat experience during the war clearly showed the need to upgrade both the main gun and engines. While the 90mm main gun had no problem with T34s and even the vaunted JS3Ms then in service with Egypt, the new T54/55s encountered were definitely going to be a problem.

Penetration abilities aside Israel also faced one more problem, one of a more logistical nature. Following the Six Day War in 1967, Israel was now fielding a very eclectic collection of vehicles. In its inventory was everything from French the AMX13 75mm, Sherman 76mm (M1), Sherman 75mm (M50), Sherman 105mm (M51), Centurion Meteor engine with 20pounder as well as 105mm main guns, M48 90mm and 105mm tanks and now T54/55s were being brought into service initially mounting their 100mm guns. While funds and the fickleness of politics wouldn't allow Israel to field one type of tank in the near future or even one type of main gun, a partial solution was possible. Both the Patton series of tanks(Israel was receiving the M60 by 1970)and the Centurion were up gunned with the 105mm L7 or the American version the L68. As well as being up engined with the Teledyne Continental 12 cylinder diesel.

By the time of the Syrian/ Egyptian invasions on Yom kippur in 1973, all M48/60s were modified in so far as engine and main gun were concerned. One other modification given to the patton series after the 67 war was the Urdan low silhouette commanders cupola. The need for this modification arose out of the numerous casualties in Tank commanders during the 67 war as well as the feeling that the mini turrets were cumbersome to operate and posed a higher risk of being blown off in combat. The Urdan however allowed a Tank commander to view the battle field while under cover and mounted a .30 cal browning MG on a scissors mount. By the 73 war all M60s had this modification with the exception of those M60a1s received during the fighting. Some M48s however had interim late model sherman cupolas with the afore mentioned scissors mount for the .30 cal MG.

The Yom Kippur War was a major learning experience for the IDF as well as the rest of the world. .While the war wasn't the first use of ATGW (anti tank guided weapons) by the protagonists , Israel had used SS-11 missiles in 67.It was the first time they were used in such concentration and effectiveness. Egypt knowing it would be hours before any real numbers of tanks would be able to cross The Suez Canal placed hundreds of RPG and man portable Sagger ATGW's across its front to blunt the inevitable Israeli counter attacks. These small shoulder launched or ground launched in the case of the Sagger essentially decimated initial IDF counter attacks made with little or no infantry support. Israel followed suit and by the end of hostilities was fielding the first generation TOW system.

Following the 73 war Israel took stock of its lessons learned and began looking for answers. Some answers were as simple as adding extra crew served weapons for the loader and over the main gun, or changing over to a higher flash point hydraulic fluid. Others involved changes in doctrine for operating armour with infantry support. By the late 70s Israeli tanks started sprouting mounting points for a new defensive armour block, this is the Blazer system. Essentially , when hit by a HEAT type warhead, the Blazer explodes in the reverse direction minimizing or totally defeating the heat stream of the incoming round. This system was mounted on the centurion fleet as well and due to it's modular flexibility, layouts were designed for all types of vehicle in the Armour fleet,. however only the Centurion and Patton series tanks actually received them, although some of the new heavy APC (armoured personnel carrier ) designs would incorporate Blazer components as does the 6B Batash.

By the late 80s it was clear that additional armour was needed to keep the M60 survivable against the newest generation of tank killing systems as well as the new generation of Tanks being fielded. Egypt had received the M1 series tank from the US and which is equipped with a very good 120mm main gun. Israel's answer to this was the Merkava 3 and recently the Merkava 4. but financial considerations mean only relatively few roll of the assembly line in any given year.For this reason advances in Merkava armour technology are applied to the Patton series as well, producing variants like the 7, 7c and 6b Batash. Fire control upgrades like the Gal system have also been added to patton series enabling Israel to handle anything conventional thrown at it.

Since Israel first fielded it's first M48 nearly 40 years ago, It has used just about every variant except the M60a2 and possibly the M728( although no proof seems to exist either way). I believe israel would have received some at least during the re supply from US war stocks, but would have removed the turrets which they had no use for and replaced them with salvaged M60a0 turrets. This is Why I believe IDF M60a0s with the M9 dozer system have internal hydraulics and not exterior ones like US variants. Israel definitely used the M48a1thru M48a5 and M60a0 - M60a3 rise variants , again except for the M60a2. The IDF also uses the M88/a1 recovery vehicle based on components of the M48 chassis and has adopted numerous attachments for all versions. The latest design is the Sabra 1/ 2, mounting a 120mm gun. This variant however is only for export currently and is sometimes mistakenly called the MAgach 8.

Lastly a word or two on the name Magach. Before one can translate the name Magach you need to understand it is not a word but an acronym. it is made up of the three letters 'MEM', 'Gimel' and 'Chet'. The most common explanation for the name is that it stands for "Merkavot Giborei Cheyl" or translated "chariot of the heroic corps or Arm(as in arm of service). Michael Mass in his article in Knei Midah puts forth two more possibilities. The first that it stands for "Michonat Giluach Chasmalit" and second that it is the numerical equivalent of 48 ( Mem = 40 chet = 8) plus the letter gimmel ( gimmel has the dsound of the letter 'G') for place of origin of the first IDF M48s; that being Germany. This last name is attributed to General 'Bren' Aden and according to Michael Mass the correct meaning.

 

BACK TO TOP

---

IDF Magach designations

A note about IDF designations. Simply they are very hard to nail down. Many common designations are just media applications. Those that do come from Israeli sources are often intentionally misleading. To this end the designations on this and the other reference pages are based on best available knowledge. If you have better information feel free to let us know.

This list was made with invaluable assistance of Michael Mass, the Latrun Curator.

Click on thumbnails for larger images and more detailed information

standard Designation	IDF Designation	Designation notes	Picture
M48a1	patton/פטון	The exact number received is unknown as is their combat history only a few pics are around. Distinguished by angled louver engine deck, 5 return rollers and non accordion mantlet cover
M48a2	Patton/פטון	majority received seem to be M48a2/2C, distinguished by lack of fender air cleaners, 3 return rollers and non accordion type mantlet dust cover. Many had a 'Y' shaped muzzle break while others had the more common 'T' shaped one.
M48a3	Patton/פטון	distinguished by 5 return rollers,non- accordion style mantlet cover and independent TC turret with .50 cal heavy MG for TC
	Magach 3	Post six day war version. Updated with licensed copy of British L7 105 mm gun and lower profile (Urdan) TC hatch. M48a2c were upgraded automotively as well and all are designated Magach 3, there was no production version known as M48a3 they were all upgraded older versions.
M48a5	Magach 5	The M48a5 can be distinguished from the M48 a3externally only by the Xs on the front fenders, the rest of the differences are automotive. variants with blazer retained Magach 5 designator.
M60 (slick)	Magach 6	Most easily recognized by M48 style rounded turret on the razor edged M60 hull.
	Magach 6R	Based on Magach 6 , but with Blazer , with RISE engine , .Some were fitted with Merkava tracks and sprockets .A new stabilization system was installed to gun and turret.
	Magach 6M	Based on Magach 6M , with new fire control system , thermal sleeve on the main gun , cross wind sensor mast and Merkava tracks with sprockets.M9dozers were installed only on the M60 slick variant.
	Magach 7	Next step in the development of the M60 slick. Distinguished by added spaced armour to turret very blocky looking, incorporates new enlarged basket and Merkava track. Also given side skirts
	Magach 7c	Same as Magach 7 but with a more balisticaly angled armour.
M60a1	Magach 6A	The Magach 6A is essentially a stock US variant. it has early chevron style track, aluminum road wheels without reinforcing ribs and US style TC cupola.
	Magach 6b	The 6B is the first major modification of the A1 version. It incorporates the RISE automotive modifications which started arriving in 1978. It also included the mounting of Blazer, removal of the independent TC cupola it retains the round turret basket and standard US track,mostly hex pad although some chevron is still seen in the early 1980s. some vehicles would be upraded with Merkava track. All 6A variants were upgraded to this standard.
	Magach 6B Gal	The next stage in the M60a1 development. Distinguished by enlarged (square) rear basket, large housing for new GAL fire control system and oil can box on right rear fender. seen with both standard M60 and Merkava track. seen here with ram attachment.
	Magach 6B Batash	Final 6B variant with "saucer shaped" armour array vs blazer type boxes. Also has added side skirts.
M60a2	N/A	never used by IDF	N/A
M60a3	Magach 6G (gimel)	In 1979/80 the IDF received a small number of M60a3 TTS variants with Rise Passive. these had the Urdan type TC hatch installed by the maufacturer. It also had steel road wheels retained the US style thermal sleeve for the main gun
AVLB armoured vehicle launched bridge	Tagash	The IDF captured the M48 version from Jordan but didn't use them only the M60 based type units. earlier bridges spanned 40 feet and latter ones 60. Both could support a 60 ton tank.
	Tagash Tzemed	The latest IDF modification has a M60 AVLB launching two smaller, aproximately 10 meter solid bridges
M728	N/A	Not used by IDF per the Latrun Curator.likely misidentified in Eshels book.
M88/M88A1		The IDF used a number of these vehicles and slightly modified them for use. Some of the originals were gasoline versions but all were upgraded to M88A1 standard.
Some additional notes: While specific items may signify a variant i.e. the enlarged Gal FCS smaller mods often associated with the main one may come at different intervals.An example of this is tracks, track changes happen when the money is available or older type is used up. This can clearly be seen during the early years of the lebonon war where chevron and hexogonal track types were seen at the same time. So road wheels and track does not necessarily signify a change in designation. All IDF vehicles can mount standard front attachments this includes the Magach series. These include triangular ram, Nochri Mine roller and Magov Mine plow. As mentioned above only M60 'slicks' mounted the M9 dozer attachment. The IDF has upgraded the engines in it's fleet of M60s on a regular basis with all all tanks getting the RISE standard. The quickest way to Identify a MaGach 6Gimmel (M60A3) is it's retention of the US style thermal sleeve.

Back to top

---

References

 

Title	Reference type/location	Summary	vehicle
The Israeli upgraded M48a3	Airfix Magazine March 1986	part two of an article by Vasko Barbic - Includes drawings and photographs of actual vehicles.	M48
Israel's Upgraded M48a3	Military Modelling MagazineNovember 84	by Vasko Barbic - well written article with Drawings and photos of both 1/1 and 1/35 scale vehicles	M48
The M47 and M48 patton tanks	Osprey - New vanguard series #31	reasonable reference book covering the basic models. Unfortunate gives short shrift to engineering types	M48
Patton	R.P. Hunnicutt's Book	An in depth tome on the development and differences between types. It to, however, barely covers some engineering and other sub types in any detail or foreign use and modification.	M48 / M60
IDF M48a3/a5 Photos from latrun	RealTanks Webpages M48a3 page	A non english website with a number of photo sets on IDF vehicles	M48
Israeli M60 Tank, by Vasko Barbic	Military Modelling August 1985	4 page article with drawings and photos of completed model	M60
	Verlinden's Warmachines #3	A photo essay on the M60a3 in US service	M60a3
Magach 7c	Realtanks webpages Magach 7c page	A non english website with a number ofphotosets on IDF vehicles	M60
Magach 6B	WarOnline site	A Russian with English mirror site on the IDF, containing information and photos of vehicles in action	M60
Magach 6B Batash	warOnline site	A Russian with English mirror site on the IDF, containing information and photos of vehicles in action	M60
Magach 7 series	WarOnline site	A Russian with English mirror site on the IDF, containing information and photos of vehicles in action	M60
Building a Magach 6B gal	Cheyl Shiryon site	This site	M60A1

---