Military vehicles - Israel: books - history, types and construction

Merkava - Main Battle Tank Mks I, II & III 1977-96 (Osprey)

The Merkava, or Chariot, was the first tank entirely designed and built by the Israeli Army. The IDF had previously been using a variety of vehicles, acquired from various sources, including in particular the Sherman and Centurion. The Merkava was designed specifically for the type of warfare and opponents that Israel faced. The resulting tank was heavily armoured and packed a powerful 105mm main gun backed up with a digital fire control system and laser range-finder.

This title examines the development and deployment of the Merkava, investigating the changing technical aspects of the various marks, creating a useful and comprehensive study of Israel's most formidable tank.

Contents: Introduction - Background - The Chariot Programme - The Blue and White Merkava - Baptism of Fire in the Lebanon - The Mk II and III's - Mk IV and Beyond.

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Modern Israeli Tanks and Infantry Carriers 1985-2004 (Osprey)

Over the last two decades, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) has introduced a variety of new AFVs. Old models such as the M48 and M60 have been improved beyond recognition, in the form of the Magach 7. The performance of Israel's indigenous Merkava tank has been similarly enhanced with new variants and the new Merkava 4 MBT has recently entered service. Israeli infantry have also received machines such as the Achzarit assault carrier, the Puma combat engineer vehicle and the Nagmachon and Nakpadon (tank-based carriers intended for low intensity conflicts).

This book examines the design, modification and combat history of these formidable fighting machines.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Operation History - Variants - Colour plate commentary - Index.

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The Israeli Armored Corps - History, Equipment, Operations, 1948 to 2024

NEW

This book presents a comprehensive illustrated history of Israeli tanks and their crews, from the nation's early wars of independence to operations in Gaza in 2024. Covering the period from the First World War to the present, it combines narrative history with extensive visual and technical material, including hundreds of photographs, maps, tables, and charts.

The development of the Israeli Armored Corps and its predecessors is described in detail, with profiles of key leaders and accounts of major battles and missions. Special attention is given to the wide range of vehicles used by Israel, from foreign models such as the American Sherman and M60, the British Cromwell and Centurion, and the French AMX-13, to the domestically designed Merkava.

Written by two veterans of the Swiss Armored Corps who conducted extensive research in Israel, this volume offers both depth and authority. It is a valuable resource for readers interested in tanks, the history of the Israel Defense Forces, and modern military operations.

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Die israelische Panzerwaffe - Geschichte, Technik, Einsätze

The Israeli tank force, which was created immediately after the founding of the State of Israel and grew in strength during the First Arab-Israeli War in 1948/49, is one of the best in the world.
Marc Lenzin and Stefan Bühler, based on current research, provide a fascinating explanation of the history of the Israeli tank force, from its founding to decisive tank offensives during the Suez Crisis in 1956, the Six-Day War in 1967, the October War in 1973, the invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and the operations in the Gaza Strip today.
All active and historical battle tanks of the IDF are described. Extensive images and maps round off this unique work.

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