Magicians

In 1964 - 1966, the first 150 M48A1 tanks and 100 M48A2C tanks arrived from Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany ^[2] . They received the following notation:

• "Magah-1" - tank M48A1
• "Magah-2" - tank M48A2S

Work on the modernization of these tanks to the level of M48A3 (but in accordance with Israeli standards) began on December 15, 1966 ^[3] .

• "Magah-3" is the first modification of the M48 tanks: instead of the 90-mm American M41 gun, a 105-mm English-made L7 gun was installed, the original M1 commander’s turret was replaced with a low-profile Israeli one (produced at the Urdan plant), the old General Motors CD- transmission 850-4A was replaced by a new one - Allison CD-850-6 , and the gasoline engine - by a diesel engine Continental AVDS-1790-2A with a capacity of 750 liters. from. First of all, the oldest tanks, the M48A1, were modernized. After 1973, a non-combustible liquid began to be used in the hydraulic system ^[2] . Later, by 1982, they had installed a more modern Israeli-made radio station and the “Blazer” generation I dynamic protection kit with a total weight of 800-1000 kg ^[4] .

After the six-day war, a number of M48 tanks were captured from Jordan. After repair and restoration, they were adopted and also aimed at modernization. In the 1970s, additional M48A1, M48A5 and M60 tanks were received from the United States ^[5] .

• "Magah-5" - the designation of American tanks M48A5. Later, a “Blazer” 1st generation dynamic protection kit was installed on them ^[4] .

• "Magah-6" - the designation of American tanks M60. During operation, almost all tanks underwent modernization.

• The Magakh-6 Alef (Magakh-6A) is a modernized M60A1, with the Urdan low-profile commander’s turret, a heat-insulating casing on the gun’s barrel and T97 all-metal tracks. Subsequently, all of these tanks were re-upgraded to the Magah-6 Bet level.
• The Magah-6 Bet (Magah-6B) is a modernized M60A1 with the new AVDS-1790-2C RISE (Reliability Improved Selected Equipment engine) engine , a more advanced gun stabilization system and wide T142 tracks.
• Magah-6 Bet Gal (Magah-6B Gal) - re-modernized in the 1990s, Magah-6 Bet with the new Gal control system (" wave "), developed by Elbit Systems Ltd. on base of the Matador system for Merkava tanks (included a new sight with a laser rangefinder). In addition, the configuration of the dynamic defense units was changed, and a new basket of increased volume was installed at the stern of the tower. Small amount produced.
• "Magah-6 Bet Gal Batash" (Magakh-6B Gal Batash) - created in 1999, the version of "Magah-6 Bet Gal" with enhanced passive armoring of the tower and the front of the hull, side screens and a new, more powerful engine. Small amount produced.
• “Magah-6 Bet Baz” - “Magah-6 Bet” with the new Baz fire control system developed for the Mk.III Merkava tanks.
• "Magah-6 Gimel" ("Magah-6C") - a modernized tank M60A3.
• Magah-6 Reish (Magah-6R) - M60 tanks with a gun stabilization system from the Magah-6 Bet and the new AVDS-1790-2AG engine .
• "Magah-6 Reish *" ("Magah-6R *") - an intermediate modification, tanks "Magah-6 Reish", prepared for the installation of the new fire control system "Nahal Oz", but not yet having this system.
• Magah-6 Mem (Magah-6M) - Magah-6 Reish tanks with the new Nahal Oz fire control system.

• "Magah-7" - the upgraded M60 with additional passive armoring of the tower and the hull, side screens with the new engine AVDS-1790-5A with a capacity of 908 liters. with., caterpillars from the tank "Merkava". It was produced in several versions:

• "Magah-7 Alef" ("Magah-7A") - a modification developed in the 1980s, has an almost vertical additional reservation of the frontal part of the tower.
• "Magah-7 Bet" ("Magah-7B") - has not been mass-produced ^[6] ;
• "Magah-7 Gimel" ("Magah-7C") - a modification developed in the 1990s, with a strong tilt of the front armor plates of the tower; installed a laser rangefinder, the new Continental AVDS-1790-5A engine and transmission from the Merkava Mk.I tank ^[7] .

Despite the emergence in the early 1980s of more advanced Merkava tanks, the Magakh tanks were repeatedly modernized and remained the basis of the IDF armored units until the end of the 1990s.

As of the beginning of 1990, the IDF was armed with more than 1300 M60A1 / A3 tanks and 560 M48A5 tanks (the most massive tank of the Israeli army) ^[8] . In the summer of 1990, the IDF command for the first time rejected the US proposal to donate M60A1 tanks under the military assistance program, as the IDF official explained, for their reconstruction and re-equipment in accordance with the standards of the Israeli army “too much costs are needed” ^[9] . In June 2003, the Israeli Ministry of Defense issued a statement on the gradual decommissioning of obsolete armored vehicles, and by 2006, Magah tanks were replaced by Merkava tanks in all regular units of the IDF. Nevertheless, the tanks "Magah" remained in service with the 460th training brigade and in the army reserve ^[10] .

As of the beginning of 2009, the IDF was armed with 822 M60 tanks and 561 M48 tanks ^[11] .

• The Six Day War (1967)
• War of Attrition (1967-1970)
• Doomsday War (1973) - Before the war, Israel had about 540 Magah tanks. By the end of the war, only about 200 of these tanks remained. ^{[12] [13] [14]}
• Lebanon War (1982)
• The fighting in southern Lebanon (1982 - May 2000)
• Fighting in the Gaza Strip

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  Magach 7 in Yad la-Shiryon Museum , Israel.

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  Magach 7 in Yad la-Shiryon Museum , Israel.

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  Magach 7 in Yad la-Shiryon Museum , Israel.

• Famille MAGACH (MAGAKH) at a glance