Design Overview & Tactical Role
The Magach ('Battering Ram') was Israel's heavily customized evolution of American M48 and M60 Patton tanks. Following devastating ATGM missile losses during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israeli engineers fitted the Magach 6 with revolutionary 'Blazer' Explosive Reactive Armor (the first operational ERA in combat history in 1982). The subsequent Magach 7 enveloped the turret in massive passive composite armor blocks.
Combat History & Battle Records
During the 1982 Lebanon War (Operation Peace for Galilee), Blazer-equipped Magach 6 tanks stunned Syrian forces by neutralizing incoming Sagger missiles and RPGs. Serving for four decades, the Magach series trained generations of Israeli tank commanders before handing the mantle to the Merkava.
Related Armored Vehicles (Cold War)
Modern
2011
Cold War
1948
Cold War
1961
Cold War
1964