Magach 6 / 7

Magach 6/7 M60 series main battle tank

Description

Technical Data

Specifications

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Description

Magach 6/7 is a series of Israeli tanks, based on the American M60 Patton Tanks. From the 1970s, the M60s were upgraded in a number of areas including the addition of an Israeli-developed thermal sleeve for the 105 mm gun, the addition of Israeli-developed explosive reactive armour, installation of a new Urdan commander’s cupola (also adopted by the US Army for its M48A5 tanks), two roof-mounted 7.62 mm machine guns and the Israel Military Industries CL-3030 instantaneous self-screening system either side of the main armament. It is believed that the M60 series fitted with ERA were called the MAGACH-6 and 7 for the latest version. It is understood that these have now been replaced by later and enhanced versions. In the beginning, the first Magach was an upgrade of M48A3 main battle tank, it was the Magach 3. By the time the 1973 Yom Kippur War erupted, some 800 Magach 3 were in active service, in addition to some original configuration M60 (Magach 6). During the 1980s and 1990s, the Magachs were gradually replaced with Merkava tanks as Israel’s front-line main battle tank. However, the large majority of the IDF’s armoured corps continued to consist of Magach variants until the 1990s, and the tank was continuously upgraded during this time. Prior to the 1982 invasion of Lebanon (1982 Lebanon War), Magach 6 tanks were fitted with explosive reactive armor (ERA). Further work has been done on the upgraded Magach 6 models, including new armor, Merkava based tracks, new fire controls, a thermal sleeve for the gun and smoke dischargers, eventually resulting in the Magach 7 model which is still in use with the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces).

Variants

- Magach 1: M48A1
- Mgach 2: M48A2C
- Magach 3: Modernized M48A1/A2. The modifications included British 105 mm L7 cannon, low profile commander’s cupola, upgraded communication suite, a 750 hp diesel engine Continental AVDS-1790 2A with Allison CD-850-6 transmission. Were eventually fitted with Blazer ERA.
- Magach 5: M48A5 in the original configuration. Generally similar to the Magach 3, but had slightly different engine and transmission—AVDS-1790- 2D and CD-850-6A accordingly. Were eventually fitted with Blazer ERA.
- Magach 6: Modernized M60/M60A1/ M60A3. Fitted with the Urdan low profile cupola and Blazer ERA.
- Magach 6A (6 Alef): Modernized M60A1. All vehicles were eventually upgraded to the Magach 6B level.
- Magach 6B (6 Bet): Similarly modernized M60A1 RISE (M60A1 with AVDS-1790-2C RISE (Reliability Improved Selected Equipment) engine).
- Magach 6B Gal (6 Bet Gal): Magach 6B with Gal fire control system.
- Magach 6B Gal Batash (6 Bet Gal Batash): Magach 6B Gal fitted with 4th generation passive armor and 908 hp engine. The turret has angled sides and angled mantlet. This variant is sometimes unofficially referred to as Magach 7D or Magach 8. A limited number of vehicles were converted from the Magach 6B Gal variant.
- Magach 6B Baz (6 Bet Baz): Magach 6B fitted with Baz fire control system. A limited number of vehicles were converted from the Magach 6B variant.
- Magach 6C (6 Gimel): Modernized M60A3.
- Magach 6R (6 Resh): Modernized M60, with engine upgraded to the AVDS- 1790-2AG level (with more powerful electric generator compared to that of AVDS-1790-2A).
- Magach 6R² (6 Resh): Magach 6R with preparations for mounting Nachal Oz fire control system.
- Magach 6M (6 Mem): Magach 6R* fitted with Nachal Oz fire control system.
- Magach 7: M60 with 908 hp AVDS- 1790-5A engine, additional passive armor, new fire control and Merkava based tracks. Different configurations exist.
- Magach 7A (7 Alef): Fixed flat mantlet with gun «slots».
- Magach 7B (7 Bet): An interim model with armor configuration similar to the 7C. Apparently never reached production.
- Magach 7C (7 Gimel): Fixed angled mantlet with gun «slots».

Technical Data

Armament

The Magach 105mm M68 gun was manufactured by Israel Military Industries and installed in all Israeli M60, Centurion and Merkava Mk 1 and 2 vehicles, remains unchanged. This gun can firing the first generation Israel Military Industries M111 APFSDS round, it also fires the second generation APFSDS-T M413 round which has a greater armour penetration characteristic. A 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun is mounted to the left side of the main armament. In addition to the 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun there is a 12.7 mm machine gun mounted above the 105 mm M68 tank gun and two roof-mounted 7.62 mm machine guns on pintle mountings.

Design and protection

The hull of the Magach series main battle tank is divided into three compartments with the driver's at the front, turret in the centre and the engine and transmission at the rear. There is an external stowage basket at the rear of the turret. The latest variant Magach 7 is equipped with a passive armour package, which has been fitted to the glacis, nose, turret front and sides and the forward part of the roof. Armoured skirts have also been fitted to provide lateral protection, something that earlier Israeli upgrade kits failed to provide. The forward part of the skirt, which covers the crew compartment, is of a different design from the rear. The new armour package also provides some additional protection against top attack, at least on the forward part of the roof. Openings have been left in the right side of the armour package for the gunner’s sight and in the left side of the armour package for the 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. Passive armour will give the M60 protection against Kinetic Energy (KE) and Chemical Energy (CE) attack, unlike the earlier explosive reactive armour used on M60 upgrades which only gave protection against CE like the Russia AT-3 `Sagger’ anti-tank guided weapon used by Arab armies.

Mobility

The installation of additional armour and other improvements has led to the installation of a new engine and tracks so that the vehicle retains its cross-country mobility. The new tracks, produced by Urdan Industries, are the same as those used on the Merkava. The upgraded MAGACH-7 MBT is fitted with the Teledyne Continental (now General Dynamics Land Systems) AVDS-1790- 5A V-12 diesel engine developing 908 hp which has also been fitted with an automatic starter. The torsion bar suspension system of Magach either side consists of six dual rubber-tyred roadwheels with the idler at the front, drive sprocket at the rear and three track-return rollers.

Accessories

The firing control system for the Magash 7 is composed by the Matador computerized fire-control system developed by Elbit and ELOP Electro-Optics Industries Limited was also installed. The system is already in service on Merkava and includes a laser range-finder.

Specifications