IDF Achzarit

IDF Achzarit Mk 2

Achzarit armed with an OWS station
Type Heavy armored personnel carrier
Place of origin Israel
Service history
Wars South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000)
Second Intifada
2006 Lebanon War
Gaza War
Production history
Designer Israeli Defence Forces Corps of Ordnance
Singapore Army (Coming soon)
Manufacturer NIMDA
Produced 1988–present
Specifications
Weight 44 tonnes
Length 6.20 m
Width 3.60 m
Height >2 m (estimate)
Crew 3 + 7 passengers

Armor 200 mm
Main
armament
2×7.62 mm machine gun, 1×7.62 mm Rafael Overhead Weapon Station
Engine diesel
850 hp (630 kW)
Power/weight 19 hp/tonne
Suspension torsion-bar
Operational
range
600 km
Speed 65 km/h
Rear view of an Achzarit

The Achzarit (אכזרית in Hebrew: "cruel", female inflection) is a heavily armored armored personnel carrier manufactured by the Israeli Defence Forces Corps of Ordnance.

History

The Achzarit is based on the Soviet-built T-54/T-55 tank,[1] beginning with those captured from Arab armies during the Arab–Israeli wars. The IDF took the old design, removed its turret, and modified the chassis for carrying soldiers by adding a troop compartment and rear door.[1] The engine was made more compact and powerful, and other internal systems were upgraded. Reactive armor was installed over the original armored tank chassis. The APC was created in 1988.

Design

Engine

The Achzarit Mk 1 has a 650-hp engine, while the Mk 2 has an 850-hp engine.

Weapons

It is armed with three 7.62 mm machine guns, including one Rafael Overhead Weapons Station, a machine gun controlled from within the cabin, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems As a lesson from the Second Intifada, a bulletproof glass turret was installed over one of the hatches to enable the commander to see outside without being exposed to small arms fire and shrapnel.

Several Achzarit in service have been upgraded with a 12.7 mm Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station in place of the standard 7.62 mm Rafael Overhead Weapon Station.

Operations

Because of its heavy armor, the Achzarit is sometimes called a Heavy APC (HAPC). Achzarit APCs are in service with the IDF Givati Brigade

Achzarit APCs took part in Operation Rainbow in Rafah, after a comparatively lightly armored M113 APC was destroyed by an RPG. Achzarit APCs were also involved in the Gaza War.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Achzarit". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-11-05.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Achzarit armored personnel carriers.
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