7th Armoured Brigade (Israel)

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The 7th Armored Brigade (Hebrew: Hativa Sheva) is Israel’s most famous armored brigade. The 7th Brigade had seen action in all of Israel’s wars. The 7th Brigade and the Alexandroni Brigade suffered 139 casualties in the 1948 Israeli War of Independence during the Battles of Latrun. It is best remembered for its highly successful role in the Six-Day War, under the command of the controversial Shmuel Gonen (Gorodish).

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the 7th Brigade consisted of Sherman tanks, and mounted infantry. It even included some elements of artillery in its early days. During the 60’s, it had employed British Centurion tanks (upgraded in Israel). In the late 70’s, the brigade began to absorb the Israeli-made Merkava tanks, of which it has employed several versions.

The 7th Brigade used to belong to Israel's Southern Command, but since after the Six Day War it is based in the Golan Heights, as part of 36th Armoured Division.