M50 Super Sherman

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This article is about both the Sherman M-50 and M-51 tanks that served with the Israel Defense Forces
Sherman M-50 Cummins.
Sherman M-50 Cummins.
Sherman M-51.
Sherman M-51.
External images
M-50 Continental, M4 composite (front) and M4A1 (back) hulls. [1]
M-50 Continental, M4A4 hull. [2]

The Sherman M-50 and the Sherman M-51 were modified versions of the M4 Sherman tank that served with the Israel Defense Forces from mid-1950s to early 1980s. The M-50 was known abroad as Super Sherman and the M-51 as Super Sherman or Isherman, however, these names have never been used by the Israel Defense Forces.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1953, an Israeli delegation visited France in order to take a look at the new AMX 13 light tank. The tank was armed with a high-velocity 75 mm gun CN 75-50, a development of the German 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 (used in the Panther tank). On the other side, the armor of the French tank was considered too light. Eventually Israel purchased the AMX 13, however in a parallel development it was decided to combine the powerful French gun with the easily available, familiar and better armored body of the American M4 Sherman, the standard tank of the IDF armored units in early 1950s.[1]

The development started in 1954 and in 1955 a prototype turret was sent from France to Israel.[2] In March 1956 Israeli Ordnance Corps facilities started to convert tanks, using guns received from France.[3] The gun was known in Israel as M-50 and as a result the upgunned Sherman was designated Sherman M-50.[4] Similar to the Sherman Firefly, it had the original turret of the "old" type (as used by the 75 mm gun M3 armed Shermans), which was fitted with a large counterweight.

First 50 units were typically based on M4A4 hulls, had Continental R-975 gasoline engine and VVSS suspension. However, the increased weight of the vehicle combined with narrow tracks led to insufficient off-road mobility; it was also putting too much strain on the engine, resulting in frequent mechanical failures. Consequently, for the rest of the conversions, hulls fitted with HVSS suspension and Cummins V-8 460 hp diesel engine were adopted.[5] These subvariants were sometimes referred to as M-50 Continental and M-50 Cummins. In total, about 300 M-50 were built by 1964 (though it's possible that this number includes 120 155 mm self-propelled guns on Sherman chassis, also designated M-50).[6]

The same gun was also fitted to a number of M10 Wolverine tank destroyers.[7]

In 1960s 180 Sherman tanks received even more powerful French 105 mm CN 105 F1 gun. The gun was shortened from 56 calibers to 44 and was equipped with a muzzle brake; ammunition was altered to use smaller cartridge. In Israel the gun was designated M-51 and the tank - Sherman M-51. M4A1 hulls and "new" turrets (from 76 mm armed Shermans) were used for the conversion. All tanks were fitted with Cummins diesel engines and HVSS suspension. The tank was demonstrated to the public for the first time during the Independence Day ceremony in 1965.[8]

Abroad the M-50 was known as Super Sherman (the "Continental" variant as Mark I and the "Cummins" variant as Mark II) and the M-51 as either Super Sherman or Isherman (i.e. Israeli Sherman). These designation were never used in Israel. The only tank model designated Super Sherman by the IDF was M4A1 with 76 mm M1 gun and HVSS suspension, which was named Super Sherman M-1.[9]

[edit] Service history

The first 25 M-50s were finished just in time for the Operation Kadesh in the Sinai against the Egyptian Army[10] (who also employed its own upgunned version of the M-4, fitted with AMX-13 turret, making it equal to the M-50 in firepower).

In 1964, Israel sarted to flow water from Golan into Negev Desert. Arab nations were in uproar, and Syria decided to divert water into Jordan. Maj General Israel Tal had trained Israeli tank gunners to shoot beyond 1.5km. On March 6, 1965, M50 engaged a Syrian recoiless rifle that killed an Israeli tractor driver. In such long distance, General Tal personally destroyed the recoiless rifle with his M50. A few days later, one M50 and one Centurian Mk III with 105mm gun was waiting for a chance to fire upon the Syrian water diverting project. When Syrian gunners fired on a border patrol, general Tal's M50 tank and a Centurion Mk III fired on 8 tractors 2km away, and in two minutes and after 10 shots, destroyed all 8. General Tal taking 5 tractors with his M50's 75mm gun, and Centurion taking 3. [11]

Both M-50 and M-51 saw combat in the Six-Day War that left Golan hights in Israeli hands, often fighting Soviet World War II-era armor like the T34/85 (for example at the Battle of Abu-Ageila). Both were also employed in the 1973 Yom Kippur War alongside and against much more modern tanks. This could also be attributed to the surprise nature of the attack on Israel in the war, prompting the IDF to use everything it had.

M-50 Continental were retired by 1972. M-50 Cummins and M-51 were gradually phased out in late 1970s - early 1980s. Some of the M-50s were given to the Lebanese Forces, a Christian militia, and later the Israeli supported South Lebanon Army during the Lebanese Civil War and the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon. Many tanks were sold to Chile, some of those were fitted with 60 mm HVMS gun and are often referred to as M-60. This variant was never used by the IDF.[12]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Givati - The Armor Craftsmen, p 82-85.
  2. ^ Givati - The Armor Craftsmen, p 83-84.
  3. ^ Granovskiy - Names, Designations and Service Figures of IDF Armored Vehicles.
  4. ^ Givati - The Armor Craftsmen, p 83-84.
  5. ^ Givati - The Armor Craftsmen, p 105-108
  6. ^ Granovskiy - Names, Designations and Service Figures of IDF Armored Vehicles.
  7. ^ Givati - The Armor Craftsmen, p 106.
  8. ^ Givati - The Armor Craftsmen, p 109-110, 123.
  9. ^ Granovskiy - Names, Designations and Service Figures of IDF Armored Vehicles.
  10. ^ Granovskiy - Names, Designations and Service Figures of IDF Armored Vehicles.
  11. ^ George Forty - Tank Action, pp 249-250, ISBN 0-7509-0479-8
  12. ^ Granovskiy - Names, Designations and Service Figures of IDF Armored Vehicles.

[edit] References and external links

  • Givati, Moshe - The Armor Craftsmen - The History of the 7100 Restoration and Maintenance Center, MoD 1998 ( ISBN 965-05-0902-x , 1998 ,משה גבעתי - בידיהם חושלה הפלדה - סיפורו של מרכז שיקום ואחזקה 7100 , משרד הבטחון הוצאה לאור ).
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