Armored Corps (Israel)
| Armored Corps (Israel) | |
|---|---|
|
Flag  | |
| Active | 1948–present |
| Country | Israel |
| Allegiance | Israel Defense Forces |
| Branch | GOC Army Headquarters |
| Motto(s) | "The man in the tank wins" (Hebrew: האדם שבטנק ינצח, Ha'adam she'Ba Tank Ye'na'tzeah) |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Guy Hason |
| Insignia | |
| Cap badge |
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The Israeli Armored Corps (Hebrew: חֵיל שִׁרְיוֹן , Heil HaShiryon) is a corps of the Israel Defense Forces that, since 1998, has been subordinate to GOC Army Headquarters. The Armored Corps is the principal maneuvering corps, and primarily bases its strength on Main Battle Tanks.
The Armored Corps is the decisive corps in GOC Army Headquarters, and bases its power on a combination of mobility, armor, and firepower. During wars, its primary role on the one hand, to lead the first line of the attacking forces and to clear the area of the enemy. Secondarily, it blocks the armor forces of the enemy and seeks to destroy its tanks and armor. During peacetime, it reinforces the Infantry Corps while it performs security tasks, with the tanks serving as mobile bunkers.
Active units
The following list contains all currently active armor brigades:
- 7th "Saar me-Golan/Storm from Golan" Armor Brigade
- 188th "Barak/Lightning" Armor Brigade
- 401st "I'kvot Ha-Barzel/Iron Trails" Armor Brigade
- 460th "Bnei Or/Sons of Light" (Training) Armor Brigade
Unit histories
- 36th "Ga'ash" Armor Division The division is stationed on the Golan Heights under Northern Command. It includes the 7th and 188th Armor Brigades:
- 7th "Saar me-Golan" Armor Brigade It was the first IDF armored brigade and has participated in all of Israel's wars. The brigade’s fighting during the Suez War resulted in a breakthrough in how the army approached the character of armored warfare. As of 2014, the brigade is transitioning from Merkava 2 tanks to Merkava 4 tanks.[1]
- 188th "Barak" Armor Brigade Beginning with the Six Day War, the brigade participated in all of Israel’s wars. During the Yom Kippur War, the brigade was the first line of defense in the first days of the war in the Southern Golan, and saw almost all of its officers killed in action. It was the last armored brigade to use the Centurion tank, converting to Merkava 3 tanks in 1992.
- 162nd "Utzvat HaPlada" Armor Division This division is subordinated to Southern Command. It includes the 401st Armor Brigade:
- 401st "I'kvot Ha-Barzel" Armor Brigade This brigade was created in 1968 in order to control the Suez Canal line. During the Yom Kippur War, it faced the first line of attack in the canal and suffered heavy losses. During the 1982 Lebanon War, it fought in the Southern force - one of its battalions participated in the Sultan Yaakov battle. During 2004–05, the brigade's Magach tanks were replaced by Merkava 4 tanks.
- 460th "Bnei Or" Armor Brigade This brigade is the training brigade of the Armored Corps. It maintains two bases: the Shizafon training base—the school for the corps' commanders, where the officers and tank commanders are instructed—and Camp Magen-Sayarim, the Armored Corps school, where basic and continued training is undertaken, preparing armor combatants toward the operational brigades.
Reserve Units
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The following list contains all reserve armor brigades:
- 4th "Kiryati" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
- 8th (Reserve) Armor Brigade
- 10th "Harel" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
- 14th "Machatz/Bison" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
- 37th "Ram" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
- 205th "Iron Fist" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
- 263rd "Merkavot ha-Esh/Chariots of Fire" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
- 679th "Yiftah" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
- 847th "Chariots of Steel" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
Unit histories
- 252nd "Sinai" (Reserve) Armor Division This division is stationed in the South of Israel and under Southern Command. It includes the 10th and 14th Armor Brigades:
- 10th "Harel" (Reserve) Armor Brigade The brigade was established as a division of the Palmach on 16 April 1948, immediately after Operation Nachshon. Yitzhak Rabin was appointed as its first commander. During the Suez Crisis (Kadesh Operation) in 1956, the brigade fought as an infantry brigade commanded by Shmuel Gudar. In 1959, the brigade was made into a reserve unit of the Armored Corps. In the Six Day War, the brigade fought in the battles for Jerusalem under the command of Uri Ben Ari. Today, the brigade is part of Uzvat Amud ha-Esh ("Pillar of Fire").
- 14th "Machatz" (Reserve) Armor Brigade The brigade was active during the War of Attrition when it split to provide the basis for the 401st Armoured Brigade. During the Yom Kippur War, it was initially an armored reserve supporting the infantry brigades holding the Bar-Lev Line. It suffered terrible casualties during the war but was rebuilt afterwards.[2]
- 319th "Ha-Mapatz" (Reserve) Armor Division This division is stationed in the North of Israel and under Northern Command. It includes the 4th and 205th Armor Brigades:
- 4th "Kiryati" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
- 205th "Iron Fist" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
- 340th "Idan" (Reserve) Armor Division This division is stationed in Central Israel and under Central Command. It includes the 847th Armor Brigade:
- 847th "Merkavot HaPlada/Chariots of Steel" (Reserve) Armor Brigade Recently, the brigade took part in the 2006 Lebanon War, most notably in the Battle of Bint Jbeil and battle of Yaroun; during the war, the brigade eliminated approximately 60 Hezbollah fighters.
Disbanded units
- 211th Brigade
Also known as the Yishai (acronym for "Guardians of Jerusalem Unit"), during the Lebanon War of 1982, it was famously led by Colonel Eli Geva, who, during the Siege of Beirut, refused to lead his soldiers into the city for moral reasons. He was dismissed from the army, and the brigade itself was dissolved in the early 1990s.
Also known as the Kfir ("Young Lion") Formation, this was a regular armor brigade that operated from 1972 until 2003. During the Yom Kippur War, it participated in the Battle of Suez. During the Lebanon War of 1982, it fought in the framework of the Eastern force and participated in the Eyn Zhalata battle. In 2003, due to changes in the IDF structure, and the lessening of the threat from the eastern front (due to the USA war in Iraq), the brigade was dissolved.
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.jpost.com/Defense/7th-Armored-Brigade-ditches-old-tanks-for-Merkava-Mark-IV-341019
- ↑ Historical Notes and Scenarios Booklet, Suez '73 (boardgame), Game Designers' Workshop, 1981