Magach 7

From what I can tell this is a upgrade M60.  Not sure but if it early M60 with the short turret.

Magach 6B Batash

Alway liked the look of this update version of the M60


Article by Efim SAndler

Magach 6B GAL BATASH was a ‘gap filler’. Well, this tank is mostly known to modelers who like the fancy look of an old and good M60, and despite a couple of well-known pics that traversed all over the internet, very little really known of its brief service in IDF. Moreover the same tank got several names like – Magach 7D, Magach 8, Magach 6 KASAG while in the units it was mostly named Magach 6 MEMUGAN (Heb.-Protected) or Magach 6 LEBANON. BTW, BATASH is translated from Hebrew as ‘Continues Security’ that was the name of the mission IDF performed in Lebanon Security Belt and later in Gaza/West Bank.

By the end of 1990s, IDF had four tank brigades sharing Lebanon Security Belt – 188 with Merkava Mk.3, 7 with Merkava Mk.2, 500 with Magach 7C and 401 with Magach 6B GAL. The latter was considered vulnerable to the newer generation of ATGMs supplied to Hezbollah while in mid-late 1990s more Fagots and Konkurs were observed. To manage this extra protection was added to Magach 6B GAL tanks – the hull was enforced in the same manner as 7C tanks and turret got new layers of extra armor that gave a ‘dish’-like layout. All the tanks also got 908hp engine and enforced torsion bars and some other suspension parts. Note despite some sources, these tanks were not upgraded 7C but original 6B GAL. In total about 20 tanks were upgraded (the number could probably be a bit higher but not more than 30).

Officially the first Magach BATASH tanks appeared in 401 Brigade in 1999 but we can actually spot those tanks in 1998. According to my knowledge each tank battalion (46, 52 and 9) got somewhere between 6-8 tanks while each company operated a mixture of BATASH and regular 6B GAL tanks. The tanks appeared in Lebanon in 1999 and remained there until the withdrawal in May 2000. So from the good side it was a massive protection but from the bad its mobility was very limited especially in Lebanon muddy and rocky terrain. According to one source, the tank took direct hit of 120mm mortar round in the turret with absolutely no effect. But this was not a real tank as it barely moved.

After withdrawal from Lebanon the tanks of 401 Brigade took part in several operations in Gaza and West Bank - all have seen fancy pics from Ramallah during Operation PROTECTIVE SHIELD, 2002. In 2003 500 Armor Brigade was disbanded giving its Magach 7C tanks to reserve units, leaving 401 Armor Brigade the only regular one with Magach tanks. By 2004 BATASH tanks started to fall apart – according to the veterans, they became ‘maintenance nightmare’. For example, in Gaza, the tanks were moved to the position and back only, after 16 hours of mission time, another 8 were spent for suspension repairs. The attrition was ginormous, torsion bars ‘cracked down like nuts’ killing the arms and springs, the units tried to use BATASH tanks as less as possible.

Finally in 2005 401 Brigade exchanged all Magach tanks for Merkava Mk.4. Serving to fill the gap between two generations BATASH tanks did not get to reserve units, and remained only in plastic models.

New miniatures from the Perry Brothers.

British Armor colors 1916 - 1942 Part1

The boys from Toronto are back with another informative video.   British armor colors is like walking through a minefield.  There are some many variants.   Changes constantly coming out of the war department.  IPMS Toronto Barbakan has answer for you. Here is Michigan out Government has decided that we are children. She put us on lock down.  Many small business are going through rough times. plus may not survive.  So crack open a beer, grab some popcorn. Turn down the lights, enjoy the video.

Hot off the 3d printer. Samurai castle corner tower

This are from 3d Alien World print shop.  I chose to print the tower in different colors of Filament. Being very slow on paint these structures.  I cheated a little, still usable for gaming.  Plus I can paint them later now.  The first picture is my first run using the latest version of  Cura.  It was a stringy mess.   The tower has a full interior.   Nice looking floors and stairs.  The shutters have not been glues on yet.  As of today, the current print is the center gate.   The stone wall under the tower took 11.7 hours to run. The lower tower structure 22.3 hours.  A lot of run time my two printer

IDF Centurions in Egypt 73 war

Here are a few picture of Centurions in Egypt late in the 73 war. Sorry for not updating the Yom Kippor series in a while.  Just finished up the series on the Australians  in Veitnam

This sums up the Chaos going around the world

The media has just proved how stupid we are. More people dies in Chicago from violence. Also roughly 22 Vets in the US kill themselves .   How many in Vet in British and Australia are doing the same.  Beside the media doesn't care about Vets.... I you do the  math 7.1 Billion is population of the world as of yesterday 3,047 have passed away.  The percentage is .00004.   If 60K die the percent is .000076%.   As I been told by the government numbers do not lie.  My two cent for the day.

Here is award for the most toilet paper Hoarder.

 

Article on modeling the Churchill tank

Here is a link to article on making different Churchill tank variants.

Modelling the CHurchill.

These two are serious 40K players.

I can't image the hours of work the when into these outfits.  The guy has to be on stilts of some sort.

The roman Pilum was unmatched range weapon

This video explains why the Roman Pilum was so effective in battle.  Some rules set do reflect this in first contact of a charge. 

Here is another explanation of the pilum use

Aussies in Vietnam Part 6

This I believe is the end of the Australians in Vietnam.  Plus there is a mix of Army and Marine vehicles.  Hope that everyone enjoyed this series of post of the Australian Army in Vietnam