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Sho't


The Sho't (Hebrew: שוט, lit. '') was the designation given by the to the , which entered service in 1959 and remained operational until 2002 after numerous upgrades.
Originating from surplus Mk.5 models initially armed with 20-pounder guns, the Sho't was progressively modified into variants such as the Sho't Kal series, incorporating the 105 L7 rifled , armor, and the AVDS-1790 for improved in .
These proved in conflicts, including the 1967 where they formed a significant portion of 's armored forces on the eastern front, and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, demonstrating superior reliability and crew effectiveness against Soviet-supplied T-55 and T-62 in the Golan Heights despite initial numerical disadvantages.
The Sho't's longevity stemmed from Israeli ingenuity in retrofitting Western and captured components, making it a cornerstone of IDF armored doctrine until supplanted by more modern designs like the Merkava.

Development and Acquisition

Initial Procurement and Early Service

In the late 1950s, Israel faced severe arms embargoes from Western suppliers, including the United States, which restricted access to heavy armor amid rising threats from Soviet-supplied Arab forces such as Egypt's T-54 tanks. To bolster its armored capabilities post-Suez Crisis, Israel initiated secret purchases of used British Centurion tanks starting in 1959. The initial acquisitions included approximately 20 Mark 3 and Mark 5 models equipped with 20-pounder (84 mm) guns, followed by additional batches of Mark 7 and Mark 8 variants through the early 1960s, totaling hundreds over time despite the clandestine nature of the deals. Upon , the were redesignated "Sho'," Hebrew for "" or "scourge," reflecting their intended as a decisive asset. Early into involved minimal modifications to Eastern operations, primarily focusing on enhancing the reliability of the through and protocols adapted for high-temperature, dusty environments, without altering . These Sho' retained their original armament and systems, prioritizing fielding over extensive reengineering. By the early 1960s, Sho't tanks were deployed to key IDF armored brigades, including the 7th Armored Brigade, where they underwent rigorous training regimens. Empirical assessments during exercises highlighted the Centurion's advantages in armor protection and gun accuracy over contemporary Soviet designs, informing tactical doctrines for armored warfare in regional conflicts. This early service phase established the Sho't as a cornerstone of Israel's tank fleet, bridging gaps left by lighter Sherman tanks until further procurements and domestic developments.

Motivations for Israeli Modifications

The Defense Forces encountered significant operational challenges with the newly acquired tanks upon their introduction in 1959, particularly in the where dust clogged radiators, engines overheated, and brakes failed, exposing vulnerabilities in reliability under arid conditions. These issues were compounded by overly maintenance protocols that overwhelmed less experienced crews, resulting in frequent breakdowns and highlighting the need for adaptations to suit Israel's harsh environmental and training realities. Border skirmishes, including those during the War over Water from 1964 to 1967, further revealed deficiencies in the original 20-pounder armament, which proved erratic and insufficient against hardened Syrian defenses and the growing threat posed by Arab acquisitions of T-54/55 tanks with superior armor and 100mm guns. To address this firepower gap and achieve qualitative edges over numerically superior adversaries, Israel prioritized retrofits such as the 105mm L7 gun by 1965, emphasizing enhanced penetration and crew effectiveness through rigorous training. Geopolitical constraints, including restrictions and the insistence on low-profile to preserve relations with nations, compelled toward self-sufficient modifications, accelerating efforts like and overhauls around 1969-1970 to and versatility. This sought to configure the Sho't as a durable mainstay capable of modular enhancements, compensating for limitations through tailored to demands.

Technical Specifications and Upgrades

Armament and Fire Control Systems

The primary armament of early Sho't variants consisted of the British Ordnance QF 20-pounder rifled gun inherited from the Centurion platform, which fired armor-piercing discarding sabot (APDS) rounds but proved inadequate against the sloped armor of Soviet T-55 tanks encountered in the 1967 Six-Day War. Beginning in 1969 with the Sho't Kal Alef upgrade, the 20-pounder was replaced by the 105 mm M68 rifled gun, an American adaptation of the British L7 design produced under license, featuring a longer barrel for improved velocity and compatibility with advanced kinetic energy penetrators. This transition enabled the Sho't to employ APFSDS ammunition, such as early variants achieving penetration sufficient to defeat T-62 side and rear armor at ranges up to 2,000 meters, a critical enhancement for engaging Egyptian and Syrian forces equipped with upgraded T-55s and T-62s. Fire control systems underwent progressive Israeli-led modifications to address the limitations of the original Centurion's manual elevation and rudimentary sights. By the Sho't Kal series, hydraulic gun stabilization was introduced, permitting accurate fire while moving over rough terrain, with further refinements in the mid-1970s incorporating computerized ballistics computers and stabilized periscopes for the gunner. Laser rangefinders, including portable DVS-5 models integrated into the commander's , were added in later upgrades, reducing ranging errors to under 10 and boosting first-shot hit rates to over 90% in dynamic scenarios, as demonstrated in post-1973 evaluations. Secondary armament included a coaxial 7.62 mm for and anti-infantry roles, mounted parallel to the main gun, alongside a 12.7 mm on the commander's for anti-aircraft and long-range suppression. Early reliability concerns with the coaxial feed , stemming from desert ingress, were mitigated through adoption of U.S.-sourced sealed components and maintenance protocols refined after 1967 operational feedback. Ammunition storage comprised around 64 rounds for the main gun, with separate ready racks in the turret bustle to minimize cook-off risks during penetrations.

Protection and Armor Enhancements

The Sho't tank retained the Centurion's armor , with a cast homogeneous turret frontal thickness of 152 and a hull glacis of 76 at a 60-degree slope, providing effective against early post-World War II anti-tank rounds but vulnerability to later shaped-charge threats. Early Israeli modifications in the Sho't Kal Alef variant, introduced around 1962, added applique steel plates to the frontal glacis—up to 44-51 thick on upgraded Mk 3 hulls—augmenting line-of-sight thickness and addressing observed penetrations from 1967 combat data. To counter high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads prevalent in Arab inventories, Sho't tanks received side skirts composed of spaced steel panels, typically 5-6 mm thick with air gaps, which induced premature jet formation in shaped charges during the 1973 Yom Kippur War; IDF after-action analyses credited these with reducing side-aspect penetrations by promoting deflagration before reaching the main hull. Crew survivability was further prioritized through internal compartmentalization and blow-out panels for ammunition storage, derived from empirical losses in 1967 and 1973 where spall and fire propagation caused disproportionate casualties relative to hull breaches. Post-1973 lessons accelerated of reactive armor () in Sho't Kal (late 1970s) and subsequent Dalet/ models (1980s), consisting of explosive-filled bricks applied to the turret front, , and upper /sides; this detonates on to and deflect shaped-charge liners, with Israeli tests demonstrating substantial —often 50-80% in —against RPG-7s and early ATGMs like the Sagger. packages weighed approximately 2-3 tons per tank, balancing added against mobility penalties, and were refined through live-fire trials emphasizing causal disruption of hydrodynamic jets over passive thickness. These enhancements extended operational into the 1990s reserves, prioritizing crew preservation in asymmetric threats over armor .

Mobility, Engine, and Suspension Improvements

The Sho't Kal series, introduced starting in 1969, featured a significant propulsion upgrade by replacing the original Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 petrol engine—rated at approximately 650 horsepower—with the American Continental AVDS-1790-2A V12 diesel engine producing 750 horsepower, paired with an Allison CD-850-6A automatic transmission. This change addressed the Meteor's vulnerabilities, including high fuel consumption, flammability risks in combat, and reduced performance in hot desert conditions, while the diesel provided superior low-end torque for navigating rocky and sandy terrains common to Israeli operations. The upgrade enhanced overall power-to-weight ratio from around 12 hp/ton to approximately 14 hp/ton, enabling sustained speeds of up to 45 km/h on roads and improved acceleration off-road, with field reports noting fewer mechanical failures during extended maneuvers. Subsequent variants, such as the Sho't Kal Bet (1975) and later Gimel and Dalet models, incorporated further refinements including the AVDS-1790-2AC or -6A engine variants boosting output to 900 horsepower in some configurations, along with updated fuel systems to mitigate the original Centurion's limited cross-country range of roughly 200 kilometers. These diesel powerplants offered 20-30% better fuel economy over the petrol predecessor, extending operational endurance and simplifying logistics through compatibility with standardized NATO diesel supplies, though auxiliary fuel trailers were sometimes employed for long-range desert patrols to compensate for the tank's 1,000-liter internal capacity. Suspension and track enhancements complemented these engine changes, with the Sho't Kal adopting wider, high-flotation tracks derived from U.S. M48 Patton designs to improve ground pressure distribution and reduce bogging in soft Sinai sands, alongside reinforced Horstmann-type bogie units for greater durability under heavy loads. Later iterations in the Gimel and Dalet series (late 1970s onward) integrated hydraulic shock absorbers and adjusted torsion bars, decreasing vibration-induced breakdowns by up to 40% in operational tests and allowing higher average speeds over uneven terrain without compromising crew stability. These modifications collectively lowered maintenance intervals from 100 hours to over 200 hours per engine overhaul, prioritizing reliability in austere environments over radical redesigns.

Variants

Sho't Meteor

The Sho't Meteor represented the initial variant of the Centurion main battle tank adapted for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) service, characterized by retention of the original British Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 petrol engine delivering 650 horsepower. Israel procured its first Centurions in 1959, comprising 20 examples of the Mk 3 and Mk 5 models, followed by 16 new Mk 8s delivered by May 1961. These vehicles initially mounted the 20-pounder (84 mm) rifled gun, which the IDF subsequently replaced with the more potent 105 mm L7 gun through local production and turret adaptations conducted in ordnance workshops. Minor modifications tailored the to IDF requirements while preserving British powerpack, including enhancements to the fire extinguishing , electrical , braking , and fuel for extended operational . Secondary armament typically comprised a coaxial 7.62 machine gun and an optional .50 heavy machine gun on a pintle mount atop the commander's cupola. Hebrew-language instrumentation and markings facilitated crew familiarity in service from 1959 onward. Operational experience with the Sho't Meteor through the 1960s underscored the Meteor engine's limitations, particularly its reduced reliability in arid desert environments due to petrol fuel's flammability risks and vulnerability to overheating compared to diesel alternatives. These empirical shortcomings, evident in maintenance demands and mobility constraints under Israeli conditions, prompted prioritization of upgrades by the early 1970s, leading to the Sho't Kal series with the Continental AVDS-1790 diesel engine for superior endurance and logistics compatibility. Thus, the Sho't Meteor functioned as a foundational benchmark, validating the causal necessity of powerpack modernization for sustained combat viability.

Sho't Kal Alef to Hey Series

The Sho't Kal series, designated with Hebrew letters from , comprised iterative upgrades to the diesel-powered , incorporating lessons from operational use to enhance reliability, , and . Introduced starting in 1970, these replaced the original with the for improved and reduced , while retaining the 105 mm L7 gun and adding hydraulic traverse for faster aiming. Over 1,000 Sho't Kal were in by 1973, with upgrades applied incrementally to existing hulls based on empirical from , such as engine durability in desert conditions and traverse speed limitations in dynamic engagements. The Sho't Kal Alef and Bet variants, fielded from 1970 to 1976, focused on powertrain reliability and handling enhancements. The Alef introduced the swap, Allison CD-850-6A , and revised commander's for better visibility, addressing vulnerabilities like petrol flammability observed in earlier Sho't Meteor models. The Bet, entering service in 1975, added appliqué armor plates to the and for empirical gains against shaped charges, without altering the . These changes prioritized robustness over , reflecting data-driven fixes to logs from pre-1973 operations. Subsequent and upgrades in the late 1970s to integrated post-1973 , emphasizing and reactive armor. The variant upgraded the , , and initial fire-control systems for quicker , while the added reactive armor () to anti-tank guided missiles, validated through survivability analyses of war-damaged . These modifications extended operational into the 1980s, with Dalet models serving until 2002 in reserves. The Sho't Kal represented the final refinement, incorporating advanced like the fire-control system on Dalet hulls for superior night and ranging capabilities, though it remained largely prototypical and saw into the reserves. This progression underscored Israel's approach to sustaining platforms through targeted, evidence-based enhancements rather than wholesale .

Combat History

Six-Day War (1967)

The Sho't tanks, Israel's locally modified main tanks, entered large-scale for the first time during the (–10, 1967), forming a key element of the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) armored spearheads in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights. With the IDF deploying around 293 combat-ready Sho'ts out of its total tank inventory, these vehicles—primarily equipped with 20-pounder or early 105 mm guns—enabled rapid penetrations against Egyptian T-54/55 and Syrian T-54 , where superior IDF crew tactics, including aggressive maneuvering and accurate first-shot fire, consistently outperformed numerically superior Arab forces hampered by rigid doctrine and poorer training. In the Sinai, Sho't-equipped brigades under generals Israel Tal and Ariel Sharon executed breakthroughs critical to collapsing Egyptian defenses; notably, at the fortified Abu Ageila junction on June 6, Sharon's 38th Armored Division utilized its Centurion brigade (Sho'ts) in a flanking assault that overran entrenched Egyptian positions, destroying dozens of T-55s while exploiting the Sho't's reliable mobility and gun stabilization for close-range engagements. IDF after-action reports documented tank kill ratios often exceeding 10:1 in such clashes, validating the pre-war emphasis on the Sho't's baseline design for high-velocity fire and crew proficiency over raw numbers. This edge stemmed from causal factors like the Sho't's effective ranging and the IDF's decentralized command, allowing platoons to outflank and ambush Soviet-supplied armor before it could leverage its theoretical advantages in armor thickness. On the Golan Heights, fewer —integrated into the 7th Armored —initially stemmed Syrian thrusts before counterattacking, where the ' accuracy neutralized T-54 threats at ranges 1,500 , contributing to the of Syrian forces by 9. Overall Sho't losses remained under 10% across fronts, per tallies, primarily from minefields or rather than tank-on-tank duels, underscoring the vehicle's (via its ) and the disparity that permitted evasion and repositioning against less adaptive opponents. These engagements the Sho't's in the 's blitzkrieg-style advances, with minimal mechanical failures reported despite conditions.

War of Attrition and Yom Kippur War (1973)

During the (1967–1970), , mainly 5 with 105 L7 guns, conducted raids and engagements against Syrian positions on the amid disputes. These s underscored the 's superior gunnery accuracy in hitting fortified under adverse conditions such as and , yet revealed vulnerabilities in sustained operational reliability and under repeated sorties. The attritional demands exposed , prompting comprehensive upgrades culminating in the Sho't Kal series introduced around 1970. These enhancements included bolstered AVDS-1790 engines for improved power-to-weight ratios, refined transmissions for better over rough , and integrated systems to enhance first-shot accuracy, directly addressing the shortcomings observed in low-intensity conflicts and preparing the fleet for high-tempo warfare. In the Yom Kippur War, Syrian forces initiated a offensive on October 6, 1973, deploying approximately ,300 against an northern command comprising 177 primarily Sho't Centurions positioned along the ' Line. Sho't Kal variants bore the brunt of the , leveraging their robust armor and 105 guns in hull-down positions to blunt the Syrian thrust, with empirical engagements demonstrating resilience against T-55 and main gun at ranges under ,000 meters. The 7th Armoured Brigade's Sho'ts spearheaded the in the of from –9, destroying roughly Syrian through aggressive maneuvering and superior , though the brigade sustained severe , ending with only seven operational . Zvika Greengold's "Zvika "—two Sho't Centurions—intercepted advancing Syrian columns near Nafah, destroying over T-55s and disrupting to avert a , exemplifying the tank's in prolonged, outnumbered duels. Overall, Sho't contributions on the yielded a lopsided , with forces claiming more than tank kills against approximately 100 losses, halting the Syrian advance by October 10.

Subsequent Conflicts and Reserves

The Sho't participated in Litani, Israel's 1978 incursion into to counter Palestinian activities, where variants provided armored in close-quarters engagements. In the 1982 for , the of to expel the , upgraded Sho't Gimel equipped with explosive reactive armor saw , including urban fighting and confrontations with Syrian forces, demonstrating the platform's adaptability despite the introduction of newer . These deployments highlighted the Sho't's , as enhanced fire control and allowed it to remain viable against contemporary threats like T-55 and T-62 , though primary anti-tank roles shifted to Merkavas. As Merkava production ramped up in the early 1980s, Sho't tanks transitioned to reserve formations, serving in secondary defensive roles and rapid-response units through the 1990s. Reserve units maintained operational readiness with periodic upgrades, such as improved and reactive armor , enabling limited deployments in operations. By the late 1990s, obsolescence relative to advanced anti-tank guided missiles and more threats led to decommissioning, with the last Sho't units withdrawn from active reserve in 2002. Surplus hulls were either stored for potential reactivation, exported to allied nations, or scrapped, reflecting the tank's enduring tactical reliability in exercises that emphasized crew proficiency over cutting-edge .

Operators and Derivatives

Primary Use in Israel Defense Forces

The tank constituted a primary within the armored , entering in and reaching a of over units by 1972. These were to operational deployments in elite armored brigades, notably the 7th Armoured Brigade—where the initial Sho't-equipped unit, Zayin Company of the 82nd Battalion, was formed—and the 188th Armored Brigade, equipping multiple tank battalions for frontline roles. IDF armored doctrine positioned the Sho't at of maneuvers, leveraging its reliability and in defensive and counteroffensive operations, underpinned by rigorous that emphasized tactical proficiency and response. This regimen contributed to the tank's sustained , as evidenced by evaluations highlighting superior relative to numerical disadvantages faced. The Sho't bridged gaps until the maturation of designs like the , with phased commencing in the and full decommissioning from active by 2002.

Conversions to Armored Personnel Carriers

The Nagmashot (also spelled NagmaSho't), introduced around , represented the initial conversion of obsolete Sho't Kal tank hulls into heavy armored personnel carriers to provide protected amid evolving operational needs in . These conversions involved removing the main and installing a fixed, armored to accommodate seven infantrymen plus the driver, while retaining the vehicle's AVDS-1790 , , and overall characteristics for cross-country . Armament typically consisted of remote-controlled guns, such as a .50 caliber heavy gun and coaxial 7.62 mm guns, suitable for suppressive fire in urban or counter-insurgency scenarios without exposing crew to direct fire. Building on the Nagmashot design, the Nagmachon variant emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s through further modifications to both original Sho't hulls and existing Nagmashots, emphasizing enhanced survivability against anti-tank threats prevalent in the South Lebanon security zone. Key upgrades included extensive application of Blazer explosive reactive armor (ERA) panels across the hull and superstructure, increasing protection against shaped-charge warheads and improvised explosive devices, while maintaining a combat weight of approximately 52 tonnes and capacity for around ten troops. These vehicles featured additional defensive measures like grenade launchers for smoke screening and reinforced mine-resistant underbelly plating, tailored for breaching operations and patrolling hostile urban environments where lighter APCs like the M113 proved vulnerable. Deployed primarily by armored brigades in low-intensity conflicts, including operations within the until Israel's in 2000, the Nagmashot and Nagmachon extended the of surplus Centurion-derived hulls by them for roles rather than scrapping them outright. Numerous such conversions—prioritizing hulls from Sho't series tanks upgraded with diesel powerplants—demonstrated pragmatic to address manpower gaps without procuring entirely new platforms, allowing into the 2010s in reserve units for and . This approach preserved , with speeds exceeding 40 /h and operational suitable for regional maneuvers, while adapting the platform's inherent to asymmetric threats.

Assessment and Legacy

Combat Effectiveness and Achievements

During the Yom Kippur War of October 6–25, 1973, Sho't tanks, as upgraded Centurions equipped with the 105 mm L7 gun, played a decisive role in halting Syrian advances on the , where Israeli armored units with approximately 177 tanks repelled a Syrian force comprising 1,400 tanks. This defensive stand prevented encirclement and breakthrough toward Israeli population centers, with Sho't crews leveraging superior optics and rangefinders for first-shot advantages at ranges exceeding those of Syrian T-55 and T-62 tanks. Overall, Israeli tank crews achieved a kill ratio of about 11 enemy tanks destroyed per Israeli tank lost in the Golan fighting, attributable to rigorous training, night-fighting capabilities, and tactical initiative. Specific engagements underscored the Sho't's effectiveness; in one documented instance, two damaged Sho't tanks disabled or destroyed around Syrian T-55 and main , demonstrating the platform's and even under duress. These outcomes contrasted with narratives undervaluing Western-designed , as Israeli modifications—including enhanced control systems and crew proficiency—enabled Sho'ts to outperform numerically superior Soviet-supplied armor through precise, long-range engagements rather than close-quarters brawls favored by forces. The Sho't's combat longevity further evidenced its robust design and adaptive upgrades, remaining in frontline service from through major conflicts until its phase-out as a in , spanning over four decades of operational reliability. This extended , bolstered by engineering like the reactive armor additions in later , affirmed the hull's foundational strengths when paired with local innovations, sustaining effectiveness in subsequent operations such as the 1982 incursion.

Limitations, Criticisms, and Strategic Lessons

The Sho't tank's complexity contributed to early reliability challenges in IDF , particularly to 1967, where overheating engines and clogged radiators from dust and mud were common due to the Meteor engine's and crews' with designs. These issues stemmed from the tank's intricate systems rather than flaws , but they highlighted the need for rigorous protocols that were initially underdeveloped in the IDF's armored . In the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Sho't formations faced acute tactical vulnerabilities to Egyptian-operated Sagger (AT-3) anti-tank guided missiles, resulting in heavy ; southern armored units lost approximately 40% of their within the first two days, many to wire-guided ATGMs exploiting open and inadequate countermeasures like reactive armor, which were absent at the war's outset. The Sho't's operational remained constrained, originally to around 105 on with early , requiring auxiliary trailers that proved and vulnerable in , thus imposing logistical burdens on IDF supply lines during extended maneuvers.) Post-war adaptations, side removal for in rough , underscored persistent compromises between and operational flexibility. Strategic analyses post-1973 debated the IDF's emphasis on upgrading legacy platforms like the Sho't—via engine swaps and control enhancements—versus procuring or developing entirely new tanks, with critics arguing that such reliance delayed indigenous innovation amid evolving threats like ATGMs; nonetheless, empirical battlefield from sustained Sho't engagements demonstrated that upgrades yielded superior kill ratios against peer adversaries, validating iterative improvements while exposing over-optimism in foreign designs' adaptability, a influencing the shift toward crew-centric Merkava concepts. Narratives from sources exaggerating Sho't shortcomings often reflected propagandistic rather than balanced , given their with regimes incentivized to inflate enemy vulnerabilities.

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