| Sho't | |
| Origin: | Israel |
| Type: | Main battle tank |
| Is Vehicle: | yes |
| Service: | 1963–2002 |
| Used By: | Israel Defense Forces |
| Suspension: | Horstmann |
| Primary Armament: | |
| Secondary Armament: |
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| Engine: |
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| Transmission: |
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| Crew: | 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver) |
Sho't is the Israeli designation of the 105mm L7 armed modified Centurion tank, which entered Israeli service in the 1960's.[2]
Sho't Meteors are made up of Mark 3, Mark 5, and Mark 8 Centurion tanks with the original Rolls-Royce Meteor engine upgunned to the 105mm Royal Ordnance L7 cannon. These tanks received minor additional upgrades and modifications by the Israel Defense Forces in earlier improvement programs for the tank. Baring many original similarities to the British Centurions, they were not as heavily modified as the Sho't Kal would later be. Two main significant modifications were installed during Israeli Centurions' service that would make the Sho't Meteor: the replacement of the 84mm 20-pounder cannon with the 105mm L7 cannon, and the addition of an exterior rear fuel tank which greatly improved the range of the Sho't. The Sho't Meteor would be distinct for these two main modifications. Sho't Meteors only started to be referred to as Meteors when the Sho't Kal was introduced, in order to differentiate the tanks.[3] Before that, the normal name, "Sho't" would simply apply to the tanks. "Sho't" is still used as a standard common nickname when referring to any type of Sho't variant. The Sho't Meteor was not limited to, but was used extensively in the Six-Day War, and as well saw partial combat in the Yom Kippur War.
The Sho't Kal variants consist of modernized Centurion Mark, 3, 5, and 8 tanks with all the variants including significant mechanical upgrades, such as the new engines (Continental AVDS1790-2AC and 2AG diesel engines), and a new Allison CD-850-6 transmission. The addition "Kal" refers to the abbreviation of the engine manufacturer Continental, originally notated in Hebrew as "שוטקל" and transliterated as "sho'tqal". Kal in Hebrew as well means, "easy", since the modifications of the Sho't Kals made day-to-day life easier for the crew members serving in them. The names for the four main Sho't Kal variants are derivative from the Hebrew alphabet, with the four variants being the first four letters of the alphabet: Alef, Bet, Gimel, and Dalet. All the Sho't Kal variants are an upgrade and advancement of the previous version before them; keeping all previous components, with the only exception of them being replaced, or removed for a specific reason.
The Sho't Kal entered service in 1970 with Alef, and by 1974 all Israeli Centurions and Sho't Meteors were upgraded to Sho't Kal standard. Subvariants indicate upgrades received by Sho't Kal tanks during their operational life, including a new turret rotating mechanism, a new gun stabilization system, a new fire-control system, preparations for the installation of the Blazer reactive armor, and more.
Being the first version of the Sho't Kal series introduced in 1969, the tank only started to be referred as the Alef when the Sho't Kal Bet was introduced in 1975, with the Sho't Kal series annexing more variants. The Alef was a major upgrade from the Sho't Meteor, which was factored mostly by the new Continental AVDS1790-2AC engine and new Allison CD-850-6A transmission. The Sho't Kal Alef was used in the 1973 Yom Kippur War along with Israeli Magachs and Sho't Meteors. Alefs were commonly equipped above the main gun mantlet with a captured Soviet Luna L-2 infrared searchlight taken from enemy tanks, or either a fixed-mounted .50 caliber M2HB machine gun; Alefs could have as well been normally equipped with a regular western searchlight. The .50 caliber machine gun on the previous Meteor variants were removed from the mount attached to the commander's cupola in favor of a .30 caliber machine gun, this was decided to more effectively deal with anti-tank and infantry teams. In the Yom Kippur war, many Alefs frequently had their side skirt plates removed due to the winter creating a high quantity of heavy mud in the Golan Heights, making the mud pack to the suspension and causing issues. Many tank crews were ordered by battalion commanders to find their plates when the first cease fire was declared, some crews could not find their side skirt plates due to them being left at numerous places when they removed them. An additional 44mm thick frontal glacis armor plate was common to older Centurion Mark 3's upgraded to Sho't Kal standard, however, not all Alefs were equipped with this plate, as some can be seen in photos without the additional glacis plate. The additional plate mainly originates from the Centurion Mark 5/1, which was an upgrade for Mark 5's that included the 44mm plate—these upgraded Mark 5's were mainly in service with Australia. The armor was originally innovated to ensure protection against Soviet 100mm cannons.[4] [5]
The smoke grenade launchers on base Centurion tanks were unfortunately removed with the transition to the Alef, though smoke launcher mounts were still attached to the turrets of some tanks. It was decided smoke was no longer needed to hide tanks in battle; this was greatly regretted in the Yom Kippur War. There were many opportunities in combat where smoke could have been used to mask against ATGMs. Sho't Kals were later equipped with modern smoke grenade dischargers in the future variants.
Introduced in 1975, the Sho't Kal Bet was the second variant of the Sho't Kal series and saw extensive usage in Operation Litani which occurred in 1978.[6] The Sho't Kal Bet received a new hydro-electric turret traverse mechanism that was based on the mechanism in the M48 Patton tank due to the old electric British turret control system being concluded as problematic. The Cadillac Gauge fire control system was installed; however, it was only implemented in one brigade, with it being a partial solution. The Sho't Kal Bet begun the trend of the loader receiving a .30 caliber machine gun mounted closely to the loader's hatch, which is apparent on many pictures and videos of the Bet in Operation Litani. Some Bets initially came with IS-10 smoke launcher mounts, and most came with mounting point preparations for ERA; by the end of its service, most Bets were equipped with Blazer (called Baltan in the IDF) Explosive Reactive Armor and IS-10 smoke launchers. Reactive armor covered most parts of the tank's front, turret, and upper sides. However, ERA was not used as commonly as it was with the Sho't Kal Gimel, due to certain Bets receiving it near the end of its service life.
The Sho't Kal Gimel was manufactured in 1979 and used in service by the early 1980's, being fully equipped with Blazer (Baltan) Explosive Reactive Armor and two IS-10 smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret front. The Sho't Kal Gimel fully received the Cadillac Gauge fire control system, which was only previously installed in a single brigade of Sho't Kal Bets. Along with the new fire control system, a new modern stabilizer was added to the traverse system which eased the process of the main gun staying on target while engaging—providing stability for aiming the cannon while traveling at high speeds on rough terrain, and giving high accuracy on the move without needing to stop the tank. The tank saw combat in Operation Peace for Galilee, more famously known as the 1982 Lebanon War. The Gimel featured an upgraded engine, the Continental AVDS1790-2AG. The old 350-amp dynamo electric generator was replaced with a 650-amp alternator which was oil-cooled. Two additional exhausts were added to the engine deck, which is a notable external difference between Sho't Kal variants—allowing for ease to determine if a certain variant is the Gimel or beyond. A system was added which allowed for the tank to emit smoke from the engine exhaust, this would allow for a smoke screen to be created for the purpose of masking against ATGMs, masking and hiding allies, and withdrawing out of a combat area. Protection against HEAT projectiles was greatly increased due to the installation of Blazer reactive armor. ERA was placed numerously around the tank; orthodox placement of Blazer consisted of being on the frontal glacis plate, hull roof, turret mantlet, frontal turret roof, turret sides, and upper hull sides. Reactive armor was not seen mounted on the side skirts or rear of the tank. The fixed-mounted .50 caliber M2HB machine gun mounted above the main gun mantlet became more prominent with the Gimel and Dalet and was much more common to see. The loader's machine gun from the Bet as well transitioned into the Gimel.
The Sho't Kal Dalet started production in 1984, being the last production variant of the Sho't Kals. The 105mm L7 cannon received a thermal sleeve. The previous .30 caliber M1919A4 machine guns were replaced by Belgian-made FN MAG 60-40's as seen in many photographs. A new, more advanced fire-control system was added to the Dalet, the name of this FCS is called, "Nachal Oz". All else from the Gimel was transitioned with the Dalet, such as the ERA and IS-10 smoke launchers. The ERA layout and placement of the bricks was the same as the Gimel. Battering rams started to become a much more common addition with the Dalet, they were attached to the top of frontal lower glacis plate, sporting a spare road wheel facing upwards at the end of the battering ram.
The Sho't Kal Hey was an attempt to install the Gal fire-control system into the Sho't Kal Dalet. It was a prototype that never entered service.
The Sho't tank served in the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973; one of them (Sho't Kal Alef), belonging to the 188th Armored Brigade, was operated by Captain Zvika Greengold, an Israeli tank ace. However, as all tanks in the opening days of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, it proved exceedingly vulnerable to Soviet-made weapons such as the RPG-2, RPG-7, and briefcase Sagger guided missile, weapons which the Egyptians used in large numbers in the crossing of the Bar Lev line. It is estimated that the Israeli armed forces lost up to 40% of their southern armored groups during the first two days of the war, highlighting the necessity for infantry support to armored groups, culminating in the Merkava main battle tanks being equipped with rear troop bays.
The Sho't was also used in the 1978 and 1982 invasions of Lebanon.[7] [8]