Penetration abilities aside Israel also faced one more problem, one of a more logistical nature. Following the Six Day War in 1967, Israel was now fielding a very eclectic collection of vehicles. In its inventory was everything from French the AMX13 75mm, sherman 76mm (M1), sherman 75mm (M50), sherman105mm (M51), Centurion Meteor engined with 20pounder as well as 105mm main guns, M48 90mm and 105mm tanks and now T54/55s were being brought into service with initially their 100mm guns. While funds and the fickleness of politics wouldn't allow Israel to field one type of tank in the near future or even one type of main gun, a partial solution was possible. Both the Patton series of tanks(Israel was receiving the M60 by 1970)and the centurion were up gunned with the 105mm L7 or the American version the M68. As well as being upengined with the Teledyne Continental 12 cylinder diesel.

By the time of the Syrian/ Egyptian invasions on Yom kippur in 1973, all M48/60s were modified in so far as engine and main gun were concerned. one other modification given to the patton series after the 67 war was the Urdan low silhouette commanders cupola. The need for this modification arose out of the numerous casualties in Tank commanders during the 67 war as well as the feeling that the mini turrets were cumbersome to operate and posed a higher risk of being blown off in combat. The Urdan however allowed a Tank commander to view the battle field while under cover and mounted a .30 cal browning MG on a scissors mount. By the 73 war all M60s had this modification with the exception of those M60a1s received during the fighting. Some M48s however had interim late model sherman cupolas with the afore mentioned scissors mount for the .30 cal MG.

The Yom Kippur War was a major learning experience for the IDF as well as the rest of the world. .While the war wasn't the first use of ATGW (anti tank guided weapons) by the protagonists , Israel had used SS-11 missiles in 67.It was the first time they were used in such concentration and effectiveness. Egypt knowing it would be hours before any real numbers of tanks would be able to cross The Suez Canal placed hundreds of RPG and man portable Sagger ATGW's across its front to blunt the inevitable Israeli counter attacks. These small shoulder launched or ground launched in the case of the Sagger essentially decimated initial IDF counter attacks made with little or no infantry support. Israel followed suit and by the end of hostilities was fielding the first generation TOW system.

Following the 73 war Israel took stock of its lessons learned and began looking for answers. Some answers were as simple as adding extra crew served weapons for the loader and over the main gun, or changing over to a higher flash point hydraulic fluid. Others involved changes in doctrine for operating armour with infantry support. By the late 70s Israeli tanks started sprouting mounting points for a new defensive armour block, this is the Blazer system. Essentially , when hit by a HEAT type warhead, the Blazer explodes in the reverse direction minimizing or totally defeating the heat stream of the incoming round. This system was mounted on the centurion fleet as well and due to it's modular flexibility, layouts were designed for all types of vehicle in the Armour fleet,. however only the Centurion and Patton series tanks actually received them, although some of the new heavy APC (armoured personnel carrier ) designs would incorporate Blazer components as does the 6B Batash.

By the late 80s it was clear that additional armour was needed to keep the M60 survivable against the newest generation of tank killing systems and new tanks themselves. Egypt had received the M1 series tank from the US and which is equipped with a very good 120mm main gun.Israels answer to this was the Merkava 3 and Merkava 4. but financial considerations mean only relatively few roll of the assembly line in any given year.For this reason advances in Merkava armour technology are applied to the PAtton series as well, producing variants like the 7, 7c and 6b Batash. Fire control upgrades like the Gal system have also been added to patton series enabling Israel to handle anything conventional thrown at it.

Since Israel first fielded it's first M48 nearly 40 years ago, It has used just about every variant except the M60a2 and possibly the M728( although no proof seems to exist either way). I believe israel would have received some at least during the re supply from US war stocks, but would have removed the turrets which they had no use for and replaced them with salvaged M60a0 turrets. This is Why I believe IDF M60a0s with the M9 dozer system have internal hydraulics and not exterior ones like US variants. Israel definitely used the M48a1thru M48a5 and M60a0 - M60a3 rise variants , again except for the M60a2. The IDF also uses the M88/a1 recovery vehicle based on the M48 chassis and has adopted numerous attachments for all versions latest design is the Sabra 2, mounting a 120mm gun. This variant however is only for export currently and is sometimes mistakenly called the MAgach 8.

Lastly a word or two on the name Magach. Before one can translate the name Magach you need to understand it is not a word but an acronym. it is made up of the three letters 'MEM', 'Gimel' and 'Chet'. The most common explanation for the name is that it stands for "Merkavot Giborei Cheyl" or translated "chariot of the heroic corps or Arm(as in arm of service). Michael Mass in his article in Knei Midah puts forth two more possibilities. The first that it stands for "Michonat Giluach Chasmalit" and second that it is the numerical equivalent of 48 ( Mem = 40 chet = 8) plus the letter gimmel ( gimmel has the dsound of the letter 'G') for place of origin of the first IDF M48s; that being Germany. This last name is attributed to General 'Bren' Aden and accordingg to Micahel Mass the correct meaning.

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