Achzarit

The Achzarit (אכזרית‎ in Hebrew: "cruel", feminine inflection) is a heavily armoured personnel carrier manufactured by the Israeli Defence Forces Corps of Ordnance.^[1]

IDF Achzarit Mk 2
Achzarit armed with an OWS station
Type	Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin	Soviet Union Israel
Service history
Wars	South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000) Second Intifada 2006 Lebanon War Gaza War Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)
Production history
Designer	Israeli Defence Forces Corps of Ordnance
Manufacturer	NIMDA
Produced	1988–present
Specifications
Mass	44 tonnes
Length	6.20 m
Width	3.60 m
Height	>2 m (estimate)
Crew	3 + 7 passengers
Armor	composite
Main armament	Rafael OWS fitted with a 7.62 mm FN MAG
Secondary armament	2×7.62 mm FN MAG
Engine	Achzarit 1 : Detroit Diesel 8V-71 TTA Achzarit 2 : 8V-92TA/DDC III Achzarit 1 : 650 hp (478 kW) Achzarit 2 : 850 hp (625 kW)
Power/weight	14 hp/tonne or 19.3 hp/tonne
Transmission	Achzarit 1 : Allison XTG-411-4 Achzarit 2 : XTG-411-5A
Suspension	Kinetics modified torsion-bar
Operational range	600 km
Maximum speed	65 km/h (Achzarit 2)

Rear view of an Achzarit

Achzarit Mk 2, upgraded version of the Achzarit for low intensity conflicts, 2016.

History

The Achzarit is based on the Soviet-built T-54/T-55 tank,^[2] beginning with those captured from Arab armies during the Arab–Israeli wars. To make space for a troop compartment, the eight-and-a-half tonnes turret, the original superstructure of the chassis and the transversely mounted engine were removed.^[2] Non-Explosive Reactive Armour was installed over the original hull.^[3] The first model of the Achzarit entered in service in 1988.

Design

Protection

The Achzarit can withstand both shaped-charges and armor-piercing projectiles which would destroy conventional IFVs. The manufacturers claim^[4] that the machine can withstand repeated 125 mm APFSDS hits over its frontal arc. At 44 tonnes, the machine is exceptionally heavy for an infantry carrier. The fact that 14 tonnes of the vehicle's weight is made up of additional advanced special composite armor, gives some indication as to its high degree of protection.

Weapons

It is armed with three 7.62 mm machine guns, including one Rafael Overhead Weapons Station, a machine gun controlled from within the cabin, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. As a lesson from the Second Intifada, a ballistic glass turret was installed over one of the hatches to enable the commander to see outside without being exposed to small arms fire and shrapnel.

Several Achzarit in service have been upgraded with a 12.7 mm Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station in place of the standard 7.62 mm Rafael Overhead Weapon Station.

A version with RCWS-30 was also built.^[5][6]

Operations

Because of its heavy armor, the Achzarit is sometimes called a Heavy APC (HAPC).

Achzarit APCs took part in Operation Rainbow in Rafah, after a comparatively lightly armored M113 APC was destroyed by an RPG. Achzarit APCs were also involved in the Gaza War (2008–09).

On October 7, 2023, several old APCs were in Nahal Oz when it was overrun by Hamas.^[1]

Gallery

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See also

• VIU-55 Munja, similar example from Serbia
• BTR-T, similar example from Russia
• BMPT Terminator, a Russian tank-derived AFV designed to fight infantry rather than transport it
• BMPV-64 ru:БМПВ-64/uk:БМПВ-64: A Ukrainian heavy infantry combat vehicle based on the T-64 chassis
• Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier), a series of Allied World War 2 armoured personnel carriers that were based on converted tanks.