Tankopedia
Late Cold WarMBTMain Battle TankIsrael

Sho't Kal

In service 1970 - 1990s as a gun tank

Based onCenturion (national designation of)

The British Centurion rebuilt by Israel with an American diesel engine and transmission - the tank that held the Golan Heights in 1973.

Built byIsraeli Ordnance Corps rebuild of the British Centurion

Sho't Kal
Israeli Sho't Kal, Kubinka Tank Museum — Alan Wilson, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Development history

Israel's Centurions were reliable gun platforms with a serious flaw: the petrol Meteor engine was thirsty, short-ranged and prone to fire. From 1970 the Ordnance Corps replaced it with the AVDS-1790 diesel and an Allison transmission, producing the Sho't Kal - "whip, light". The conversion extended range dramatically and reduced fire risk. In October 1973 Sho't Kals of the 7th Armoured Brigade and the 188th fought the Syrian armoured assault on the Golan Heights, holding positions in the Valley of Tears against overwhelming numbers. Later marks added Blazer explosive reactive armour, the first operational use of ERA anywhere, and the vehicles served in Lebanon in 1982 before being converted to heavy armoured personnel carriers.

Variants

One canonical record, 3 recorded variants.

  1. Sho't Kal Alef

    1970

    First conversion with the AVDS-1790 diesel and Allison transmission.

  2. Sho't Kal Bet

    1974

    Improved fire control and stowage after lessons from the Yom Kippur War.

  3. Sho't Kal Dalet

    1984

    Blazer reactive armour, new gun control and thermal sleeve.

Notable actions

  • Yom Kippur War
  • Valley of Tears
  • 1982 Lebanon War