Arab Armour vs Israeli Armour: Six-Day War 1967

The Six-Day War in 1967 was a lightning Israeli campaign that changed the face of the Middle East. Israels armoured brigades, despite being heavily outnumbered on paper by Arab AFVs, managed to dominate the Arab forces tactically and technologically through excellent gunnery and decentralized battlefield leadership. The fighting took place on three different fronts: the Sinai Front, the Jordanian Front, and the Golan Heights. The Arabs armored power was expressed through T-34/85s, T-54/55s, PT-76s, and JS-3s (IS-3s), while the IDF had the British Centurion, the American M48 Patton, the M51 Super Sherman, and the French AMX-13. The long-range tank-killing gunnery of the Centurion often took the day.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The Six-Day War of 1967 was a swift and decisive Israeli campaign that profoundly altered the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. Despite being vastly outnumbered in terms of armored vehicles by the Arab forces, Israel's well-trained and technologically advanced armored brigades managed to outmaneuver and overpower their opponents tactically and technologically. The conflict unfolded across three distinct fronts: the Sinai Front, the Jordanian Front, and the Golan Heights. Each of these fronts presented its own unique set of challenges, ranging from long-range battles between massed Egyptian and Israeli tanks in the scorching desert of the Sinai to close-quarters engagements in the steep and narrow terrain of the Golan Heights.

Not only did the Six-Day War witness the direct clash of opposing Cold War tactical doctrines, but it also saw the first-ever deployment of Western and Soviet main battle tanks (MBTs). On the Israeli side, the IDF fielded a diverse array of armored vehicles, including the British Centurion, the American M48 Patton, the M51 Super Sherman, and the French AMX-13. However, the focus of Israel's armored spearheads was primarily on the Centurions and Pattons. The Arab forces, in contrast, relied heavily on T-34/85s, T-54/55s, PT-76s, and JS-3s (IS-3s). Each of these vehicles had its own set of advantages and disadvantages, but it was the long-range tank-killing capabilities of the Centurion that often proved decisive on the battlefield.

To better understand the tactical and mechanical dynamics of this historic armored engagement, this Duel title draws on compelling first-hand accounts from both unit commanders and individual crew members. These accounts provide a detailed account of the strategies, tactics, and technological advancements that played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the Six-Day War. By examining the experiences of these soldiers and their vehicles, readers gain a deeper appreciation for the bravery and skill that were displayed on the battlefield, as well as the significant impact that this conflict had on the course of Middle East history.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 247 x 185 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472842879