Latrun Museum Pictures

This is part 2, the first post is here.

Cromwell

I am not sure about this, but if I recall correctly, Cromwells of various types, originally from the British forces in Africa, were captured by the Israelis from the Egyptians, who used them.

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Renault R-35

These pre-war tanks were left in Lebanon by the French army and were used by the Syrian forces during the Independence war in 1948. During the war, they were captured by the Israelis.

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Hotchkiss H-39

Same thing as with the Renault – left by the French in Lebanon and used by the Syrian army. Also captured during the fighting in what is now northern Israel.

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Mk.VIb Light Tank

These obsolete light tanks were left by the British in Egypt and used by the Egyptian army in 1948. Several were captured by the Israelis.

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M4A3 Sherman with 105mm howitzer

These tanks were amongst the first tanks ever acquired by the newly born state of Israel. They were salvaged from a scrapyard in Italy without functioning guns, then refitted with 75mm Krupp guns and then back to their 105mm howitzers. Fought in the Independence War.

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AMX-13

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M51 Super Sherman with 105mm CN

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Panzer 61

A Swiss design, somewhat similiar to the Leopard. Never served in Israel.

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Chieftain Mk.3

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M551 Sheridan

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M41A3 Walker Bulldog

Coming soon to WoT :)

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M24 Chaffee

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Matilda Mk.II

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M5A1 Stuart

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Churchill VII (I think?)

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M3 Lee

Two variants – not sure what that thing on the gun is, it’s not a muzzle brake…

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To be continued…

35 thoughts on “Latrun Museum Pictures

      • In the side view on the British forums, you’ll see it has only 1 vent for the Muzzel Brake, like a 17lbr, vs the 2 for the 77mm.

    • It’s a 17 pdr, but it’s fake. If you look closely, you’ll see it’s fixed and cannot move.

    • Did they just use the counter weight on the 75mm M2 or on the M3 as well? Some early versions of the M4A1 had M2s with the counter weight.

  1. the thing on the end of the 75mm barrel on that M3 is a barrel weight, which means its a Grant, the british modified M3

  2. the thing on the barrel of the Lee is a counterweight, due to whatever gun the british installed being shorter barreled than the US gun.

    meanwhile, I’ve been to Latrun. great pictures. I wish I brought a better camera. can’t wait to see the merkavas and the cut-away patton

    • Its a counterweight because it is an early production. Later production were equipped with the later gun and that removed the need for the massive counterweight. Both the Lee and Grant were equipped with both guns. Even the Sherman was fitted with the earlier gun and large counterweight.

  3. The Cromwell has a dummy gun installed. As does the Vickers Light. The M3 Grant has a counterweight installed as it mounted the shorter 75mm M2 of the initial production series rather than the M3 that was intended for it.

    I want to know how that Panzer 61 ended up in Israel. I assume the Chieftain was one sent there for evaluation. Maybe the Sheridan too.

  4. Thing on the Lee is a barrel weight maybe? can’t think of any other practical reason.

  5. What is the TD (?) on the other side of the Chaffee ? Looks very clumsy, weird and all… :)

      • M42 “Duster”, twin 40mm, open turret.
        When I was in the army in 1986, we had been out in the desert for a week straight. So they trucked us into a New Mexico National Guard unit for showers, it was a AAA unit. Fully equipted with M42 “Dusters”.
        Appy

  6. The Cromwell is actually part of a pair “donated” by a couple of sympathetic British defectors during the War of Independence in ’48.

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