Please note that the lists are not necessarily in the order in which these vehicles should be placed in the Israeli Tech Tree and that it currently only includes light tanks and vehicles that feature similar gameplay. More will be added over time.
Many people believe that Israel doesn’t have many dedicated light tanks; however, this is far from the truth. Israel has dozens of vehicles that would perform like light tanks in many ways, ranging from high-speed menaces like the Eitan to slower bunkers like the Namer.
- The first vehicle in my list, found below, is an Israeli-modified M24 Chaffee using an Israeli/Italian 60mm HVMS in service with Chile. It would make a lovely addition to an Israeli Light Tank Tree.
- This next vehicle is the Israeli PT-76-2000, which is an upgrade package to the PT-76 using a Belgian Cockerill 90mm MK3 cannon in place of the original 76.2mm D-56T cannon. This new gun could fire APFSDS, HEAT-FS, HESH, HE, and likely a few others. The vehicle also has an upgraded power pack, making it more mobile than the standard PT-76. The vehicle also received an FCS overhaul which gave it a Laser Range Finder, Day/Night Sight, and a better turret traverse.
- This, as you can all see, is an Israeli BMP-1, captured from Egypt. The Israeli Tech Tree could receive two variants, which would be relatively easy additions to the tech tree. The first addition would be the standard BMP-1 found at BR 8.0. The second addition would be similar to the Swedish BMP-1, which lacks missiles, found at 6.7. Both of these vehicles would bring historically accurate flexibility to the tech tree.
- This next one is another vehicle upgraded by Israel (Specifically NIMDA) for Chile. Similar to the Chaffee, this Bulldog has been refitted with an Israeli/Italian 60mm HVMS. Self-explanatory, but fun.
Another vehicle using a 90mm gun, different from the French Tree AMX-13-90, is an Israeli Modified Export for the AMX-13 (Made by NIMDA).
- This next one is the FFVD demonstrator, intended to become the Israeli Carmel. The vehicle uses the UT30Mk2 unmanned turret and is equipped with SupervisIR and Iron Vision systems. Depending on implementation, this vehicle could potentially have third-person thermals thanks to how Iron Vision works. The vehicle has an extendable optic mounted on the roof, enabling the crew of 2 within the vehicle to see significantly higher than its own silhouette when needed, which is incredibly useful for scouting targets in-game. The mobility of the vehicle is relatively okay, with a power-to-weight ratio of about 17 horsepower per ton and a top speed of 65kph. I believe the FFVD Demonstrator would make a solid 9.7 vehicle. At the end of the day, it’s just a refurbished M113.
- This and the next vehicle might be hard to balance based on WarThunder’s current BR climate, but the vehicle you see here is an M113 fitted with an Israeli SAMSON RCWS Turret and Trophy System.
- Similar to the last vehicle, this is an Israeli Achzarit APC, an uparmored and redesigned T-54/55, fitted with the Israeli SAMSON RCWS, found on the Namer-30 in-game. It should be noted that this variant lacks a commander optic.
- This next vehicle is the Sabrah ASCOD, a 30-ton light tank equipped with a 105mm rifled cannon with an engine producing around 720 horsepower. The vehicle is protected to STANAG 4569 Level 4 ballistic protection and would likely fit in around BR 10.7 to 11.3 thanks to Iron Fist. The downgraded variant initially given to the Philippines would make a solid 9.3 to 9.7 vehicle.
- While this next one could be argued to be a tank destroyer, the Plasan SandCat Mk.3 fits into the highly mobile category with amazing sight magnification characteristics. This variant is equipped with a set of SPIKE ATGM utilizing the TOPlite sight found on vehicles like the AH-60 and SPYDER. The vehicle itself is highly mobile with a top speed of 120kph and an amazing power-to-weight ratio of 37.5.
- This vehicle is a bit of a strange one, but rather unique. This Namera, the predecessor to the Namer, was fitted with the OWS-25 unmanned turret, mounting a 25mm Bushmaster. The vehicle itself has a power-to-weight ratio of about 18 horsepower per ton and a crew of 3, like the Namer. Due to its lack of missiles and limited armament, it would likely find itself at a bizarrely low battle rating for having the hull of a Merkava Siman 4. My best guess of where the vehicle could fit is somewhere between BR 8.3 and 9.3.
- This vehicle is mostly unknown, but it’s an Israeli upgraded BMP-2 modified to use what is likely the UT30Mk2 unmanned turret as well as the Iron Vision “Star” system. I don’t have much more information, but it likely has an upgraded powerpack as well.
- This Namer would be close to the RCWS-30, but swaps the SAMSON turret for a UT30, which lacks the spike ATGM. This would naturally result in a lower BR light tank, likely placed around BR 10.0, which would add volume to the Israeli 10.0 lineup.
- In 1967, Israel captured around a dozen PT-76 models and pressed 9 into service after slight modifications. The list of modifications includes flipped commander hatches, a 4th crew member, and a turret-mounted LMG. The vehicle would likely sit at 5.3, but would allow a decent light tank to be used with the M-51 without increasing your BR.
- I don’t think I need to explain this one too much. Israel captured several Egyptian M22 Locusts in working order, and they’d make a solid vehicle for Israel once Rank 1-3 are implemented. Who doesn’t love the M22 anyway?
These are the “Light” Vehicles I’d love to see come to the Israeli tree in the future. They’d help develop this Tech Tree and give it options. I want to see this tech tree flourish, so if you have any you’d like to share, feel free to share them :D
A small side note, but I’ve come to learn that a lot of the original information I had listed for some vehicles was incorrect. I have since fixed those mistakes, but if anything found here is currently incorrect, please let me know. I intend to represent these vehicles accurately to the best of my abilities.
