Tamiya German Field Police Set

Art. No.: 300035322
Product Name: 1:35 Israel Tank M1 Super Sherman

The first heavy battle tank of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) was established 12 days after Israel's declaration of independence. At that time, their inventory consisted almost exclusively of infantry weapons. Their first tanks, such as the French Hotchkiss H-39s, the American M4 Sherman, and the British Cromwell, were acquired during the Arab-Israeli War in 1948, with the Sherman being selected as the first heavy battle tank of the IDF from this selection. The Sherman offered a good combination of armament, armor, mobility, and mechanical reliability, and since 50,000 units were produced during World War II, many surplus vehicles were available in the post-war period. By the end of 1953, the IDF had purchased around 200 Shermans of all variants, most of which were equipped with the original 75 mm gun or a 105 mm howitzer.

Development of the M1 Super Sherman. Despite its numerous advantages, a significant weakness of the Sherman was its armament. Most of the Shermans acquired by the IDF were armed with a 75 mm gun, which was already inadequate against German tanks during World War II. Additionally, the gun was ineffective against the T-34-85, which was used by most Arab armies at that time. Fortunately for Israel, an international political development provided a solution. A change of power in Egypt led to increased hostility towards the West in the Arab countries, resulting in Britain and France further strengthening their relationship with Israel. France, in particular, agreed to sell some of its Shermans to Israel. These were equipped with a 76 mm M1A1/A2 gun, capable of penetrating 82 mm thick armor with standard ammunition and 116 mm thick armor at a 30° offset with high-velocity rounds.