M-50 Super Sherman

M-50 Super Sherman. The M-50 Super Sherman was a major upgrade of the American M4 Sherman medium tank undertaken by Israel in the 1950s. Developed by Israel Military Industries to counter more modern Arab armor, it was characterized by its powerful French CN 75-50 high-velocity gun. The tank saw extensive combat with the Israel Defense Forces during the Suez Crisis, the Six-Day War, and the Yom Kippur War.

Development and design

Facing a dire shortage of modern armor in its early years, the Israel Defense Forces sought to dramatically improve the firepower of its large fleet of surplus M4 Sherman tanks. The project, led by Israel Military Industries, focused on integrating the French CN 75-50 75 mm gun, which was derived from the powerful main armament of the AMX-13 light tank. This gun offered superior penetration compared to the original Sherman's 75 mm M3 gun and could effectively engage contemporary tanks like the Soviet-supplied T-34-85. The modification required a new, larger turret and a redesigned turret basket to accommodate the longer recoil mechanism. To handle the increased weight and improve reliability, many M-50s were re-engined with a 460 hp Cummins diesel engine, replacing the original gasoline powerplants. The upgrade package also included improved radio sets and other minor modifications, transforming the obsolete M4 Sherman into a credible battlefield asset for the nascent Israeli armored corps.

Service history

The M-50 entered service in the mid-1950s and first saw combat during the Suez Crisis in 1956, where it performed adequately against Egyptian forces. Its most significant and successful employment came during the Six-Day War in 1967, where numerous M-50s, often organized in battalions alongside the more powerful M-51 Super Sherman, formed the backbone of several Israeli armored brigades. They participated in the rapid armored thrusts across the Sinai Peninsula against Egypt and in the fighting on the Golan Heights against Syria. During these battles, they engaged and destroyed many older Arab tanks, including T-34-85s and SU-100s. By the time of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the M-50 was largely relegated to secondary fronts and reserve units, as frontline formations had been equipped with more modern tanks like the Centurion and M48 Patton. Nevertheless, some M-50s saw action in the latter conflict before being phased out of Israeli service in the late 1970s.

Variants

The primary variant was the standard M-50, based on the M4A4 Sherman hull with a VVSS suspension. A later and less common version, sometimes designated the M-50 Continental, was based on the M4A1 Sherman hull and used the Continental R975 gasoline engine. The major evolutionary step beyond the M-50 was the M-51 Super Sherman, which mounted a much more powerful 105 mm gun. Some M-50s were converted into armored personnel carriers or other support vehicles after their retirement from the tank role. The modifications set a precedent for the extensive Israeli practice of upgrading and customizing armored vehicles, a philosophy later applied to tanks like the M48 Patton and Centurion to create the Magach and Sho't series.

Operators

The primary and essentially sole military operator of the M-50 was the Israel Defense Forces. Following their retirement from Israeli frontline service, a number of M-50 tanks were sold to other nations. The main recipient was Chile, which purchased approximately 150 vehicles in the late 1970s and early 1980s for its army; these remained in service for decades, with some used as static artillery pieces. A smaller number were also acquired by Lebanon, where they were used by the Lebanese Armed Forces and various Lebanese Civil War militias during the 1970s and 1980s.

Specifications

The M-50 typically weighed approximately 38.5 tonnes. Its main armament was the French CN 75-50 75 mm gun, capable of firing APDS and high-explosive rounds. Secondary armament consisted of two .30 caliber Browning M1919 machine guns, one coaxial and one in the hull. Armor protection was the original M4 Sherman hull armor, up to 100 mm thick on the front glacis. Many vehicles were powered by a 460 hp Cummins VT8-460 diesel engine, paired with an Allison CD-850-4 automatic transmission, providing a top road speed of about 45 km/h. The tank retained the Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) of its donor hulls and had a crew of five: commander, gunner, loader, driver, and hull machine gunner.

Category:Tanks of Israel Category:Cold War tanks Category:M4 Sherman tanks