The Achzarit (אכזרית) is a heavily armored armored personnel carrier/Infantry fighting vehicle manufactured by the Israeli Defence Forces. It is often considered one of the best-protected APCs in the world.

The Achzarit is based on the Soviet-built T-54/T-55 tank, beginning with those captured from Arab armies during the Israeli-Arab wars. The IDF took the old T-55 tank and removed its turret. The chassis was modified for troop carriage by adding a troop compartment and a rear door. The original Soviet made but no less balky and unreliable diesel engine was replaced with a more reliable diesel engine, and other internal systems were upgraded. Heavy armor plating was installed over the already-armored tank chassis.

It is armed with 7.62 mm machine guns, including one machine gun controlled from within the cabin, developed by the Israeli security development authority (Raphael).

Because of its heavy armor, the Achzarit is sometimes thought of as an HAPC . Achzarit APCs are in service with the IDF Golani Brigade, which operates near the Lebanese border and in the northern part of the West Bank.

Achzarit APCs took part in Operation Rainbow in Rafah, after a comparatively lightly-armored M-113 APC was destroyed by an RPG round.

External links

• Achzarit (Israeli-Weapons)