ISRAEL HEAVY ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER ACHZARIT LATE

Plastic kit from MENG, for the assembly of an Israeli tank of modern era, in 1/35 scale. Includes sprues with plastic parts, assembly instructions, P.E. parts and decals.

The Achzarit is a heavily armored armored personnel carrier manufactured by the Israeli Defence Forces Corps of Ordnance. The Achzarit is based on the Soviet-built T-54/T-55 tank, beginning with those captured from Arab armies during the Arab–Israeli wars. To make space for a troop compartment, the eight-and-a-half tonnes turret, the original superstructure of the chassis and the transversely mounted engine were removed. Non-Explosive Reactive Armour was installed over the original hull.

The first model of the Achzarit entered in service in 1988. The Achzarit is one of the best protected infantry carriers in service and can withstand both shaped-charges and armor-piercing projectiles which would destroy conventional IFVs It is armed with three 7.62 mm machine guns, including one Rafael Overhead Weapons Station, a machine gun controlled from within the cabin, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. As a lesson from the Second Intifada, a bulletproof glass turret was installed over one of the hatches to enable the commander to see outside without being exposed to small arms fire and shrapnel.