IDF Organization – Six Day War 1967

Israel’s top political and military leadership

President, Prime Minister and others

• President of Israel – Zalman Shazar (1963-1973);

• Chairman of the Knesset – Kadish Luz;
• Prime Minister – Levi Eshkol;
• Minister of Defense – Moshe Dayan;
• Head of Foreign Intelligence (Mossad) – Meir Amit;
• The head of the General Security Service (SHABAK) – Yosef Harmelin;
• Israeli Police Commander – Pinhas Kopel;
• Prison Service Commander – Arieh Nir.

AOI General Staff Guide

• NGSH – Colonel-General Yitzhak Rabin;

• Deputy NGSh – Lieutenant-General Haim Bar-Lev;
• Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff (AGAM) – Lieutenant-General
Ezer Weizman;
• Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) – Lieutenant General Aharon
Yariv;
• Chief of Staff (AKA) – Lieutenant-General Shmuel Eyal;
• Chief of the Main Logistics Directorate (AGA) – Lieutenant-General Matetyahu
Peled;
• NWF Commander – Lieutenant-General David (Dado) Elazar;
• Commander of the Central Military District – Lieutenant General Uzi Narkis;
• Commander of the Southern Military District – Lieutenant-General Yeshayahu
(Shayke) Gavish;
• The commander of the corps of armored troops – Lieutenant-General Israel Tal;
• The head of the combat training department (MAhAD) – Lieutenant General Ariel
Sharon;
• Assistant Head of the General Staff – Lieutenant-General Rehavaam Zeevi;
• Commander of the Air Force – Lieutenant-General Mordechai hod;
• Navy Commander – Lieutenant-General Shlomo (Angel) Eryel;
• The commander of the College of National Security (MABAL) – Lieutenant-General
Elad Peled;
• Chief of Operations – Colonel Itzhak Hofi;
• Financial Advisor NGSH – Yaakov Hefetz.

Note: in 1967 there were 2 general titles in the IDF – “Rav-Aluf” (only NGSh) and “Aluf”.
To keep up with the modern titles, I translated them as “Colonel-General” and “Lieutenant-
General”, respectively.
Chief Officers of the Arms

• Infantry and paratroopers – Colonel Aharon Davidi;

• Engineer Forces – Colonel Elkhanan Kline;
• Artillery – Colonel Israel Ben-Amitai;
• Arms Services – Col. Haim Domi;
• Communications – Colonel Moshe (“Musik”) Hydron;
• Medical Forces – Colonel Eliyahu Gilon;
• Civil Defense (HAHA) – Colonel Shmuel Goder.

IDF size and organization

250 thousand people, including about 50 thousand in the regular army and 200 thousand
reservists.

Note: according to other sources, the number of AOI is 275,000 people, incl. 57 thousand
soldiers of military service.

In 1967, the IDF did not have a headquarters of the ground forces (SV), its functions were
performed by the General Staff (GS). The direct control of the troops was carried out by the
headquarters of the military districts – the northern (SVO), central (Central Military District)
and southern (South Military District).

The headquarters of the Chief Officers of the arms of the service were responsible for the
construction of the armored corps of the Army. A special place was occupied by the Chief
Officer of the Armored Forces, bearing the title “Commander of the Corps of Armored
Forces” (Mefaked Gaiasot ha-Shirion). His privileged position was also emphasized by his
rank (lieutenant-general as opposed to colonels for other types of troops) and the fact of his
entry into the General Staff.

The air force and navy were separate types of armed forces (AF) and had their own
headquarters, which were responsible both for the construction of these types of aircraft in
peacetime and for their centralized control during combat operations.

Ground Forces, Organization

Formations

• 4 divisional headquarters (31, 38, 84, 36), in addition, there was a false division
headquarters (49), created to mislead the enemy by imitating the concentration of a
real division;
• 21 brigade, including:
o 3 parachutes (35th, 55th, 80th);
o 5 armored (7th, 37th, 60th, 200th, 520th);
o 4 mechanized (8th, 10th Harjel, 14th, 45th);
o 9 infantry and territorial (1st “Golani”, 2nd “Carmeli”, 3rd “Alexandroni”, 4th
“Kiryati”, 5th “Givati”, 9th “Oded”, 11th “Iftah”, 16th Jerusalem, 99th District
of Eilat);
 • 4 separate tank battalions (the so-called district tank battalions – GAShAP – “Gdud
Shiryon Pikudi”) – the 226th and 86th (Southern Military District), 182nd (Central
Military District) and 181 (SVO);
• in the preceding 3 weeks of the war (the so-called “waiting period” – from May 16 to
June 4), additional tank units were formed on the basis of forming and training units,
as well as the test unit of armored forces:
o The 63rd tan battalion of the tank school – transferred to the 14th brigade;
o 46th tan battalion – transferred to the 84th division;
o the company “Shot” with 105-mm guns – transferred to the 10th brigade;
o the company “Shot” with 20-pound cannons – transferred to the Central
Military District;
o two Sherman M-50 platoons – transferred to the 5th territorial brigade of the
Central Military District;
• Artillery troops – 4 artillery regimental headquarters, 44 battalions, 153 batteries; in
the waiting period, 3 battalions (two 155 mm towed guns and one mortar) and 5
separate mortar batteries (120 and 160 mm) were additionally formed; in addition to
the battalions of guns and mortars, there were the following battalions:
o 874th – artillery reconnaissance and target designation (“Gdud Ikun”), among
other things, used anti-aircraft searchlights;
o 755th – Tagar ATGM (SS.11) – had 5 batteries, incl. 4 on semi-tracked
armored personnel carriers (including 1 regular) and 1 on jeeps (airborne
battery);
o 485th – Tagar ATGM (SS.11);
• Engineering troops:
o The demining unit of central subordination (“Yehidat Siluk Ptsatsot”);
o At least 3 engineering battalions, incl. 263rd and 601th;
o Engineering company in each brigade;
• Separate parts:
o division 269 (Uzi Yairi) – intelligence (special forces) GSH;
o SVO reconnaissance unit – the 483rd (?) battalion “Egoz”;
o the intelligence unit of the Central Military District – the 423rd battalion
“Haruv”;
o the reconnaissance unit of the Southern Military District – the 424th Shaked
battalion;
o company “Duhifat” armored cars AML-90 (as part of the parachute troops);
o several infantry battalions of the Nakhal (903rd, 906th, 907th).

Notes:

• Only 3 IDF brigades were regular (1st Infantry, 7th Armored and 35th Airborne); in
addition, the 52nd Tank Battalion of the 14th Brigade and one of the Nakhal Infantry
Battalions were regular;
• By the beginning of the war, the 14th brigade was reinforced by the 63rd tank
battalion and, in fact, became an armored battalion; that is how it is indicated on all
maps and is usually referred to in various sources;
• in 1966, the formation of the 401st armored brigade began, the 46th tan bat (MAGAH
tanks) became the first battle brigade; by the beginning of the war, the brigade in fact
did not yet exist, the 46th battalion transferred to the 84th division;
• in 1965-1966 The 8th Infantry Brigade was reorganized into a mechanized one and in
1966 a similar process began in the 9th Infantry Brigade; by the beginning of the war,
 the 9th brigade had not yet received a tank battalion and the armored personnel carrier
relying on it, i.e. remained infantry;
• in total, the IDF had 20 tank battalions (16 in brigades and 4 GAShAP), incl. 3
regulars (79th and 82nd as part of the 7th brigade and 52nd as part of the 14th
brigade);
• All in all, the IDF had 16 motorized infantry battalions, including 1 regular (9th in the
7th Brigade).

States and composition

Divisions

In 1967, the IDF divisions did not have a permanent composition; in fact, they were division
headquarters (Ugda Mesimatit, as opposed to permanent divisions — Ugda Kwa,) that had
brigades, artillery regiments, and separate battalions (including engineering and
communications) and divisions to perform the tasks assigned by the command.

There were the following divisions (not counting the 49th):

• 31st — commander-general (res.) Abraham Yaffe;

• 38th – (“Hagdat ha-Mapac”, “Hugdat MAhAC”) – commander – General Ariel (Arik)
Sharon;
• 84th (“Hagdad Ha Plada”) – commander – General Israel Tal (Talik);
• 36th – commander – General Elad Peled.
• Notes: none of the division commanders held their positions “full time”. One was a
reservist, three others had other posts in the General Staff.

Brigades

The main organizational unit of the IDF in 1967 was a brigade. As a result, the brigades had
various components of combat and rear support:

• reconnaissance;
• engineering company;
• anti-tank company (in the infantry and parachute brigades);
• medical company;
• supply company (transport company);
• repair company;
• platoon of military police.

Battalions in the brigade:

• armored brigade – two tank and one motorized infantry;

• mechanized brigade – one tank and two motorized infantry;
• infantry brigade – three infantry;
• parachute brigades – three paratroop;
• territorial brigades – described in detail below, section “territorial defense”;
• Notes: the regular infantry and parachute brigades had the 4th battalion – the
battalion of the course of the squad leaders (the “MAKim course”), for example the
17th battalion as part of the Golani brigade.
Below is a list of brigades, in brackets are the names of the commanders. For paratrooper
brigades the numbers of battalions and their commanders are indicated:

• 1st Infantry “Golani” (Colonel Yona Efrat);

• 2nd Infantry / Territorial “Karmeli”, HATMAR-2 (Col. Yehuda Gavish);
• 3rd Infantry / Territorial Aleksandroni, HATMAR-3 (Colonel Emmanuel Shaked);
• 4th Infantry / Territorial “Kiryati”, HATMAR-4 (Colonel Moshe Yotvat);
• 5th Infantry / Territorial “Givati”, HATMAR-5 (Colonel Zeev Shaham);
• 7th Armored (Col. Shmuel Gonin (Gorodish));
• 8th Mechanized (Col. Avraham Mendler);
• 9th Oded Infantry (Colonel Aharon Avnon);
• The 10th mechanized “Har’el” (Colonel Uri Ben-Ari);
• 11th Infantry “Iftah” (Lieutenant Colonel Yehuda Reshef);
• The 14th Mechanized (in the past, the 6th Infantry “Ezioni”, number changed in
September 1958; Colonel Mordechai Zipori);
• Jerusalem 16th Infantry, HATMAR-16 (established in 1949; Colonel Eliezer Amitai);
• 35th parachute (Colonel Raphael Eitan (Rapoul)):
o 890 th baht (Yair Tel-Zur);
o 50th baht baht (Tibi Shapira);
o 202nd baht baht (Zvi Bar (Barazani));
o 332th Art Diva (Meir Doron);
• 37th Armored (Col. Uri Rum);
• The 45th Mechanized (18th in 1956; Lt. Col. Moshe Bar-Kochba);
• 55th Parachute (Col. Mordechai (Mota) Gur):
o 28th baht baht (Yosi Fradkin);
o 66th baht baht (Yosi Yafe);
o 71st baht baht (Uzi Ilam);
• The 60th armored vehicle (27th in 1956; Colonel Menachem Aviram);
• 80th parachute (Lieutenant Colonel Dani Mat):
o 57th baht baht (Ephraim Brand);
o 98th baht baht (Elisha Shalem);
o 65th baht baht (Levi Hofesh);
o 425th Art Div (Meir Cyclag));
• The 99th Eilat Infantry District, HATMAR-99 (formerly the 12th Negev, modified
10.09.58; Col. Yakutiel Adam);
• 200th Armored (Colonel Isaskhar (“Isk”) Shadmi);
• 520th Armored (Colonel Elkhanan Sal).

Battalions

For tank and motorized infantry (HERMESH) battalions, this structure was introduced in
March 1957, as part of the conclusions from the 1956 war. These states meant the presence of
6 tank and 6 motorized infantry companies in the tank brigade, i.e. 1: 1 ratio between tanks
and motorized infantry ( Note: perhaps not all tank battalions had motorized infantry
companies, for example, as far as is known in the 79th regular battalion, there was no such
company).
After the 1956 war, there was a search for the optimal structure of tank battalions, companies
and platoons, in accordance with this, the number of tanks changed (in the battalions of the
Sherman medium tanks):

• 1957 – 53 tanks in the battalion (2 at the headquarters of the battalion and 3

companies of 17 tanks each; 17 tanks in the company included 2 tanks in the
management of the company and 3 platoons of 5 tanks each);
• 1958 – 53 tanks in the battalion (2 in the headquarters of the battalion and 3
companies of 17 tanks each; 17 tanks in the company included 1 tank in the
management of the company and 4 platoons of 4 tanks each);
• September 1958 – 56 tanks in the battalion (2 at the headquarters of the battalion and
3 companies with 18 tanks each; 18 tanks in the company included 2 tanks in the
management of the company and 4 platoons with 4 tanks each);
• 1961 – 44 tanks in the battalion (2 in the battalion headquarters and 3 companies with
14 tanks each; 14 tanks in the company included 2 tanks in the company management
and 4 platoons with 3 tanks each).

As for the battalions of light tanks (AMX-13), due to the small number of AMX-13s, the
structure of the battalions did not change until 1961 and included 40 tanks (1 in the battalion
headquarters and 3 companies of 13 tanks each). Further, the states of the battalions of light
tanks were equal to the states of the other tank battalions.

Mechanized infantry battalions since the early 50s. included 4 motorized infantry companies
and 4 half-tracked armored personnel carriers in each platoon. Since 1957, the number of
motorized infantry companies was reduced to 3, the number of armored personnel carriers in
the platoon – also to 3 (due to the consolidation of infantrymen in the BTR).

Territorial Defense

In 1959-1960 Three AOI infantry brigades (10th, 14th and 45th) were reorganized from
infantry to mechanized. As part of the re-formation, two infantry battalions of the brigade
were converted into motorized infantry (HERMESH), the third battalion was withdrawn, and
instead the brigade received a tank battalion. After that, 10 infantry brigades remained in the
IDF, this situation did not change at least until April 1964.

In 1965-1966 The 8th Infantry Brigade was reorganized into a mechanized one and in 1966 a
similar process began in the 9th Infantry Brigade, but by the start of the war the 9th Brigade
was still infantry.

The creation of a territorial defense system based on territorial defense brigades began after
April 1964. All infantry brigades, except for the regular “Golani” and brigades intended to be
reorganized into mechanized (8th, 9th and 11th), were converted into infantry brigades of
territorial defense (HATMAR – “Xativa Merhavit”). Each of the brigades was responsible for
its own border area and in peacetime had a regular headquarters (apparently of incomplete
composition). To guard the borders, regular companies or battalions of other units or
reservists were used, called up for the passage of charges (both reservists of the brigade itself
and other units).

In the case of mobilization of reservists, HATMAR deployed to an infantry brigade, which,

in addition to the usual composition of an infantry brigade, could have reinforcement units, a
larger number of infantry battalions (4-5), and also HIM battalions (Heil Mishmar) – infantry
battalions equipped with senior soldiers ages and intended to perform only security and
defensive tasks.

HATMAR areas of responsibility:

• HATMAR-2 – Jordan Valley, from the north of Lake Kinneret to the south, to the
border with Jordan south of Beit Shean; also responsible for the border with Jordan on
Yarmuk and along Gilboa (from the east);
• HATMAR-3 – from the north of Lake Kinneret to the north, and to the junction of the
borders of Syria, Lebanon and Israel;
• HATMAR-4 – southwestern Samaria, from the Jerusalem corridor to the north, to the
HATMAR-5 area of responsibility;
• HATMAR-5 – North-West and North Samaria, from the HATMAR-4 area of
responsibility to the HATMAR-2 area of responsibility;
• HATMAR-16 – Jerusalem;
• HATMAR-99 – Eilat.

As we see, territorial brigades covered only part of the borders. The decision, which areas
will be covered by territorial brigades, was due to the fact that in the 60s. the borders with
Egypt (including the Gaza Strip) and Lebanon were relatively quiet, and the borders with
Jordan in Judea and across the Arava were remote from the concentration sites of the civilian
population of Israel.

During the war, the territorial brigade could leave the zone of responsibility in the care of part
of their forces and function as a regular infantry brigade. For example, the 99th Brigade left
the Eilat area and fought in the 38th Division ( Note: there is no complete clarity with the
status of the 99th brigade; perhaps it was a regular infantry, and the Eilat district was
responsible for the defense of Eilat Makhoz Eilat “; especially since one of the sources states
that out of 9 infantry / territorial brigades, 4 were infantry, and 5 were territorial ).

Artillery

The artillery regiments, as well as the divisions, did not have a permanent composition; in
fact, they were the headquarters of the firing support of the divisions. The artillery division
usually included 3 batteries of 4 guns or mortars each, i.e. 12 guns or mortars in the division.

Ground forces, armament

Tanks

At the beginning of May 1967 there were 1,301 tanks, including:

• 358 Centurion (Shot, including 234 with 105-mm cannons, 34 with 20-pound cannons
and 90 before modernization);
• 250 M48 (MAGAH) with 90-mm cannons (140 M48A1 and 110 M48A2);
• 509 Sherman (including 146 M-1 with 76 mm cannons, 185 M-50 with 75 mm
cannons and 178 M-51 with 105 mm cannons);
• 184 light AMX-13 with 75-mm cannons.
In the waiting period, the upgrade of the 15 M48A1 to the M48A3 variant (105 mm cannon,
diesel Coentental engine) was completed, the number of Shot from 105 mm cannon increased
to 283, and from 20 pound cannons it was reduced tanks). On June 5, 1093 tanks were
combat-ready, incl. By districts, brigades and individual battalions:

• JUVO – 717, including:

o 7th brigade – 131, including 58 “Shot” / 105 mm, 66 M48A2, 2 “Sherman”
M-50 (commander) and 5 “Sherman” M-1 (minesweeper tanks);
o 200th Brigade – 77 Shot / 105 mm;
o 520th Brigade – 79 Shot / 105 mm;
o The 14th Brigade – 104, including 38 Shot / 105 mm; 18 Sherman M-50; 28
Sherman M-51 and 20 AMX-13;
o The 60th Brigade – 87, incl. 52 Sherman M-51 and 35 AMX-13;
o 8th Brigade – 61, incl. 33 Sherman M-50 and 28 Sherman M-51;
o Eilat area – 15 AMX-13;
o false 49th division – 4 “Shot” / 105 mm;
o 46th battalion – 51, incl. 15 M48A3 and 36 M48A2;
o 86th Battalion (GAShAP-86) – 36 AMX-13;
o The 226th battalion (GAShAP-226) – 28 AMX-13.
• CVO – 154, including:
o 10th Brigade – 73, including 12 Shot / 105 mm and 61 Sherman M-50;
o The 182nd battalion (GAShAP-182) – 71, including 5 Sherman M-50 (since
06.06.67), 8 Sherman M-51 and 58 Sherman M-1;
o Metzger Company – 10 “Shot” / 20 pounds (from 06.06.67).
• SVO – 222, including:
o The 37th Brigade – 113, including 15 Shot / 105 mm, 26 Sherman M-50, 28
Sherman M-51 and 44 AMX-13;
o The 45th brigade is 65, including 34 Sherman M-50 and 31 Sherman M-51;
o 181st Battalion (GAShAP-181) – 44 Sherman M-1.

Armored personnel carrier

The states of the SV AOI assumed the presence of 2,600 semi-tracked armored personnel
carriers (MISCHARD – American M2 and M3), in reality there were about 2,300. The
following models were used:

• Degem Alef – infantry version;

• Degem Beth – Commander version with additional means of communication;
• Degem Gimel – self-propelled 81 mm mortar;
• Degem Dalet – self-propelled 120-mm mortar;
• A variant with a 20-mm cannon – statewide, every 3rd BTR infantry platoon was
armed with such a gun;
• The self-propelled 90-mm cannon — the state-owned 4 armored personnel carriers of
an engineering platoon platoon (Makhleket Khabala) of infantry battalions were
armed with such guns;
• Self-propelled ATGM – ATGM with ATGM SS.11 (“Tagar”).

Other samples of armored vehicles:

• 14 armored car AML-90 (company “Duhifat”).

Artillery

According to unofficial sources, at the turn of 1966/1967. IDF artillery included 728 guns and
heavy mortars, including:

• 192 25lb guns;

• 60 105 mm ACS (36 Priest and 24 Mk61);
• 60 155-mm guns M-50 (presumably 24 towed and 36 ACS);
• 204 120-mm self-propelled mortar “Soltam” M-65 (“Degem Dalet”);
• 120 120-mm towed mortar “Soltam” M-65;
• 80 120-mm towed mortar “Mem Yud”;
• 12 160 mm towed mortars “Soltam” M-66.

Thus, field artillery was 58% equipped with mortars and only 42% with guns (416 mortars
and 312 guns). Of the 312 guns, 69% were towed.

According to official sources, on May 16, the artillery included 666 guns and mortars,
including:

• 383 mortars of 120 and 160 mm;

• 192 25lb guns;
• 59 105-mm ACS;
• 32 155-mm ACS.

During the waiting period, the number of guns and mortars apparently increased by 56 barrels
(2 battalions of 155 mm towed guns were added – 24 barrels per state, 1 mortar division – 12
barrels, 5 separate mortar batteries – 20 barrels), thus the artillery included 722 the trunk.

Amount of artillery by districts (as of 03.06.67) according to the book “The Six-Day War.
Seminar 1996” (p. 64):

• JUVO: 326;
• CVO: 270;
• NWO: 108;
• Total: 704 (with the same source gives the total figure of 681).

Engineering equipment and auxiliary equipment

• 8 Sherman M-1 tanks were equipped with Morag mine-sweepers;

• Bulldozers “Katarpiller” D-7;
• collapsible metal bridges Bailey (“Gesher Bailey”).
Weapons

• 9-mm software “Uzi” – was used in infantry units as a weapon of sergeants (squad
leaders and above) and officers; in addition, he had nurses and platoon weapons
operators (52 mm mortar, 82 mm grenade launcher); in addition, Uzi was the personal
weapon of tankers and some other military personnel; used in special units;
• 7.62-mm semi-automatic (self-loading) rifle FN FAL (“ROMAT (Rove Mitain) FN”)
– the main personal weapon of the infantry, paratroopers and IDF sappers, as well as
MAGAV fighters (the last FAL had automatic shooting mode);
• 7.62-mm carbine “Mauser” (the so-called “Moat Czechs” or simply “Czechs”,
because the majority were of Czech production and almost all came to Israel from
Czechoslovakia; a version of the 7.92-mm Mauser converted in Israel 98k ) – in the
infantry units was used as a sniper; in addition, parts of the fighters were used as
personal weapons in air defense and artillery, as well as in auxiliary units;
• 7.62-mm automatic rifle FN FAL-HB (“Miklaon FAL”) – FN FAL version with a
heavy barrel, bipod and automatic firing mode; was used in the infantry and parachute
units of the AOI as a light machine gun (“Miklaon”) at the branch level;
• 7.62-mm single machine gun MAG-58 – in 1967, quite a new and not common
weapon; there was mainly in special divisions and in the parachute units of the AOI as
a light machine gun at platoon level;
• 7.62-mm machine gun M1919 “Browning” (“Browning-03”) – was used as a machine
gun in infantry companies, installed in strong points, on naval boats, on tanks (both
paired and course), jeeps, self-propelled guns and armored personnel carriers;
• 12.7-mm machine gun M2NV “Browning” (“Browning-05”) – was used in infantry
battalions (machine-gun platoon in a company of fire support), on naval ships, in
strong points, on some tanks (on M48 in the commander’s turret, on “Sherman “and”
Centurion “on the commander turret) and BTR.
• Note 1: The Israeli police were, among other things, weapons that were no longer
used by IDFs, such as the 7.7 mm (0.303 “) Lee Enfield rifle and 7.7 mm (0.303”)
Bren machine gun;
• Note 2: The above-mentioned types of weapons were also used in the self-defense
system of the border settlements, as well as the MG-37 7.92 mm heavy machine gun
(“Meringue”); for example, according to one of the sources, there was a settlement in
1967 (the list is clearly not complete):
o Svo: 1,160 Lee-Enfield; 70 Bren machine guns;
o CVO: 500 Lee-Enfield, 1000 steel helmets;
o JUVO: 6 Meringue machine guns.

The infantry platoon of 30 people had the following weapons:

• 1 52 mm mortar;
• 1 82-mm grenade launcher “Super Bazooka”;
• 20 FN FAL, incl. 3 with rifle grenade launchers and 3 FAL-HB light machine guns
(one rocket launcher and one machine gun per branch);
• 10 “Uzi” (at the platoon commander, platoon sergeant, hospital attendant, 3 branch
commanders, mortar and assistant mortar, grenade launcher “Super Bazooka” and
assistant grenade launcher).
Anti-tank weapons and support weapons

• 20 mm cannon – used in infantry units on semi-tracked armored personnel carriers as

a support weapon; according to the state, one of the three armored personnel carriers
of the infantry platoon had to carry such a gun (in reality, there were far fewer of
them); the exact type is not known, but apparently it was the guns of the “Isano-
Suiza”, possibly removed from the weapons of the air defense forces;
• 52-mm mortars (firing range – 450 m) – Israeli-made (IMI), a weapon of support for
an infantry platoon (1 per platoon);
• 81-mm mortars (firing range – over 3,000 m) – Israeli-made (“Salt”), battalion
support weapons; in the infantry and motorized infantry battalions there was usually a
platoon of such mortars on the basis of half-tracked armored personnel carriers
(“LADY degem Gimel”); they were also in tank battalions (mortar platoon);
• anti-tank rifle grenades – were fired by a blank cartridge (“tahmish”) from the flame
arrester of FN FAL rifles (“PARNAT – Roma Rimon Neged Tankim”); each infantry
unit usually had one grenade launcher with RARNAT;
• 82-mm RPG “Super Bazooka” Israeli production (the official name “MARNAT 82
mm” – “Matol Rimonym Neged Tankim”; the soldiers simply called it “Bazooka”;
range – up to 300 m); anti-tank platoon level device (one per platoon);
• 106-mm BO M40A1 (“TOLAR” – “Totah Lelo-Reta”; range – 1,300 m) – anti-tank
weapons of a battalion and brigade level: in infantry and parachute brigades there was
an anti-tank company, and in the companies of fire support of infantry battalions and
parachute – airborne brigades – a platoon armed with jeeps with these BOs;
• ATGM SS.11 (Tagar; range 3,000 m) on semi-tracked armored personnel carriers and
jeeps (755th division and 485th divisions);
• ATGM “Cobra” (“Ashaf”; range 1,600 m) on jeeps – only in parachute brigades;
• 57-mm (6-pound) and 90-mm anti-tank guns – used in anti-tank divisions (Gundat
Nun-Tet), as well as in parts of territorial defense; in the early 60s. anti-tank artillery
was transferred from artillery troops to infantry; in 1967, only one division of 6-
pounder artillery troops was known – 841 (commander – captain Abraham Micah);
The 90mm cannons were also mounted on semi-tracked armored personnel carriers; It
is not known exactly how many anti-tank guns were in the IDF, but in the period from
15.05.67 to 10.06.67, the MASHA-681 repaired 20 57-mm and 33 90-mm guns.

Night-vision devices

In the 60s.in Israel, work was carried out on equipping tanks with infrared night vision
devices. Due to various delays to the beginning of the war, there were no such systems on
any AOI tank.

The infantry also did not have night vision devices. Only the most elite special forces had a
small number of such systems (intelligence of the General Staff and the 13th Naval Flotilla).
Air Force and Air Defense
Air Force Base

The Air Force had the following main air bases (in brackets are the names and the names of
the commanders):

• 1st Air Wing (Ramat David, Colonel Ihezkel Someh) – squadron 109, 110, 117;
• 4th wing (Hatzor, Colonel Benjamin (Beni) Peled) – squadron 101, 105, 113;
• Air Force Base 6 (Hatzerim, Colonel Yosef (Joe) Alon (Palchek)) – Squadron 147;
o Flight School (Lieutenant Colonel David Ivry);
• Air Force Base 8 (Ekron / Tel-Nof, Colonel Shmuel Shefer (Stufer)) – Squadron 103,
114, 116, 119, 123, 124;
o Aircraft Repair Plant Yud-Alef-Alef-22;
• Air Force Base 15 (Sde Dov) – squadron 100, 145;
• Air Force Base 27 (Lod) – Squadron 107, 120.

Air Force combat aviation was based only on 3 airfields – Ramat David in the north, Hazor
and Tel Nof in the center of Israel.

Tel Nof was the central Air Force base with the largest number of squadrons, including
helicopter and transport. The Air Force Flight School was also located there (in the process of
transfer to Khatserim).

Hatzerim in the south was the newest base, built in the 60s. It began operations in 1965 and
was officially opened on 03.10.66. From August 1966, the transfer of the Air Force Flight
School to this base began, the process ending in 1968. By the beginning of the war, only the
147th Squadron was operating from the base (combat training aircraft).

Sde-Dov in Tel Aviv served as the base of light and mobilized civil aviation, Lod (there was
also an Israeli international airport) – the base of heavy transport aviation. Before the
beginning of the war, the 107th Squadron of the Uragan aircraft, which was permanently
based in Ramat-David, was deployed in Lod.

In addition, the Air Force could use a number of small airfields, including in Rosh-Pina
(Mahanaim), Herzliya (the former 3rd wing, until the early 90s there was an air defense
school) and Haifa (here was also a technical school of the Air Force).

Air Force Squadron

Below is a list of Israeli Air Force squadrons. In brackets are the names of the commanders.

• Combat and combat training aircraft:

o 101st “First Fighter Squadron” (Major Amos Lapidot) – Mirage;
o 105th “Scorpion” (Major Aharon (Yalo) Shavit) – “Super-Mister”;
o 107th “Tigers”, later renamed “Knights of the Orange Tail” (Major Yaakov
Turner) – “Hurricane”;
o The 109th “Valley” (Major Ohad Shadmi) – “Mister”;
o 110th “Knights of the North” (Major Levi Tzur) – “Votur”;
 o 113th “Wasp” (Major Yosi Salant) – “Hurricane”;
o 116th “Flying Wing” (Major Yonatan Shahar) – “Mr.”;
o 117th “First Jet Squadron” (Major Amichai Shmuel (Shumi)) – Mirage;
o The 119th Bat (Major Ran Ronen (Pecker)) – Mirage;
o 147th (Major Arie Ben-Or (Urbach)) – “Fuga Magister”;
• Transport and light aircraft:
o The 100th Flying Camel – light aircraft of all types;
o 103rd “Elephants” (Major Yaakov Shabtai) – “Noratlas”;
o The 120th International Squadron – Dakota and Stratokrauzer;
o 145th — reservist squadron of mobilized civil aircraft (HPR.7 and Dakota);
• Helicopters:
o 114th “Night Carriers” (Major Haim Naveh) – “Super-Frelon”;
o 123rd “Birds of the Desert” (Major Amichai Hasson (?)) – “Bell-47”;
o 124th “Revolving Sword” (Major Eliezer (Chita) Cohen) – S-58.
• Note 1: reconnaissance aircraft flew in the framework of the 110th (two Votur-IIB –
the so-called Votur-IIBR) and 119th (two Mirage-3CJ (R) “, b / n 98 and 99)
squadrons. In addition, there were aerial photography systems (Tarmil, Shfoferet,
Tashbets, Moshal, Tsnyyut) for installation on the conventional Mirage-3CJ (4
aircraft: no. 41, 53, 58, 59 ) by replacing the nose cone (cameras were installed
instead of the radar). These systems are also used by the 119th Squadron.
• Note 2: The 113th Squadron was a squadron of a combat training course (KAAM) for
all types of combat aircraft, the 123rd was a training squadron of a flight school for
training helicopter pilots.

Airplanes and Helicopters

The Israeli Air Force had 412 airplanes and helicopters of all types.

Combat Aviation

The Air Force had 203 combat and 44 combat-training aircraft, all of French production. 197
combat aircraft were operational in the morning 05.06.67.

• 65 Daso Mirage-3CJ, Mirage-3CJ (R) and Mirage-3BJ (Shahak);

• 35 Daso “Super-Mr. B.2” (“Sambad”);
• 33 Daso MD.520 “Mr. IVA”;
• 19 Cid Aviation SO.4050 Votur-II;
• 51 Daso MD.450 “Hurricane”;
• 44 combat training Potez SM-170 “Fuga Master”.

Notes:

• There is evidence that there were 21 “Votur” (13 “Votur-IIA”, 2 “Votur-IIB” and 6
“Votur-IIN”) and 60 “Fuga Magister”, 44 of them armed, but the numbers 19 “Votur”
and 44 “Fuga Master” (total) confirmed by the most reliable sources;
• There were also 4 training “Meteor” (3 “Meteor-T.7” and 1 “Meteor-T.7.5”), they
were used in the 110th squadron to retrain pilots for flights on twin-engine jets;
• In 1966, contracts were signed for the purchase of 50 Mirage-5J (Raam) and 48 A-4N
Skyhawk (Ait), but as of June 1967, the Air Force did not yet have these aircraft: A-
4N they began to arrive in Israel only at the end of December 1967, and an embargo
 was imposed on the Mirage-5J and the Air Force did not receive them (the first
Mirage-5J was to arrive in Israel in September 1967, then supplies 4 aircraft per
month were to be carried out).

Transport aviation

The Air Force had 51 transport aircraft, of which 46 belonged to the Air Force, and 5 were
mobilized from civilian airlines.

• 23 Nord N-2501 Noratlas;

• 16 Douglas C-47 (DC-3) Dakota;
• 7 Boeing B-377 and KS-97 Stratokrauzer (Anak);
• 5 mobilized, incl. 3 HPR.7 Dart Herald of the company “Arkia” and 2 “Dakota”
(perhaps we are talking about aircraft of the French Air Force, who were under repair
in Israel in May 1967 at one of the IAI plant).

Helicopters

The Air Force had 45 helicopters, including the heavy transport-super “Super-Frelon.” “Bell-
47” was intended for training of pilots in the flight school, the main transport-landing
helicopter was S-58.

• 4 Syd Aviaion SA-321K “Super Frelon” (“Craa”);

• 28 Sikorsky S-58 (CH-34A Chukato);
• 13 Bell “Bell 47”;
• Note: in addition, there was 1 Cid Aviation SE-3130 “Aluet-2”.

Training and connected aircraft

The Air Force had 69 light single-engine aircraft.

• 55 Piper PA-18 “Super Cab”;

• 10 Dornier Do-27 (“Dror”);
• 2 Tsesna Tsesna-172Q (T-41 Maskalero; Shahafit);
• 1 Pilatus RS-6A “Turbo-Porter”;
• 1 Sukata MS-893A “Rally”.

Aviation weapons and equipment

By the beginning of the 1967 war, the Air Force had two types of air-to-air missiles: the
Matra R.530 (a small number, perhaps a little more than a dozen) and the Shafrir-1 (about a
hundred). They did not play any role in the war; all aerial victories were won by the fire of
aircraft cannons.

The Air Force did not have any air-to-ground guided weapons. Napalm tanks, various
unguided rockets and aerial bombs, including concrete bombs, were used to destroy the
runway of aerodromes developed by the Institute of Metallurgy (jointly with the French
company Matras), the so-called “PAPAM” (“Ptsatsat Pitsuah Maslyulim”), entered service in
1966
More information about aviation weapons – in the article “Aviation weapons of the Israeli
Air Force . “

The only available EW aviation system was Yabelet (Corn), a French-made EW container
(manufactured by CSF). 4 of these containers were purchased in the mid 60s. and were used
on Votur planes. They were intended to suppress surveillance radars of air defense, as well as
radar control of anti-aircraft artillery and air defense systems S-75 (SA-2 Guideline), were
able to scan, identify and jam 16 different frequencies.

Flight personnel

There were the following numbers of flight personnel (pilots, possibly also navigators and
flight engineers):

• combat aircraft – 235;

• combat training “Fuga Magister” – 42;
• transport aircraft – 70;
• helicopters – 54;
• light aircraft – 64.

Air defense

• 5 batteries of SAM “Hawk”, deployed in Metahim, Zmorot, Sde Dov, Wilhelm and
Dimona;
• 54 battery art, including:
o 34 armed with 40mm Bofors L / 70 guns with radar guidance;
o 20 armed with 20-mm and 30-mm cannons Hispano-Suiza.
• Note: in 1967, the Air Force only included the Hawk air defense system (bought in
1962, arrived in Israel in April 1965), anti-aircraft artillery was part of the artillery
troops and became part of the Air Force only in 1970 (officially from 01.12.70).

The network of units and radar stations of air control:

• YABAM-333 to Hefetz Chaim (near Gedera) – disbanded after the YABA-509 was
put into operation;
• Yod-Beth 501 to Hefetz Chaim – a division of data collection from visual observation
posts; it is not clear whether there existed in June 1967;
• Yod-Bet 503 at Stela Maris on Mount Carmel (Haifa) – disbanded in November 1968;
• YABA-506 in the north, Mount Merom – controlled Israeli airspace from center to
north;
• YABA-509 in the south, in the Mitzpe Ramon area, controlled Israeli airspace from
the center to the south; officially put into operation in September 1967, but apparently
partially operated already during the war of 1967;
• Yud-Beth-548 – a mobile unit to control the airspace over Jordan, if necessary,
deployed in the mountains of Judea; it is not clear whether there was already in June
1967

In the 60s.The Air Force moved from centralized radar control, when all data flowed into
YABAM (“Yehidat Bakara Merkazit”) to the district control through YABA (“Yehidat
Bakara Eyzorit”) units. In addition, there were Yud-Bet radar stations (Yehidat Bakara)
supplementing YABA.

Navy
Navy bases

• Haifa (Mediterranean) – the main base of the Navy, here (until 1972) was the
headquarters of the Navy;
• Ashdod (Mediterranean);
• Atlit (Mediterranean; naval commando base);
• Eilat (Red Sea);
• Tiberias (Kinneret Lake).

The main part of the Navy (including all destroyers, submarines and landing craft) was based
on the Mediterranean Sea. On the Red Sea there were 3 torpedo boats and 4 amphibious boats
(including 2 transferred by land from Haifa to the “waiting period”), as well as a police patrol
boat and 8 mobilized racing boats. On the lake Kinneret were 3 amphibious boats, used as a
patrol.

Flotilla and units

• 1st Flotilla (destroyers);

• torpedo boats (in the 50s, the 5th Flotilla existed in the Navy; in 1967 there were only
separate divisions):
o Division 912 – on the Red Sea;
o The 914th Division and the 915th Division are in the Mediterranean;
• 7th Flotilla (PL);
• 11th Flotilla (amphibious ships and boats):
o “coastal link” (“Khuliyat Hof”) – a small unit, whose task was to explore the
coast before the landing of the amphibious assault;
o Division 922 – 3 t. “36-meter amphibious assault ship”;
o 924th Division – 3 t. “60-meter amphibious assault ship”;
o Division 788 – 3 landing boats LCM (NAMAH), used as patrol boats on the
Kinneret;
• 13th Flotilla (naval commandos);
• the division of mobilized fishing vessels (6 pieces, another 2 transferred to the needs
of the 13th flotilla);
• detection, communications and logistic units, ship repair yard;
• coastal radar stations; shortly before the war, a new type of radar was put into service.

Ships and boats

• 3 destroyers, K-40 “Eilat” and K-42 “Jaffa” of type Z and escort destroyer of K-38
“Haifa” of type Hunt;
• 3 submarines, of which only 1 (C-71 Tannin) was fully operational, 1 (C-73 Rahav)
was used as a surface ship and 1 (C-75 Leviatan) was en route from England to Israel,
arrived after the end of the fighting, in mid-August;
• 6 tank landing ships (NATAK) and 8 landing craft LCM (NAMAH):
 o 3 so-called “36-meter amphibious assault ships” (displacement 122 tons): P-51
“Etzion Gever”, P-53 “Caesarea” and P-55 “Shekmon”; could understand on 2
parts for transportation to Eilat by truck;
o 3 so-called “60-meter amphibious assault ships” (displacement 730 tons): P-61
Ashdod, P-63 Ashkelon, P-65 Achziv;
o 8 landing boats LCM (NAMAH) – 1 in Haifa (2 more were deployed to Eilat),
4 in Eilat (including Haifa arriving) and 3 on the Kinneret;
• 10 torpedo boats, incl. 8 combat-ready (5 – in the Mediterranean, 3 in Eilat) and 2
under repair:
o among the boats on the Mediterranean – 6 French type Meulan, 3 in the first
and second series;
o 3 boats in Eilat – Italian type Baglieto;
• 8 mobilized fishing boats.

13th Flotilla

• 70 fighters (including 25 reservists);

• Bertram boats;
• torpedo boats (exploding boats);
• underwater vehicles (“Hazir”);
• rubber boats;
• For the transportation of fighters and their equipment, besides ships and submarines
of the Navy, the base vessel “Noga” (former K-22 Corvette “Noga-2”) and the boat
“Tsipor” were intended; besides, the fishing vessel “Galim” was mobilized (under the
command of the former commander 7 Flotilla Lieutenant Colonel Yosle Dror) and the
scientific ship “Shikmona” (under the command of the former naval commander,
General Yohai Bin-Nun).

Sources
1. Amos Gilboa, Ephraim Lapid “Malkat Mehashevet” (“60 years of Israeli intelligence
– a view from the inside”), Hebrew, 2008
2. Encyclopedia “AOI by type of troops” (“Tsahal be-Heilotav”), Hebrew, 1980-1982
3. Moshe Givati ”Steel hardened in their hands. History of MASH-7100, 1948-1996.”
(“Bae-Yadeihem Khushlya ha-Plada”), Hebrew, 1998
4. Mike Eldar “The 13th Flotilla. A History of Marine Commandos” (“Scheyet 13.
Sipuro Shel Ha-Commando Ha-Yami”), Hebrew, 1993
5. Mike Eldar “The 11th Flotilla – The Struggle for Recognition” (“Shiyet 11 – ha-krav
al ha-Calash”), Hebrew, 1996
6. Mike Eldar “Dakar and the history of the submarine flotilla” (“Dakar ve-sipura shel
Shayett ha-tselolot”), Hebrew, 1997
7. Dani Shalom “The Ghost of Cairo. The Israeli Air Force in the War of Exhaustion
1967-1970.” (“Ruah Rafaim Mel Cairo”), Hebrew, 2007
8. Dani Shalom “Israeli Air Force Airplanes. From Tiger Mot to Sufa” (“Matosei Heil
ha-Avir. Me-ha-Tiger Mot ad ha-Sufa”), Hebrew, 2005
9. Yehuda Walah “Not on a silver tray. History of Israel 1990-2000.” (“… Le al Magash
shel Kesef”), Hebrew, 2000
 10. Avner Shor “Crossing the Borders. Intelligence of the General Staff and Its Creator
Avraham Arnan” (“Hotse Gvulet. Sayeret Matkal Ve-Meiasda Avraham Arnan.”),
Hebrew, 2008
11. Wikipedia articles:
o Defense Ministry of Israel;
o Air Force Squadron ;
o Air Force Base ;
o Six Day War ;
o Fight Um-Katef ;
o Engineering troops ;
o History of engineering troops ;
o Israeli police ;
o Israeli Police Commanders ;
o Border Police (MAGAW) ;
o Prison Service ;
o AOI Brigade ;
o Intelligence GSh ;
o Abraham Arnan .
12. Internet sites:
o iaf.org.il
o iaf.org.il/nm/nm.swf
o www1.idf.il/himush/site/he/himush.asp?pi=30114
o mod.gov.il
o police.gov.il/Pages/default.aspx
o aeroflight.co.uk
o 202.org.il
o knesset.gov.il – including:
▪ knesset.gov.il/review/PrintPage.aspx?kns=6&lng;=1
▪ knesset.gov.il/govt/heb/GovtByNumber.asp?govt=13
▪ knesset.gov.il/history/heb/heb_hist6_s.htm

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