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The Yad LaShiryon Tank Museum has a collection of over 160 tanks and armored vehicles. It advertises itself as having the most diverse collection of armored vehicles in the world, which sounds as if this is an esoteric museum appealing only to those with a military interest. This would be a big mistake. Tanks have played a critical role in all of Israel’s wars, and Israel has made major advances in the design of its own tank, the Merkava. Also, the location of this museum by the former British Tegart fortress or police station had considerable importance in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. The story of Israel’s attempts to relieve the siege of Jerusalem by capturing this fortress is told from the roof of the police station and below.
This museum and memorial were created through the initiative of veteran officers of the armored corps. An important aspect of a tour will be pointing out the importance of tanks in Israel’s wars. During any offensive, tanks go first rather than foot soldiers who would get mowed down. As distinct from other countries, Israel is often involved in urban warfare, and the tank goes first even in this situation.
Directions: Enter “Yad LaShiryon Museum” into Waze and click on “יד לשריון”
Admission:
The museum is open Sunday to Thursday 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., Friday and holiday eves 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tours are available in English and can often be accommodated with a drop-in visit. You can also call in advance. The cost of admission is 30 NIS for an adult, 20 NIS for a retiree, and 20 NIS for children 5 t0 15 years.
Their phone number is 08 915 1121 and this is their website.
Public transport: Enter “Yad Lashiryon” into Moovit and click on “מוזיאון יד לשריון.” The museum is 600-meter/7-minute walk from the bus stop.
An Israeli Merkava tank
The museum has a collection of foreign vehicles that have been used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) including M60/M48 Pattons, British Centurions and Cromwells, and American Shermans, and captured vehicles such as the Soviet T‑34/85. Other notable items include an M4 Sherman tank mounted on top of a former British water tower. This also serves as the logo of the museum. An interesting feature of the display is a foreign tank cut into two, so one can see how the crew fitted into the vehicle.
An arms embargo from the British after the Six-Day War, which included tanks, was the impetus for Israel to develop its own tank, the Merkava, and all models from 1 to the latest 4 are shown. Some key differences between this tank and other foreign tank are that in the Merkava the engine is in the front of the tank and the crew behind the engine, whereas in other thanks it is the other way round. This way the engine rather than the crew absorbs any impact. The Merkava has a rear hatch and ramp, allowing rapid crew escape. It is able to transport up to 6 soldiers and evacuate wounded. Other tanks rarely have such rear access or troop capacity. It has compartmentalized ammunition storage and advanced active protection systems such as the Trophy. This contrasts with many older tank designs that prioritized firepower and armor over survivability in case of a hit. The Merkava was built specifically for Israel’s rocky, urban, and desert environments. Foreign tanks (e.g., Challenger 2, Leclerc) were designed more for large-scale conventional warfare in Europe or for open terrain.
The Merkava Mk4 was the first operational tank in the world to be equipped with a fully functional APS (Active Protection System). The Trophy detects and neutralizes incoming RPGs (rocket propelled grenades) and ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) before impact. The Merkava Mk4 also features an advanced battle management system with real-time data sharing between tanks and command and also enhanced target tracking. Israeli tanks are often part of digitally networked battlefields, thereby improving coordination. Some of these features are apparent in the movie shown, although they can get lost a bit during the battle!
The memorial is an outside Wall of Names that lists every Armored Corps soldier killed in Israel’s wars.
The main building is a Tegart fortress from the time of the British Mandate. These fortresses were built between 1938 and 1939 as part of the British war against Arab terror. Two movies are shown in the building. In one movie you stand between two screens and feel as if you are in the middle of a tank battle. This movie also demonstrates the defenses of the tank. The movie is in Hebrew, but there is very little speaking anyway. The second movie downstairs is in the auditorium, lasts about 15 minutes, and has English subtitles. Its message is a bit difficult to nail down, but it does show tanks in action in Israel’s various wars and the enthusiasm of its crews.
The outer walls of the fortress are pocketed because of warfare. The tower is covered in steel that came from a tank and water circulating from a pool underneath the installation creates a ‘Tower of Tears’ from water trickling down the walls. The museum offers a chronological overview of armored warfare—from life-size models of chariots in certain periods through to Leonardo da Vinci’s tank designs. Following your tour, go on the roof of the fortress for the views. Signs indicate the unsuccessful attempts by Israel to capture the fort from the Jordanian Arab Legion.
TOPICS OF INTEREST
The battle for the police station/fortress of Latrun
As you enter the museum, the police station/fortress in front of you at the top of the hill is very obvious. The story of the battle for Latrun is told from the rooftop of this police station on signs by the side of the roof. However, the signs are very detailed, although in English, and the topography is not explained, so it is very easy to get lost.
What is currently Route 1 was the only road supplying Jerusalem. Hence, if the Arabs could control this road they could starve Jewish West Jerusalem into submission. You can see this road on the far side of the museum. Control of the road into the Judean mountains was initially achieved by the Arab villages overlooking the road. Eventually the Castel was conquered, and in Operation Nachshon the Jews went on the offensive and took control of the Arab villages in the Jerusalem Corridor, and the villagers fled. That still left the problem of the police station/fortress of Latrun overlooking Route 1.
After the British withdrew in May 1948 from Palestine, Latrun was occupied by the Jordanian Arab Legion. As distinct from the irregular, untrained fighters in the mountains, the Arab Legion was a very professional army that had been trained by the British and was led by British officers.
Days after the declaration of the State of Israel, David Ben-Gurion ordered an assault on the fortress in May 1948. The newly formed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an attack with the 7th Armored Brigade and the Alexandroni Brigade. The former included many Holocaust survivors who had recently arrived in the country and had received minimal training. The Arab Legion was well-prepared and entrenched and the Israelis suffered from poor coordination, heat, and insufficient equipment. It was a disaster and the Israelis were pinned down and even killed during their retreat. Casualties were heavy — over 70 killed. The second battle was in June 1948. Again, the IDF failed due to strong Arab Legion resistance, the difficult terrain and heat, and limited air support and artillery. Casualties were high, and the attack was again called off. Additional attempts were made in June and July, to a total of five attempts, but Latrun remained firmly under Arab Legion control throughout the war.
In response to these repeated failures, the IDF constructed an alternative supply route to Jerusalem behind the museum through the hills southeast of Latrun. It was called the Burma Road, being named after a World War II road in Asia. It was completed in June 1948. This allowed supply convoys to bypass Latrun. The Burma Road was formerly a shepherds’ footpath and how this road was constructed so as to permit the passage of trucks is another fascinating story. The Arab Legion had no direct view of this road and in any case it was pinned down in a defensive position.
The Latrun fortress remained in Jordanian hands until the Six-Day War in 1967, when it was finally captured by Israel.
The Sinai Campaign
Standing in the middle of a tank battle.
Showing the protection afforded the crew in the Israeli Merkava tank.
An Egyptian chariot from the same historic period as Moses.
The Trophy system in action
Links to the best family activities, hikes and historic sites in the GOLAN, EASTERN GALILEE, UPPER GALILEE, LOWER GALILEE, JORDAN VALLEY & LAKE KINNERET, the SHEFELAH, TEL AVIV-YAFFO and surroundings, NORTH of TEL AVIV, and SOUTH of TEL AVIV.