Captured tanks boost Israel's line of defense

KETZIYOT, Israel (UPI) When last in combat, the tanks at thisdesert base along the Egyptian border were painted with Arab markingsand seen through Israeli gunsights.

Stripped to bare metal, upgraded with Israeli and Americanequipment and repainted, these Soviet-built tanks now defend Israel.

Israeli forces captured more than enough T-54, T-55 and T-62tanks from Egypt and Syria in the 1967 and 1973 wars to create adivision of 300 of them. They call it the 540th.

Tank columns need support vehicles and Israel's wars suppliedthose, too. Sitting in rows of corrugated iron sheds are armoredpersonnel carriers, fuel trucks and supply vehicles, all from Sovietfactories and all formerly driven by Egyptian or Syrian soldiers.

Everything that moves on tracks or wheels in the 540th was builtby the Soviets.

"Any good army is one that has enemy tanks in its ranks," saidthe division commander, a brigadier general who could not beidentified for security reasons.

Bravado aside, no other army has captured as many enemy tanks.

Israel used captured Soviet tanks with their original Egyptianmarkings to create havoc behind Egyptian lines along the Suez Canalduring fighting in 1968-70. The general did not dismiss thepossibility of using similar tactics again.

Having the primary ground weapons of their adversaries alsogives the Israelis a chance to study their advantages andlimitations, aiding in developing their own tank, the Merkava.

It also has been a benefit to American armored specialists,whose tanks face the Russians in Europe.

To correct one deficiency, the Israelis installed airconditioning to ward off the blistering desert heat.

"These Eastern tanks are a nightmare" for the crews, the generalsaid.

"The human engineering is horrendous. You sweat your guts outand work your guts out in a Russian tank. It's easier to fight inAmerican tanks because they're better for the gunner."