Gal Batash

Gal Batash

Gal Batash

Description

The Magach 6B Gal Batash was an upgrade present in a small number of Magach 6B Gal tanks, the idea of this upgrade was to increase firepower, protection and improve optics and electronics without affecting the mobility of the tank. The Magach 6B Gal Batash remained in low intensity service, since it was meant to complement the lack of Merkava tanks in rearguard and reserve units. The Magach 6B Gal Batash used the same fire control system as the Magach 6B Gal, that is, the "Gal" fire control system. To combat the added weight, a new engine was installed with 908hp. This model only saw limited production and was considered one of the most modern israeli tanks in service when it came out.

It was introduced in Update "Wind of Change". The Magach 6B Gal Batash plays like most M60 tanks that rely heavily in it's fire control system and firepower. Much like other M48/M60 platforms with modernized armour and weaponry like the Magach 7C, the M48 Super, the M60A3 TTS and the CM11, the Magach 6B Gal Batash has a weak engine, with mediocre acceleration, poor reverse speed but being superior to tanks like the T-64 and T-72. This means that it relies on good positioning, target acquisition and precise shots to stay relevant in the battlefield, since it's ofter overshadowed by tanks like the Leopard 1 that are more mobile and multirole thanks to their good mobility. Still the Magach 6B Gal Batash has a good enough armour in the turret, specially to stop tandem shaped warheads and older ATGMs launched from helicopters or IFVs. It's also very resistent against shots from autocannons but APDS and APFSDS projectiles can still go trough it's armour in weak areas.

General info

Survivability and armour

Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.

Armour type:

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	___ mm	___ mm Top ___ mm Bottom	___ mm	___ - ___ mm
Turret	___ - ___ mm Turret front ___ mm Gun mantlet	___ - ___ mm	___ - ___ mm	___ - ___ mm
Cupola	___ mm	___ mm	___ mm	___ mm

Notes:

Mobility

Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade				1,407			__.__
Realistic				803			__.__

Armaments

Main armament

105 mm Sharir					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	63	-10°/+20°	±180°	Two-plane	21.4	29.6	36.0	39.8	42.4	8.71	7.70	7.10	6.70
Realistic					13.4	15.8	19.1	21.2	22.5

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
M152	HEATFS	400	400	400	400	400	400
M156	HESH	127	127	127	127	127	127
M111	APFSDS	337	335	330	322	314	306
M426	APFSDS	430	427	420	409	400	390

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
M152	HEATFS	1,174	10.5	0.05	0.1	1.27	65°	72°	77°
M156	HESH	731	11.4	0.1	4	3.17	73°	77°	80°
M111	APFSDS	1,455	4.2	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°
M426	APFSDS	1,455	4.4	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°

Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Screen radius (m)	Screen deploy time (s)	Screen hold time (s)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
M416	732	11.6	20	5	25	50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Gal Batash

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
63	48 (+15)	38 (+25)	17 (+46)	4 (+59)	1 (+62)	No

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	1,000 (200)	575	-	-

7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle (loader)	1,800 (200)	600	-10°/+50°	±120°
Pintle (commander)	1,800 (200)	600	-10°/+60°	±180°
Coaxial	6,000 (200)	600	-	-

Usage in battles

The Magach 6B Gal Batash is rather unique compared to other M60 variants, in the sense that it is one of the few versions to have composite armour protecting any part of the tank. With this said, it's still an M60, so brawling will not be especially effective, as most enemies will penetrate your armour without issue. The best "safe" use of the Gal Batash will be to utilize the good gunner sight to snipe enemies at range. The M426 round has very respectable stats for this BR, and since it's an M60, your height will make it slightly easier to look over hills and terrain. Alternatively, one can flank the enemy, taking enemy light vehicles by surprise and protecting your teammates from enemy flanking manoeuvres, whilst simultaneously holding the ability to attack enemy MBTs from the side. This tactic is generally reliable on maps with lots of foliage on the flanks, especially in up-tiers, where the effectiveness of your APFSDS round will be immensely diminished by the improved armour of your foes.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Has access to the potent M426 APFSDS round
• Good power-to-weight ratio because of the more powerful engine
• LWS provides advance warning for enemy range finding, as well as laser guided ATGMs, bombs, etc.

Cons:

• Poor survivability due to cramped interior and ammo storage layout
• Composite does not stop most APFSDS rounds effectively
• Poor gun handling
• Track and diesel engine noise will often telegraph your position to nearby enemies

History

The Magach 6B Gal Batash was a limited production upgrade of the Magach 6B Gal, which in itself was an upgrade to the fire control system and electronics of the Magach 6B. As said earlier, the Magach 6B Gal Batash uses the "Gal" fire control system, also known in international markets as "Matador" which was the name employed by Israel to sell it to outside customers.

The fire control system was the same used in early Merkava tanks, and the objective of this upgrade was to update several Magach tanks, since it was obvious that the Merkava wouldn't be available for all units and many rearguard and reserve units needed more modern tanks in case of conflict with neighbour nations. The Magach 6B Gal Batash incorporated several upgrades but since the electronics and optics remained largely the same, must upgrades were appointed to the protection and crew safety.

With more powerful anti tank guns like guided ATGMs and tandem shaped warheads for RPGs available for militias in Palestine and Lebanon, the Magach tanks and their Blazer ERA were deemed too weak. Thus a new upgrade was planned to deal with this threat. A set of more modern armour developed by the IMI was installed, based in the spaced armour used in Merkava tanks, both composite screens for the turret and side skirts as well as new ERA blocks in front of the hull. Also more mine protection was added in the form of thicker belly and side armour to resist IEDs

Since the tank's weight increased a new powerplant was installed . It received a 908hp version of the older AVDS diesel called AVDS-1790-5A with the same transmission as used on the Merkava MK.1 tank. The suspension was also upgraded, using a lighter one, very similar to the one fitted in the Merkava.

It was called "Batash" an acronym that refers to "Overall Security

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Gal Batash from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• Magach (Family)

External links

• [Wikipedia] Magach