Magach 2

This page is about the Israeli medium tank Magach 2. For other versions, see Magach (Family).

Magach 2

Magach 1

Magach 3

Magach 2

Magach 1

Magach 3

Israel

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.7	7.7	7.7

Class:

Medium tank

Research:35 000

Purchase:210 000

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Description

Magach 2 was the Israeli designation for American M48A2 Patton tanks purchased by Israel from West Germany. After a series of refusals from the USA to directly supply Israel with modern tanks, in the early 1960s, the IDF made an offer to Germany to buy 150 M48A2C Pattons. The US government readily agreed, on the condition that Germany would transfer these vehicles to Israel as part of the reparations programme. Arab states learned about this deal and were highly outraged, causing the West German government to ultimately deliver only 40 machines to Israel. However, later the USA began openly supplying tanks directly to Israel. Subsequently, most were modernised to the Magach 3 version.

Introduced in Update "Wind of Change", the Magach 2 is quite a heavy MBT, unlike designs like the Leopard 1. However, the Magach 2 has a decent amount of armour; while it may not stop any HEAT or APFSDS shell launched at the tank, it makes it less vulnerable to APHE, APCR and HE, and projectiles shot from 20 or even 30 mm autocannons around its BR. With all its engine modifications installed, the Magach 2 is able to keep up with the speed of other MBTs like the Soviet T-54/55. Its 90 mm cannon is enough to destroy most MBTs with the HEAT shell, however this projectile lacks post-penetration damage. Thus, a good recommendation is to carry a small amount of APHE shells into battle and use them against light targets from the sides or the rear.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull110 / 76 / 25

Turret130 / 76 / 51

Crew4 people

Visibility117 %

The armour of the Magach 2 is identical to the M48A1 and M48A2 C. The ammo rack in the turret is removed and the shape of the front hull ammo racks are improved. The front armour is able to handle almost most of the APHE shells it might face, but struggles against HEATFS and APDS rounds. The lower front plate is a big weak spot. The sides are decently armoured, but not thick enough to make angling the hull a valid tactic. Some thin vents on the top of the hull are vulnerable to strafing and bombing runs by enemy aircraft, which may cause engine fires. Overall, the Magach 2 has excellent armour protection for its tier.

Armour type:

• Cast homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull rear, hull rear roof)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	110 mm (59-74°) Upper glacis 110 mm (13-60°) Lower glacis	76 mm (5-45°) Front 51 mm (0-44°) Rear	25 mm Top 25 mm (32-62°) Bottom	110 mm Front glacis (16-31°) 57 mm Crew compartment 30 mm Engine deck 12.7 mm (14°) Engine vents
Turret	83.2-173 mm (0-48°) Turret front 152 + 82 mm (17-26°) Gun mantlet	69-100 mm (12-36°)	51-55 mm (2-71°) 25.4 mm (75-82°) Underpart of the turret	25-69 mm
Cupola	29.7 mm (cylindrical)	29.7 mm (6-53°)	29.7 mm (6-53°)	29.7 mm (50-62°)

Notes:

• Suspension wheels, tracks, and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB54 / 10 km/h

RB and SB49 / 9 km/h

Number of gears6 forward

2 back

Weight47.8 t

Engine power

AB1 574 hp

RB and SB825 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB32.9 hp/t

RB and SB17.3 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	54	10	47.8	1,279	1,574	26.76	32.93
Realistic	49	9		730	825	15.27	17.26

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 369 → 4 743

RB3 812 → 5 367

SB5 409 → 7 615

Total cost of modifications61 900

103 300

Talisman cost1 800

Crew training61 000

Experts210 000

Aces890

Research Aces570 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 180 / 200 %

178 / 178 / 178 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 190 Suspension Research: 2 800 Cost: 4 700 170 Brake System Research: 2 800 Cost: 4 700 170 Filters Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 190 Transmission Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 240 Engine Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 240	Improved Parts Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 190 Improved FPE Research: 2 800 Cost: 4 700 170 Crew Replenishment Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 190	Horizontal Drive Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 190 90mm_us_M82_m48_ammo_pack Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 190 Adjustment of Fire Research: 2 800 Cost: 4 700 170 90mm_us_T142E3_HESH_ammo_pack Research: 2 800 Cost: 4 700 170 Elevation Mechanism Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 190 90mm_us_M431_HEAT_ammo_pack Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 190 NVD Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 190 Artillery Support Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 240 90mm_us_M313_Smoke_ammo_pack Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 240 Rangefinder Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 240

Because the Magach 2's only available ammo at the beginning is APCR, the number 1 priority of all players should be upgrading to a better shell. In this case, try to first get the HESH round and then go for the HEAT shell.

The most important upgrades are also the ones for the engine, since the Magach 2 is a bit slow when stock. Because of that, players should prioritize upgrading to HEAT shells but when possible, upgrade the transmission, engine and tracks of the Magach 2. The rangefinder is not that necessary because the Magach 2 is better used in frontline combat close to the enemy. But it can be a good upgrade if you prefer a more passive and calm play style.

Armaments

Night vision device

Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Main armament

90 mm M41 cannon

Ammunition64 rounds

First-order27 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.7 → 6.7 s

Vertical guidance-9° / 19°

90 mm M41					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	64	-9°/+19°	±180°	-	22.8	31.6	38.4	42.5	45.2	8.71	7.70	7.10	6.70
Realistic					14.3	16.8	20.4	22.6	24.0

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
M332 shot	APCR	321	316	292	265	240	218
T142E3	HESH	102	102	102	102	102	102
M82 shot	APCBC	185	182	169	155	142	130
M431 shell	HEATFS	320	320	320	320	320	320
M71 shell	HE	20	20	18	17	16	16

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
M332 shot	APCR	1,249	5.7	-	-	-	66°	70°	72°
T142E3	HESH	792	10.6	0.1	4	3,050	73°	77°	80°
M82 shot	APCBC	853	10.91	1.2	14	137.2	48°	63°	71°
M431 shell	HEATFS	1,216	5.8	0.05	0.1	712.64	65°	72°	77°
M71 shell	HE	823	10.55	0.2	0.1	1,210	79°	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)
M313	821	10.7	9	5	20	50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M48A2 C (identical).

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
64	57 (+7)	46 (+18)	28 (+36)	21 (+43)	1 (+63)	No

Notes:

• Shells are modeled by sets of 2 and disappear from the rack after you've fired both shells in the set.
• Racks 4 and 5 are first stage ammo racks. They total 27 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
  • These racks are also emptied early: the depletion order at full capacity is: 4 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3.
  • Full reload speed will be realized as long as shells are available in the ready racks 4 and 5. If both ready racks are empty, a penalty to reload speed will occur.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 3 into rack 5 then 4. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
• If you pack 21 (+43) shells, it will keep the front hull and the turret bustle empty of ammo.

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun

Ammunition1 400 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate575 shots/min

Vertical guidance-9° / 60°

7.62 mm M73 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition5 500 rounds

Belt capacity250 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate500 shots/min

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	1,400 (200)	575	-9°/+60°	±180°

7.62 mm M73
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	5,500 (250)	500	-	-

Usage in battles

The Magach 2 is basically the same as the M48A2 C sitting in the German tech tree, but as an M48 it is best used in frontline combat or support manoeuvres.

Since it starts with an APCR shell unlike the APDS used in most tanks, is best used in direct contact with the enemy when not more capable shells are available, since a small angle can make the APCR shells bounce of the target. Thus, staying close to the enemy to make more precise shots is very important. The rest of the shells in the Magach 2 are quite basic for its BR, but it includes an APHE projectile. While this is nothing uncommon since the T-54/55 also has one, it allows the Magach to quickly destroy most enemies with a well placed shot. This is because the HEAT projectile in the Magach 2, while good in terms of penetration, lacks the damage to modules and crew members of APHE shells. Because of that a good idea is carrying both APHE and HEAT shells for different situations.

The Magach 2 has quite a decent armour; it won't stop the main shells from MBTs, like APDS or HEAT from the 100 and 105 mm guns normal at its BR, but it will certainly help survive against HE, HESH and APCR, alongside 20 and 30 mm shots fired from early autocannons that lack proper APDS or APFSDS projectiles with high penetration values.

Because its mobility is not the best compared to something like the Leopard 1 or other light tanks, positioning at the beginning of the battle is severely important. Most of the time you wont be able to capture any point but you can cover the position and prevent enemy targets from approaching. However have in mind, that the Magach 2 is a relatively big target compared to the Leopard 1 and T-54/55, and because of that hiding in ambushes is more difficult, but not impossible. One important thing about the Magach 2 is the positioning of the commander, while its cupola severely reduces the travel speed of the .50 cal, it gives the Magach 2 access to a CIV (commander's independent view) with good zoom for long range shots, and also, the commander has access to the movement of the turret and firing of the gun. That means that if the gunner is knocked out, the commander can still traverse the turret and shoot the main gun if necessary.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• The HESH round can be used to overpressure tanks on weak spots like the roof
• The HEAT round can penetrate just about anything at its BR
• Commander override can save you if your gunner gets knocked out
• Turret armour can save you sometimes if someone misses and hits too far left, right, or high

Cons:

• The weak hull armour can't reliably bounce shots from HEAT or APDS shells
• Stock APCR round does not perform well against sloped armour and will most of the time bounce off the target
• Ammo is in the left side of the turret and will most of the time get detonated if a shot penetrates the turret

History

The Magach 2 was the name given in IDF service to the American M48A2 and the German M48A2C. A total of 150 tanks between these 2 versions were purchased by Israel and by 1967 only 120 units between Magach 1 and Magach 2s were ready for battle.

The US supplied American-made M48 tanks to Israel through West Germany. This was a response to the military build-up of the USSR in the area, since many Arab nations were being armed and attracted to the Soviet's sphere of influence. Many of these nations fitted the T-54, T-62, and plenty of other Soviet-made vehicles. So, 110 Magach 2s were supplied to Israel through the United States while 40 were supplied through West Germany.

The main difference between the Magach 1 and Magach 2 was the engine, since the engine in the Magach 1 proved too unreliable. The M48A2 was powered by a 12-cylinder 29.3 litre AVI-1790-8 engine that produced approximately 690 hp. The tank retained the same gun as the M48A1, that being the 90 mm M41 gun, as well as no armour improvements over the original design. The M48A2C that was supplied by West Germany had a couple of upgrades, for instance, it received a new rangefinder since the M17 model was deemed too problematic and replaced with the M13 stereoscopic rangefinder, and the ballistic drive was improved (to the M5A2 model). Bore evacuator capacity was also increased.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Magach 2 from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• Magach (Family)

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.