Chariots of the desert: the story of the Israeli Armoured Corps

Even before the State of Israel existed as a constitutional fact, it found itself faced by the daunting prospect of a war on three fronts against the well equipped forces of the Arab world , all determined to destroy the new-born Jewish state before it could get properly established. Lterally 'born in battle", the Israeli Defence Forces fought back with only their fearsome courage and skill as substitutes for modern weapons. That they succeeded then and suceeded again and again is a matter of history. Today, after a quarter of a century , during which they survived some of the most intense fighting the world has seen since the end of the Second World War, Israel's citizen forces have acquired a reputation for courage, professionalism and battle leadership which is second to none. Starting from a very mixed collection of outdated armoured vehicles in 1948, the Israeli Armoured Corps has played a major part in the defeat of every attempt by the Arabs to destroy the State of Israel. Now equipped with its own Merkava main battle tank and with the experience of those hard fought wars behind it, the Corps stands unrivalled in all aspects of its role and particularly in the field of tank gunnery. In Chariots of the Desert, David Eshel has given us the fascinating story of the development of the Corps and its triumph in battle, combining historical fact with personal experience of his comrades in arms. It is a story that will inspire all those who read it and a fitting tribute to all who played a part in it.