The State of Israel in Twilight 2000

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The State of Israel at the Start of the Twilight War

Sources: The Almanac of World Military Power and The Military Balance 83/84-Military Technology magazine

Area: 8,017 square miles (does not include territories occupied since June 1967)
Population: 4,100,000
Total Active Regular Armed Forces: 164,500 (an additional 409,500 reserves can be available within 72 hours)
Gross National Product: $21.7 billion
Annual Military Expenditures: $8.24 billion
Fuel Production:
Crude Oil: 42,000 metric tons
Refined Petroleum Products: 8.12 million metric tons
Electric Power Output: 16.5 billion kwh
Merchant Fleet (ships 1,000 tons and over): 43 ships; 401,000 gross tons
Civil Air Fleet: 28 major transport aircraft

The Israel Defense Force originated in the Haganah, a Jewish underground defense organization started during the Palestine Mandate in the 1920s. The transformation of these forces into the IDF reserve and regular components upon independence in 1948 was organizationally simple. Not only had these forces considerable experience in guerrilla warfare against the British and Arabs in Palestine, but they were augmented after World War Two by Jewish veterans of the British, American and other armies, including a number of highly trained and experienced middle to senior-level officers. With the popular determination to establish and defend Israel tempered by the modern war experience of others, a highly effective military instrument appropriate to the defense needs of the country evolved during the early years of independence. The form of these forces has been shaped by Israel’s geographic location, the close identification of the Israel citizen-soldier with the state, his skill, ingenuity and motivation, acquired from five major conflicts with Arab regulars (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982) and numerous border clashes with irregular forces. The IDF has demonstrated a substantial and consistent combat effectiveness superiority over all of its Arab enemies.

Actual control of the IDF is vested in the Prime Minister and the cabinet. Direct responsibility for administering the armed forces is exercised by the Minister of Defense. The Chief of the General Staff is also the chief of staff of the army and presides over the tri-service unified Defense Forces. The General Staff directs activities and operations of the combat commands (navy, air force, three territorial commands, Paratroop Command and the Armored Command), the Training Command and NAHAL (Fighting Pioneering Youth, a paramilitary organization).

All Israeli military planning concentrates on the Arab threat. While some Arab states reluctantly acknowledge the permanent existence of Israel, it is extremely difficult to allay Israeli fears that the Arabs ultimately intend to render Israel politically, military and economically impotent. Israel expends a crushing percentage of its resources on security and defense. Since the 1967 Six Day War, Israeli dependence on the United States for the purchase of weapons has markedly increased.

Military service is universal for men and women (except for the Arab 10% of the population); men 18-29 years of age serve 36 months and unmarried women 18-26 serve 20 months from their eighteenth birthday. Service in the reserves is required up to age 55 for men and 34 for women.

The IDF comprises a regular professional nucleus of about 25-30,000, with two yearly conscript classes of about 25,000 each. About 75,000 are normally on active duty at any one time. This active forces has two major elements: a mobilization base (including a training cadre and recruits in training) and first-line defense units such as air defense, sea patrols and units along the border.

The senior service school is the National Defense College, a tri-service institution which conducts a ten-month course in strategy and politico-military affairs. The Command and General Staff College has a course focusing on General Staff operations, technique and procedures. Many officers are also sent to foreign staff colleges and war colleges for training, mostly to the United States.

The logistical system is adequate and efficient, principally because of the Israelis’ high level of managerial and technical skill and their wide scale adoption of modern business machines and methods. An important handicap is the continuing dependence on foreign sources for major items of combat equipment. Modern, large, defense-related industries are being developed for the purpose of rendering Israel more self-reliant and relatively independent of foreign sources of military hardware.

In the field, responsibility for logistical operations devolves primarily upon the territorial commanders. They are responsible for arming and equipping mobilized reserve forces in their areas and for providing logistical support to all units coming under their control. Supply depots are located at key points to provide arms, equipment and field rations in the event of mobilization and to furnish base support for combat operations. Maintenance is conducted as far forward as resources and the situation permit.

As an extremely small state surrounded by much larger, well-armed neighbors with varying degrees of hostility, Israel has considered retention of lands occupied in the 1967 war as essential for its security. The treaty signed with Egypt in 1979 returned the Sinai to Egyptian control, but the future of the Gaza Strip, the west bank of the Jordan River and the Golan Heights that border Syria remains unsettled. With the Arab states united in opposition to the treaty and to Egypt, the possibility of a peaceful agreement about these areas seems remote. Unless a future Egyptian government renounces the treaty and joins its military forces with those of the other Arab states, a direct attack in force on Israeli territory is unlikely. However, the militant Palestinians in the Palestine Liberation Organization, with varying degrees of support from the Arab nations and bases in Lebanon pose a constant threat of guerrilla attack on Israeli targets near the border.

A prime threat to Israeli security is posed by the PLO, the militant Palestinians who claim title to all Israeli territory and maintain refugee and guerrilla camps in Lebanon from which attacks on Israel are launched.

Israel’s situation has led to a strategy based on preemptive offensive strikes by closely coordinated modern land, air and sea forces against any seriously threatening Arab forces. Border incidents and infiltrations prompt instant, severe Israeli reaction. Border police and fortified farms along the border provide the tripwire against incursions and are backed up by mobile army units. Surface-to-Surface missiles are available as retaliation for any possible Egyptian or Syrian missiles delivering high explosives against Israeli cities

A number of factors permit this strategy. First is the high literacy and technical competence of the Israeli citizenry, plus physical fitness derived through good nutrition, rural life and fitness programs. Also contributing is the military experience of Israel’s leaders, going back to World War Two and enriched by further experience in the successful major campaigns against Arab armies. These factors, plus the motivation of sled-survival have resulted in very high morale and esprit de corps in a relatively homogeneous and united population. All of this permits utilization of the most modern weapons, bold, rapid and sometimes complex maneuvers, and an extremely rapid mobilization.

Since 1967, the United States has been the principal supporter of Israel. U.S. military assistance to Israel since the end of the 1973 war has averaged about $1.8 billion per year. About half of this sum, including forgiven loans, must be considered grant aid (U.S. aid to Israel is funded under the Foreign Military Sales Program and the Security Supporting Assistance Program). Israel has received some of the most modern and sophisticated U.S. weapons. Israel’s indigenous industry complements the U.S. aid program significantly. It has developed some weapons systems, notably aircraft, missiles, boats, tanks, electronic systems and small arms. Israeli industry has exported arms to South Africa, Taiwan, and some Latin America countries. Other states would welcome Israeli assistance, as they have in the past, if a settlement with the Arabs were to relax the Arab political pressures that have led most of them to break diplomatic relations with Israel.

The Israeli Defense Forces

The Army

Personnel: 135,000 (20,000 regulars and about 100,000 conscripts); a total of 450,000 when fully mobilized.
Organization:
11 Armored Divisions
33 Armored Brigades (3 tk and 1 mech inf bns)
5 Mechanized Brigades (3 mech inf and 1 tk bns)
5 Paratroop Brigades (4 inf bns?) these are listed as mech/paratroop, only one serves in a abn role
12 Territorial/Border Infantry Brigades (NAHAL) (4 inf bns)
15 Artillery Brigades (each of 5 bns)
Major Equipment Inventory:
1,100 Centurion tanks (105mm gun)
650 M-48 tanks (105mm gun)
1,010 M-60 tanks (105mm gun)
440 T-54/55 (105mm guns
150 T-62 (115mm guns)
250 Merkava I/II (105mm guns)
4,000 M-113
1,300 half-tracks (M-2, M-3)
400 RBY, RAM, BRDM-1, BRDM-2 and Shoet Mk2 armored cars
200 OT-62
500 BTR-40/-50P/-60P/152/Walid APC
100 130mm towed guns
50 M-68/-71 155mm towed hows
100 D-30 122mm towed hows
70 M-101 105mm towed hows
140 M-107 175mm SP guns
48 M-110 203mm SP hows
300 Soltam L-33/M-50 SP 155mm hows
300 M-109A2 155mm SP hows
300 122mm, 135mm, 240mm, 290mm MRL
20 Lance SSM
900 81mm, 120mm and 160mm mortars (some SP)
100 106mm recoilless rifles
2,100 TOW, Cobra, Dragon, Picket, Milan ATGW
2 btys with 24 Vulcan/Chaparral
900 20mm, 30mm, 40mm AA guns
1,200 Redeye, Stinger MANPADS

On Order: 125 M-60 tanks, 300 Re’em AFV, 800 M-113 APC, 200 M-109A2 SP 155mm hows, 24 M-107 175mm SP guns, 10 Lance SSM, 300 TOW, 600 Dragon ARGW

Training: Reserves are called up for training 14-31 days per year, and one day per month; officers and NCOs receive special courses for an additional week per year.

The Navy

Personnel: 3,500 regulars and conscripts; 10,000 when fully mobilized, including 500 Naval Commandos.
Major Equipment:
3 Type 206 submarines
2 Saar 4.5-class Corvettes
8 Reshef-class (Saar 4) missile attack boats
6 Saar 3-class missile attack boats
6 Saar 2-class missile attack boats
2 Flagstaff-class hydrofoils
37 Dabur-class patrol boats
2 Dvora-class patrol boats
6 Hawk-class patrol boats
1 Landing Ship Tank
3 Landing Craft Mechanized
3 Landing Craft Utility
4 Seascan 1124N maritime-reconnaissance aircraft
On Order: 4 Saar 5-class corvettes, 3 Seascan ac.

The Air Force

Personnel: 26,000 regulars and 2,000 conscripts; 37,000 when fully mobilized
Organization:
2 FGA/Interceptor squadrons with 40 F-15C
5 FGA/Interceptor squadrons with 121 F-4E
5 FGA/Interceptor squadrons with 150 Kfir C-1/C-2
3 FGA/Interceptor squadrons with 61 F-16A, 8 F-16B
4 FGA/Interceptor squadrons with 130 A-4N/J
1 reconnaissance/ECM squadron with 13 RF-4E, 2 OV-1E, 4 E-2C, 4 RU-21J, 2 EC-130, 4 Boeing 707 ECM
1 Transport Wing with 7 Boeing 707 (2 tankers), 20 C-130E/H, 18
C-47, 2 KC-130H

Liaison Aircraft: 1 Islander, 5 Do-27, 14 Do-28D, 18 Cessna U-206C, 2 T-41D, 2 180, 12 Queen Air, 2 Westwind, 20 Super Cub

Trainers: 73 TA-4E/H, 50 Kfir TC-2, 85 Magister

Helicopters: 8 Super Frelon, 33 CH-53D, 12 AH-1G/S, 2 S-65C, 25 Bell 206, 60 Bell 212, 17 UH-1D, 300 Hughes 500MD

Missiles: 600 IHAWK launchers in 15 battalions

On Order: 11 F-15, 72 F-16, 60 Kfir C-2, 24 AH-64, 200 IHAWK

Paramilitary

Virtually the entire Israeli population, excluding Arabs, is assigned civil defense and home guard duties. Communal farms are well organized for defense with fortifications and stocks of arms and ammunition. Older men and women and youths are well trained to man these positions; many are veterans of the Defense Forces or participated in the guerrilla struggle in Palestine before 1948.

The principal paramilitary force is called NAHAL (Fighting Pioneering Youth), an organization that combines military service with agricultural training. NAHAL’s prime military mission is to serve as first line defense against ground attack along the borders and to prevent infiltration. A secondary mission is to assist and support the army in performing duties in the occupied territories.

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For the RDF Sourcebook; these are the real world organizations of the two IDF brigades. Both are Regular Army with the 35th Bde forming the only know "Paratroop" unit, at least one with a known jump record! It is also reported that it is equipped with M-113 APCs in the ground role. The 7th Armd Bde is the senior armored brigade of the IDF. As always, please feel free to insert comments, insults and changes!!!

35th Airborne Brigade, Israeli Defense Forces
Headquarters: Bandar-e Khomeyni, Iran

101st "Cobra" Airborne Battalion
202nd "Viper" Airborne Battalion
890th "Echis" Airborne Battalion
"Flying Serpent" Reconnaissance Battalion
"Naja" Anti-Tank Company
"Coluber" Engineer Company
5173rd "Taipan" Reconnaissance Company


7th Armored Brigade, Israeli Defense Forces
Headquarters: Bandar-e Deylam, Iran

74th Armor Battalion
77th Armor Battalion
82nd Armor Battalion
75th Mechanized Battalion
7th SP Artillery Battalion
7th Sayeret Recon Company

109th Combat Helicopter Company

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Here are a few Israeli terms to toss into the RDF Sourcebook: a work in progress!


Beged Horef: Winter Combat Uniform

Diskeet: IDF identification tags; one is worn around the neck and two more worn in the boot tops.

Elba: Special black leather combat boots issued only to the Golani Brigade and provides greater support and comfort during their renowned long route marches, highly prized and sought after.

Ephod: Standard web gear that holds up to 12 M-16/AK-47/Galil mags, two canteens, three grenades, first aid kit, entrenching tool and ration pack.

Glilon: The short-barreled carbine version of the Galil Assault Rifle

Golani: One of the IDFs infantry brigades, trained in mountain fighting, considered to be THE primer IDF infantry brigade.

Hermoiot: Issue snow boots for use with the Beged Horef, lined in fur!

Isherman: upgraded Sherman tank fitted with a 105mm gun

Kommando Yami: Naval Commandos

Magach: M-48/M-60 tank

MAGist: Infantry term for any machine-gunner, the standard IDF GPMG is the old MAG-58

Mishmar Hagbul: Border Guards

Mishtera: Police

Mem Tzadeh: Military Police

Mutzavim: strongpoint?

Rev Seren: Major

Sarbal: IDF Tanker coveralls made fro flame-retardant Nomex.

Segen: First Lieutenant

Shahpats: Flak Vest

Sho’t: Upgraded Centurion with 105mm cannon and diesel power pack

Shoter Tzvai: Military Policeman

Tayas: Pilot, specifically a fighter pilot

Tzanhan: Paratrooper

Ugda: Divison-sized formation

Zelda: M-113

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Unlike most world armies, the IDF uses the same rank names in all corps, including the air force, and navy. All enlisted ranks, as well as some of the officer and NCO ranks, may be given as a result of time spent in service, and not for accomplishment or merit.

For ground forces' officers, rank insignia were brass on a red background; for the air force, silver on a blue background; and for the navy, the standard gold worn on the sleeve. Officer insignia were worn on epaulets on top of both shoulders. Insignia distinctive to each service were worn on the cap.*

Enlisted grades wore rank insignia on the sleeve, halfway between the shoulder and the elbow. For the army and air force, the insignia were white with blue interwoven threads backed with the appropriate corps color. Navy personnel wore gold-colored rank insignia sewn on navy blue material.

From the formation of the IDF until the late 1980s, sergeant major was a particularly important warrant officer rank, in line with usage in other armies. However, in the 1980s and 1990s the proliferating ranks of sergeant major became devalued, and now all professional NCO ranks are a variation on sergeant major (rav samal) with the exception of*rav nagad. All translations here are the official translations of the IDF's website.

Conscripts*(Hogrim) (Conscript ranks may be gained purely on time served)
Private*(Turai)
Corporal*(Rav Turai)
Sergeant*(Samal)
First Sergeant*(Samal Rishon)

Warrant Officers*(Nagadim) (All volunteers)
Sergeant First Class (Rav Samal)
Master Sergeant (Rav Samal Rishon)
Sergeant Major*(Rav Samal Mitkadem)
Warrant Officer*(Rav Samal Bakhir)
Master Warrant Officer (Rav Nagad Mishneh)
Chief Warrant Officer (Rav Nagad)

Academic officers*(Ktzinim Akadema'im)
Professional Academic Officer (Katzin Miktzo'i Akadema'i)
Senior Academic Officer (Katzin Akadema'i Bakhir)

Officer*(Ktzinim)
Second Lieutenant*(Segen Mishneh)
Lieutenant (Segen)
Captain*(Seren)
Major*(Rav Seren)
Lieutenant Colonel*(Sgan Aluf)
Colonel*(Aluf Mishneh)
Brigadier General*(Tat Aluf)
Major General*(Aluf)
Lieutenant General*(Rav Aluf)

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The Israel Defense Forces has several types of uniforms:

Service dress (madei aleph*– Uniform "A")*– the everyday uniform, worn by enlisted soldiers.

Field dress*(madei bet*– Uniform "B")*– worn into combat, training, work on base.

Officers / Ceremonial dress (madei srad)*– worn by officers, or during special events/ceremonies.

Dress uniform*and*Mess dress*– worn only abroad. There are several dress uniforms depending on the season and the branch.

The service uniform for all ground forces personnel is*olive green; navy and air force uniforms are beige (tan). The uniforms consist of a shirt, trousers, sweater, jacket or blouse, and shoes or boots. The navy has an all white dress uniform. Green fatigues are the same for winter and summer and heavy winter gear is issued as needed. Women's dress parallels the men's but may substitute a skirt for the trousers.

Headgear included a service cap for dress and semi-dress and a field cap worn with fatigues. IDF personnel generally wear berets in lieu of the service cap. Berets are now worn on the left shoulder under the epaulett daily and on the head only for ceremonial purposes.

There are many Beret colors issued to IDF Servicemen and Women.

Paratroops are issued a maroon beret
Golani are issued a brown beret
Givati are issued a purple beret
Kfir are issued a Camouflage beret
Combat Engineers are issued a gray beret
Armored Corps are issued a black beret
Mechanized Infantry are issued a gray beret
Infantry are issued a olive drab beret
Artillery are issued a turquoise beret
For all other army personnel (except for combat units) men are issued a green beret and a black beret for women
IDF Air Force are issued a blue-gray beret
IDF Naval Forces are issued a black beret (in the process of being replaced for enlisted personnel with a white ala the US Navy sailor hat
Women in the navy were a black beret with gold insignia

Some corps or units have small variations in their uniforms*– for instance, military policemen wear a white belt and police hat, Naval personnel have dress whites for parades, Paratroopers are issued a four pocket Tunic (shirt) meant to be worn untucked with a pistol belt cinched tight around the waist over the shirt. Similarly, while most IDF soldiers are issued black leather boots, some units issue reddish-brown leather boots for historical reasons*— the paratroopers, combat medics, Nahal and Kfir brigades, as well as some SF units (Sayeret Matkal,*Oketz,*Duvdevan,*Maglan,*Counter-Terror School). Women were also formerly issued*sandals, but this practice has ceased.