This morning I visited the IDF archive for the first time and spent roughly five hours there, I found a few interesting bits of info.

First of all regarding H39’s I didn’t find much, however they were internally referred to in the IDF as הוצ’קס, or Hotchkes, on the 21.9.1951 the H39s are no longer to be considered “Standard Battle Vehicles” this is likely when the H39s were finally fully pulled away from the force, this took some time however as only in November 1951 was a clear document written, exclaiming that even if more tanks of the type were cannibalized, it wouldn’t allow for the repair of some of them, the document officially calls for them to leave service, but does propose the tanks to become emplacements or range targets, while I haven’t found further evidence affirming these fates, it seems very likely they mostly ended up as range targets.

Regarding Sherman Krupps I have found two IDF numbers clearly stated in documents:
12485
12487
they along with other tanks were designated to be fully converted into “Sherman Degem Bet Keva” (Meaning Sherman Model B Permanent) referring to the installation of 105 mm M4 howitzers and light modifications by Israel to bring them to a standardized form, the documents have made me question my understanding of Keva and Er’ei Shermans of the time, I hope that in future visits I will find more information.

Multiple photos have been known to exist of a G.M.C CT15A with a TR16 37 mm gun, I have found one document from 9.11.1950 inquiring about the possibility of arming “Meshoryan G.M.C.” (Referring to the CT15A armoured car), there it retroactively mentions that in the past (referring to the 1948 war or shortly after) two were armed by “Short 37 mm” and used by Battalion 79 of Brigade 7, which does line up with the Brigade 7 insignia found on some photographs of the vehicle. The document specifies the mounting of the gun was “primitive” and did not achieve great accuracy.

I have also found two documents, one dated 15(?) June 1950, proposing to mount a six-pounder gun in a Marmon-Herrington armoured car, and upgrading the engine, another document specified that the engine should be a Dodge F.K. 8, capable of 125hp, I do not believe a prototype was built however this is clearly possible as the Jordanians later did a very similar thing by mounting a six pounder on their Marmon-Herringtons, on another note I have found a photograph showing a re-armed Marmon-Herrington with a new armament and mantlet I have not seen before, I believe it has the M6 37 mm gun, and my friends on the research group agree, I will post the photo in future articles after I purchase the scan.

I have also found two documents talking about repairs of “Locust” tanks, while the designation M22 was not used in these documents I have seen it elsewhere but in parenthesis, I believe the name Locust was used as an official designation by the IDF, anyhow, a document dated 13.4.1950 says that three Locusts are fully repaired, however have not yet been fitted with radios as previously requested, due to a lack of specification (the earlier document did not specify which type of radio was wanted, from what I understand) it says another is repaired and receiving a gun, and two more are in need of engine repairs, however lack of engine parts for the tanks prohibit their repair, so in total six tanks were being worked on, the distinct request for a radio further affirms the idea that these tanks were being repaired to be used by the IDF, however, it seems the never have been fielded.

Additionally I have found a number of documents referring to the development of the Zachlam Degem Hey, for the uninitiated, the name which translates to Half-Track Model E, refers to a Half-Track equipped with an M1903 Krupp cannon, practically, the first Israeli SPG (there were half-tracks with six pounders but those were more tank destroyers) the documents which I’ve found are too information-rich for this, admittedly too long update, and so I will reserve much of the information to a possible future article, however a few things stood out to me, the ready-rack was composed of two rows of 8 shells, meaning 16 shells were easily available, in addition to mounts to hold four boxes of eight shells each and another mount to hold five boxes of six shells each, I have no idea what kind of boxes these would’ve been the wording is vague however it seems they were made by the IDF themselves, in total roughly 72 shells would’ve been stowed. I have seen one document refer to five being modified into the Degem Hey (with the modification being emphasized in urgency) however another saying six, either way the guns were to be received from Sherman Krupps which were turned into Sherman Degem Bets.
Also one of the requirements was to allow direct fire of APHE and “long” HE shells at a range of 650m, which is probably indicates it was to be used in a anti-armour role or as an assault gun if need be.

Anyway, I hope to visit again in the near future and find more information and publish photographs, I really thing today was a great first visit, I hope others will be as productive.