Pereh tank destroyer. Israel hid its existence for 30 years

One of the unusual weapons developed for the Israeli army is the Pereh tank destroyer. In order to conceal its existence, the Jews made it resemble an old tank. This deception was not revealed for the next 30 years. What is Pereh and what makes this design so unique?

The Pereh is a tank destroyer rocket system developed in Israel. It was constructed using the hull and turret of an old American M48 tank and was designed to appear identical to this machine at first glance. The secret was kept for nearly 30 years.

The Pereh tank destroyer was created as a result of the experiences of the Yom Kippur War in 1976, when the armored weapons of Egypt and Syria attacking Israel caused a very serious problem for the IDF (Israel Defence Forces).

The surprise achieved by the attackers translated into a real threat to the existence of Israel. The scale of the battles is vividly evidenced by the losses suffered - the opponents then destroyed approximately 1000 Israeli tanks.

Based on these experiences, Israel began developing a new generation of anti-tank missiles – the later Spike-NLOS, as well as a mobile, armored launcher designed for it. Most tank destroyers were based on light armored carriers or IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles), making them sensitive to shelling.

Israel chose a different solution and opted for a design using a tank chassis - thus in the mid-80s, the Pereh tank destroyer was born. At first glance, the destroyer is indistinguishable from the tank whose chassis it uses, although the front of the hull has been reinforced with additional armor.

Pereh also has a tower similar to that of the M48. Instead of a cannon, a dummy was placed in it, and the free space is occupied by a 12-guide anti-tank missile launcher. In the marching position, the launcher is not visible, but during the fight, the destroyer crew raises it above the tank tower.

The tower also contains a retractable optoelectronic system and radar, which helps in target acquisition, which is essential given the range of the missiles. Some sources suggest that it can be up to about 15.5 miles, allowing attack on targets that are invisible at the time of firing to the crew of the destroyer.

The existence of Pereh for nearly 30 years was a mystery, even though it participated in numerous armed conflicts during this time. The first official picture of this weapon appeared - without a caption - in 2014. The following year, Israel confirmed its existence, and in 2017 Pereh was retired from service.

Some experts suggest that Israel has not given up this type of weapon. The successor to the Pereh is - or already is - a tank destroyer using the hull of the Merkava tank.