D9 Dozer Rails Weight Drivers Was Published

Due to the increasing threat of shaped charge anti-tank rockets and anti-tank missile, the IDF introduced in 2005 a slat armor, installed in large numbers on the IDF D9R dozers in 2006.

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The IDF Caterpillar D9 is operated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Combat Engineering Corps for combat engineering and counter-terrorism operations.

Older generations, such as D9L and D9N are still in service, mainly in the reserve forces.

It is operated by the TZAMA (In Hebrew:, mechanical engineering equipment) units of the Combat Engineering Corps.

The operator and commander are protected inside an armored cabin (the cockpit), with bulletproof glass windows to protect against bombs, machine guns, and sniper fire.

The IDF also developed and installed slat armor add-on to deflect rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) rounds.

The fitted armor package adds roughly 15 additional tons to the production-line weight of the D9.

In the southern front, D9s towed bridges and breaching equipment and helped General Ariel Sharon to cross the Suez Canal and determine the war with Egypt.

The D9s razed the sand barrier around the canal and cleared mines near it.

In the northern front, the D9 was the first motorized vehicle to reach the summit of Mount Hermon as it paved the way for IDF Engineering Corps, Golani Brigade and Paratroopers Brigade to claim the summit and prevent it from falling into the hands of Syria.

The D9s also cleared minefields and explosive belly charges set on the main routes by Syrian army and Palestinian insurgents.

Because the D9 served as front-line tools, the IDF developed armor kits to protect the lives of the soldiers operating them.

During the late 1980s Israeli-made armor was installed on the D9L bulldozers that were in IDF service.

Improved armor kits were designed and installed on the D9N bulldozers during the 1990s.

Therefore, they were used to open safe routes to IDF forces and detonate explosive charges planted by Palestinian militants.

The bulldozers were used extensively to clear shrubbery and structures which were used as cover for Palestinian attacks.

In addition they razed houses of families of suicide bombers.

D9 Dozer Rails Weight Drivers Was Published

A translated interview with one of the drivers was published by Gush Shalom.

After the deadly ambush in which 13 soldiers were killed, D9 bulldozers razed the center of the camp and forced the remaining Palestinian fighters to surrender, thus finishing the battle with an Israeli victory.

Restoration and Maintenance Center), Israel Aerospace Industries and Zoko Shiloovim ITE (Caterpillar Inc.