Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) Vehicles (1): The LF vehicles.

A set of classical photos of vehicles used during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) by the Lebanese Forces armed militia:

A Keohwa M-5GA1 w/m40 recoilless rifle of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Keohwa M-5GA1 w/m40 recoilless rifle of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Keohwa M-5GA1 w/m40 recoilless rifle of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M606A2 w/m40 recoilless rifle of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Keohwa M-5GA1 w/MILAN ATGM of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Land Rover Series III LWB of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Land Rover Series III LWB of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M151A2 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M151A2 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M325 patrol w/Type 63 MRL of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M325 Patrol w/ZPU-2 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An Unimog 406 w/ZPU-4 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An Unimog 406 w/ZPU-4 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An Unimog 406 w/ZPU-4 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

Faun L912/21-MUN trucks of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M3 Half-track of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

M5 120mm mortar Half-tracks of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M3 90mm DEFA Half-track of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A BTR-152 w/ZU-23-2 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A BTR-152 recovery vehicle of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113A1 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113A1 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

M113A1 APCs of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

M113A1 APCs of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113A1 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113A1 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

M113A1 APCs of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113A1 w/M40 106mm recoilless rifle of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113A1 w/ZU-23-2 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An M113A1 w/MILAN ATGM of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Sherman M50 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Sherman M50 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Sherman M50 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Sherman M50 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Sherman M50 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Sherman M50 and an M113 APC of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Sherman M50 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Sherman M50 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Sherman M50 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

Sherman M50 tanks of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A AML-90 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A T-54-3 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A T-54A of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A T-54A of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A T-54A of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A T-54A of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A T-54A of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A T-54A of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

What appears to be a Tiran-54 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Tiran-54 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

Tiran-54 and T-54 tanksof the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Tiran-54 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Tiran-54 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Tiran-54 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Tiran-54 of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A Tiran-54 and a T-54A of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

Tiran-54 and T-55 tanks of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

Tiran-54 and T-55 tanks of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

Tiran-54 and T-55 tanks of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

Tiran-54 and T-55 tanks of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

T-54 and T-55 tanks of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A T-55 tank of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A T-55 tank of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A VT-55A tank of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A 130mm M-46 gun of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A 122mm M-30 howitzer of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

A 155mm Modele 50 howitzer of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

An APRA-40 MRLS of the Lebanese Forces armed militia.

More photos can be found on this link

Tank Memorial in Lebanon (1): Sherman Firefly

The Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly tank memorial in the city of Tyre in 1996.

The Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly tank memorial in the city of Tyre in 2006.

The Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly tank memorial in the city of Tyre in 2008.

Sherman Firefly in Lebanon

A Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly during clashes in Tripoli in June 1958.

A Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly during clashes in Tripoli in June 1958.

A Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly during clashes in Tripoli in June 1958.

A Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly during clashes in Tripoli in June 1958.

A Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly during clashes in Tripoli in June 1958.

A Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly in the late 1950s.

Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly tanks during a military parade in the late 1950s. Two types of Sherman Firefly can be noticed: the standard Firefly and the the Sherman Firefly with M4A2 engine deck and cast driver’s hood. the tank transporter is a French made Willème tank transporter.

A Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly in the early 1970s.

Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly tanks in Tyre barracks in 1978.

Remnants of Lebanese Army Sherman Firefly tanks in Kleyate airfield, 2012. (photo credits H.Moussaoui)

Mleeta Memorial (1): The Remnants

At a distance of 25km from Sidon , South Lebanon, and at 1050 meters above sea level, in a area overlooking most  of the southern region, was created for about now more than a year a memorial of resistance. The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, terrorists for some, heroes for others, decided to build “Resistance Tourist Landmark”.

The site is divided into four main parts: The Abyss, The Path, The Weaponry and The Tower. We will emphasis on the Abyss first then the Weaponry.

The Abyss is a place with a vortex shape where war trophies have been put in an artistic manner to represent victory. The vehicles are remnants of the old South Lebanese Army militia in its biggest part.

Some of these vehicles are shown below:

The remains of a Makmat 160mm

An M50 APC, the Soltam M60 160mm mortar doesn't belong to that Sherman but to the Makmat placed next to it.

Another view of the Makmat 160mm

Other views of the same M50 APC

The remains of a Tiran 55

A very realistic Mock up of a Merkava IV

The remains of a Bardehlas

The remains of a Kasman

The remains of an M151A2 MUTT

The remains of an M3 based Half-track

The remains of an M5/M9 based half-track

The remains of an uparmored M809 series based truck.

The remains of an Obusier de 155mm Modèle 50

Ambulance Tank

An SLA militia GMC CCKW in Southern Lebanon, 1980.

A Sherman Ambutank HVSS of the SLA militia next to the GMC truck, South Lebanon 1980.

Another capture of the same Sherman Ambutank. These vehicles, the GMC CCKW, the Ambutank and the M50 shown next, seem to have been painted with the standard Lebanese Army Pale Stone color of the 1970s

A Pale Stone SLA militia M50 parked next to the Ambutank.

The next M50 is painted in standard SLA Blue color.

 

 

Thanks to Mathieu.

Palestinian Armor

Still in 1982 with a magnificient picture coming from a photo album of French Marine veterans who served in Lebanon back in those days:

A derelict PLO M-50 Sherman found by French Marine troops in 1982 while exploring the ruins of Beirut Stadium. This tank is one of the two M-50 Shermans photographically certified to be used by the Palestinians to this date. Both Shermans have been discovered in Beirut Stadium, this one and another one in a worst shape.

 

A frontal view of the second disabled PLO M-50 Sherman (US DoD).

Special Sherman

Two captures of an M50 Sherman APC belonging to the South Lebanese Army militia, Late 80s. (Thanks Mathieu)