An Israeli armored Caterpillar D9R bulldozer. Its armor allows it to work under heavy fire.

The IDF Caterpillar D9 —nicknamed Doobi (Hebrew: דובי, for teddy bear) — is a Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The Israeli armored CAT D9 was heavily modified by the Israel Defense Forces, Israeli Military Industries and Israel Aerospace Industries to increase the survivability of the bulldozer in hostile environments and enable it to withstand heavy attacks, thus making it suitable for military combat engineering use. The IDF Caterpillar D9 is operated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Combat Engineering Corps for combat engineering and counter-terrorism operations.

Characteristics

Three IDF Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozers with slat armor parked near an IDF outpost.

The D9R, the latest generation of Caterpillar D9 bulldozers in IDF service, has a power of 405–410 horsepower (302–306 kW) and drawbar pull of 71.6 metric tons (about 702 kN). Older generations, such as D9L and D9N are still in service, mainly in the reserve forces. The D9 has a crew of two: operator and commander. It is operated by the TZAMA (In Hebrew: צמ"ה = ציוד מכני הנדסי, mechanical engineering equipment) units of the Combat Engineering Corps.

The main IDF modification is the installation of an Israeli-made vehicle armor kit which provides armor protection to the mechanical systems and to the operator cabin. 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 tonnes (17 short tons) to the production-line weight of the D9. The modified D9 bulldozers can be fitted with disparate features, such as crew-operated machine guns, smoke projectors, or grenade launchers. The Israeli armor and durable construction of the D9 makes it impervious to landmines, IED and large belly charges.[1][2]

The IDF uses the D9 for a wide variety of combat engineering tasks, such as earthworks, digging moats, mounting sand barriers, building fortifications, rescuing stuck, overturned or damaged armored fighting vehicles (along with the M88 Recovery Vehicle), clearing land mines, detonating IEDs and explosives, handling booby traps, clearing terrain obstacles and opening routes to armored fighting vehicles and infantry, as well as structures demolition, including under fire.

History

IDF D9R (4th generation armor) armored bulldozer with add-on slat armor on display, 2018.
IDF D9N (2nd generation armor) during training
IDF D9N (2nd generation armor) demolishing Hizbullah's bunkers during the Second Lebanon War
IDF D9R (3.5rd generation armor) armed with FN Mag machinegun and slat armor during IDF training

The Caterpillar D9 bulldozer was introduced in 1954 by Caterpillar Inc. and quickly found its way to civilian engineering in Israel and from there it was recruited to military service by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Earlier use

Unarmored D9 bulldozers took part in the Sinai War (1956), Six-Day War (1967), Yom Kippur War (1973) and Operation Peace for Galilee (1982).

During Yom Kippur War D9 bulldozers opened routes to Israeli forces, clearing landmines and other anti-tank obstacles. 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.

During Operation Peace for Galilee D9s were employed in breaching and paving ways through mountains and fields in the mountain landscape of southern Lebanon. 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.[3]

Between the wars, D9 bulldozers were employed in earthworks, building fortifications, opening routes and clearing explosive charges. 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.

The Second Intifada

During the Second Intifada (2000-2005), the armored D9 bulldozers gained notoriety as being an effective tool against Palestinian militants, as they were almost impervious to Palestinian weapons and withstood even RPGs and belly charges with more than 100 kilograms (220 lb) and even half a tonne of explosive. 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.[4]

Following several incidents where armed Palestinians barricaded themselves inside houses and killed soldiers attempting to breach the entries, the IDF developed "Nohal Sir Lachatz" (נוהל סיר לחץ "pressure cooker procedure") in which D9s and other engineering vehicles were used to bring them out by razing the houses; most of them surrendered because of fear of being buried alive.

During the Battle of Jenin 2002 armored D9 bulldozers cleared booby traps and improvised explosive devices, and eventually razed houses from which militants fired upon Israeli soldiers or contained possible IEDs and booby traps. A translated interview with one of the drivers was published by Gush Shalom.[5] 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.[6]

D9R and early 21st century

IDF Caterpillar D9R (4th generation armor) of the Combat Engineering School on display, notice the slat armor and the red-painted handles.
IDF D9R ((3.5rd generation armor) with slat armor) during training in the desert
IDF D9R (4th generation armor) in IDF Ground Command (Army) Yom Ha'atzmaut exhibition, 2012.
IDF D9R (4th generation armor) in IDF Ground Command (Army) Yom Ha'atzmaut exhibition, 2018.

During the early 2000s, the new D9R entered IDF service, equipped with a new generation armor designed by the IDF's MASHA (Hebrew: מש"א, lit. Restoration and Maintenance Center), Israel Aerospace Industries and Zoko Shiloovim/ITE (Caterpillar Inc. importers in Israel). 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. The slat armor proved to be effective and life-saving; its developers and installers won the IDF's Ground Command award.

The IDF also operates armored remote-controlled D9N bulldozers, called "Raam HaShachar" (Hebrew: רעם השחר, lit. "thunder of dawn") often incorrectly referred as "black thunder". The remote-controlled bulldozer is used when there is a great risk for human life, mainly when opening dangerous routes and detonating explosive charges.[7]

Armored D9R bulldozers and unmanned "Raam HaShachar" D9N bulldozers played important role in the Second Lebanon War (2006) and Operation Cast Lead (2008–2009). Both bulldozer types were involved in opening routes, clearing explosives and IEDs, building sand mounds to protect AFVs and infantry camps, and demolishing structures such as rigged buildings, HQs, warehouses, outposts, bunkers and tunnels – often concealed in civilian structures.[8] In total, 100 D9s were deployed during Operation Cast Lead.[9]

Armored D9R bulldozers took part in the effort to extinguish 2010 Mount Carmel forest fire. The armored bulldozers opened routes to fire trucks and fire fighters into the heart of the fire. They also created fire breaks by clearing shrubbery and pushing up soil barriers in order to prevent the fire from spreading. They also helped extinguish fires by burying them in dirt and soil.[10]

In 2014 the IDF Caterpillar D9 was recorded in Guinness World Records as the most armored bulldozer in the world.[11][12]

In 2019, Elbit Systems won an IMOD contract to install the Iron Fist active protection system on the IDF's armored D9 bulldozers, to give them extra protection from anti-tank missiles.[13]

Operation Protective Edge

IDF D9 armored bulldozers took major role in Operation Protective Edge (2014), both in defensive missions and offensive maneuvers. The D9s assisted other heavy equipment such as excavators and drillers in exposing and destroying cross-border underground tunnels penetrating into Israel, more than 30 of these tunnels were destroyed during the operation. The reserve mechanical engineering equipment (צמ"ה) and bulldozers battalion of the Central Command received a citation of recommendation (צל"ש, tzalash) from the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

In the first day of the operation, an IDF D9 bulldozer foiled a penetration terror attack in the beach of Zikim, killing two terrorists. Two others were killed by IDF patrol boat.

The D9s also participated in the ground offensive, opening routes to tanks and infantry forces, and demolishing structures that were used by Palestinian militants. On July 27, one D9 was hit by an anti-tank missile, killing its operator and wounding its commander. Another D9 demolished the building from which the missile was launched, killing 8 militants and capturing two more. The crew received a citation of recommendation (צל"ש, tzalash) for their action.

D9T Panda

IDF D9 Panda

In 2018 the Israel Defense Forces Combat Engineering Corps started to deploy and operate the "Panda" – a remote-controlled version of an armored Caterpillar D9T bulldozer. In 2018, Israel Aerospace Industries announced that it had signed a contract to equip the IDF with more D9T Panda dozers.[14] In 2022-2023 the Panda entered regular service with the IDF.[15]

2023 Israel–Hamas war

During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war D9 Bulldozers were deployed on the ground offensive into Gaza where it was used to clear routes for ground forces to maneuver[16] and expose shafts of Hamas combat tunnels.[17]

Models in IDF service

Different armored Caterpillar D9 generations in IDF service.
From left to right:
D9L: First generation armor, 460 hp (340 kW), drawbar pull 75 tonnes (74 long tons; 83 short tons).
D9N: Second generation armor, 375–401 hp (280–299 kW).
D9R: Third and 3.5 generation armor, 405 hp (302 kW), drawbar pull 71.6 tonnes (70.5 long tons; 78.9 short tons).
D9T: Fourth generation armor, 410–436 hp (306–325 kW), drawbar pull 71.6 tonnes (70.5 long tons; 78.9 short tons).

Criticism

Caterpillar's sales of D9 bulldozers to the Israeli military for use in the occupied Palestinian territories has long drawn criticism from human rights groups, society groups and responsible investment monitors.[18][19]

Amnesty International released a report in May 2004 on home demolition in the occupied Palestinian territories in May 2004 that noted the risk of complicity for Caterpillar in human rights violations.[20] The Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights also sent a warning letter to the company the next month about its sales of bulldozers to the Israel Defense Forces and their use to destroy Palestinian farms.[18][21] Human Rights Watch reported the same year on the systematic use of D9 bulldozers in illegal demolitions throughout the occupied territories and called on Caterpillar to suspend its sales to Israel, citing the company's own code of conduct.[22]

The pro-Palestinian group Jewish Voice for Peace and four Roman Catholic orders of nuns planned to introduce a resolution at a Caterpillar shareholder meeting subsequent to the human rights reports asking for an investigation into whether Israel's use of the company's bulldozer to destroy Palestinian homes conformed with the company's code of business conduct. In response, the pro-Israel advocacy group StandWithUs urged its members to buy Caterpillar stock and to write letters of support to the company.[23]

The US investment indexer MSCI removed Caterpillar from three of its indexes for socially responsible investments in 2012, citing the Israeli military’s use of its bulldozers in the Palestinian territories.[19][24] In 2017, documents emerged that showed Caterpillar had hired private investigators to spy on the family of Rachel Corrie, the American human rights activist who was killed by a D9 bulldozer in Rafah in early 2003.[25] In 2022, Stop the Wall called Caterpillar, alongside Hyundai Heavy Industries, JCB and Volvo Group, complicit in what they referred to as Israel's ethnic cleansing of the occupied Palestinian territories through the use of its equipment in the demolition of eight Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank.[26]

See also

References

  • Mass, Michael; Adam O'Brien. Doobi – D9 Variants. IDF Armor Series. Desert Eagle Publishing. ISBN 978-965-91635-3-3.
Citations
  1. ↑ Belly charge is a large improvised explosive device planted under the ground, intended to explode under the hull of a tank and destroy it. Large belly charges contain more than 100 kilograms (220 lb) of explosive. The IDF D9 withstood even huge belly charges of about 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) of explosive.
  2. ↑ Miracle on the Gaza border – IDF D9 armored bulldozer rolls over an explosive planted by terrorists at the security fence, escapes blast unscathed, Arutz Sheva, 8 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Buchboot, Amir (8 February 2007). "The Patent that saved Engineering Troops' Lives" (in Hebrew). nrg Maariv. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Chandler, Adam (19 November 2014). "Can Israel Really Deter Attackers by Demolishing Their Homes?". The Atlantic.
  5. ↑ "I made them a stadium in the middle of the camp" Archived 12 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine Gush Shalom, English translation of Hebrew interview in Yediot Aharonot, 31 May 2002.
  6. ↑ Rees, Matt (13 May 2002). "Inside the Battle of Jenin : Untangling Jenin's Tale". Time. Archived from the original on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  7. ↑ Yaakov Katz, 'Black Thunder' unmanned dozers to play greater role in IDF, The Jerusalem Post, 30 March 2009.
  8. ↑ Hamas exploitation of civilians as human shields: Photographic evidence, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 8 March 2008
  9. ↑ Esposito, Michele K. (Spring 2009). "Military Dimensions: The Israeli Arsenal Deployed against Gaza". Journal of Palestine Studies. University of California Press on behalf of the Institute for Palestine Studies. 38 (3): 181. doi:10.1525/jps.2009.XXXVIII.3.175. ISSN 1533-8614. JSTOR 10.1525/jps.2009.XXXVIII.3.175.
  10. ↑ Elad Shpindel, כן דובים ולא יער Archived 8 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, BaMachane (IDF Magazine), 9 December 2010
  11. ↑ Guinness Book of Records, 2014 edition, pages 162–163.
  12. ↑ Article in Israel HaYom, 3 January 2014 (in Hebrew).
  13. ↑ "You are being redirected..."
  14. ↑ IAI: English ,Hebrew, 2019
  15. ↑ https://www.idf.il/en/articles/2023/innovation-on-the-modern-battlefield-meet-the-idf-s-new-panda-bulldozer/
  16. ↑ "Inside a Gaza bedroom, soldiers searching for tunnels find how low Hamas can go". Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  17. ↑ Yishai, Ron Ben (5 November 2023). "Between machine guns and rocket launchers, IDF soldiers operate in captured Hamas strongholds in Gaza". Ynetnews. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  18. 1 2 "The UN vs. Caterpillar". Haaretz. 16 June 2004.
  19. 1 2 "Caterpillar bulldozed off investment list because of sales to Israeli army". The Times of Israel.
  20. ↑ "Israel and the Occupied Territories Under the rubble: House demolition and destruction of land and property" (PDF). Amnesty International.
  21. ↑ "US bulldozer firm in Mid-East row". BBC. 15 June 2004.
  22. ↑ "Israel: Caterpillar Should Suspend Bulldozer Sales". Human Rights Watch. 21 November 2004.
  23. ↑ Watanabe, Teresa (13 April 2005). "Jews Target Caterpillar Shareholder Effort". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  24. ↑ "Caterpillar cut from social index over Israel". Al Jazeera.
  25. ↑ "Report: Caterpillar Hired Intelligence Firm to Spy on Rachel Corrie's Family, Leaked Documents Reveal". Haaretz.
  26. ↑ "NGO says Volvo Group, JCB Machinery, Caterpillar, and Hyundai Heavy Industries are complicit in apartheid Israel". Wafa.
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