Sam Katz was born in 1963, and joined the Israeli Defence Forces in 1981. He served in a dual capacity in the Heyl Hayam during the conflict in Lebanon in 1982, his particular assignments allowing him to gather first-hand impressions of two different major aspects of IDF operations. He is the co-author of several books on the IDF and related Middle Eastern topics. His particular interest lies in the development of IDF elite and counter-terrorist units. He is married, and lives in New York. Peter Sarson has produced graphic cutaways for many armoured vehicle publications, and is regarded as one of the world’s great illustrators of military vehicles. Peter lives and works in Dorset.

• Introduction BackgroundThe Chariot Programme The Blue and White MerkavaBaptism of Fire in the LebanonThe Mk II and III'sMk IV and Beyond