The origins of Israel’s Armored Corps can be traced to the Armored Vehicle Service, known by its Hebrew acronym SHAMASH, which was established by Yitzhak Sadeh in February 1948, before the declaration of the State of Israel. At the time, the Jewish forces had no actual tanks. Armored vehicles were built in civilian workshops using trucks, command cars and vehicles purchased from British Army surplus. Due to a shortage of steel, some were protected with layers of sheet metal and wood, earning them the nickname “sandwich armored vehicles.”

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At the beginning of Israel’s War of Independence, these armored vehicles were used primarily to defend communities and escort convoys attempting to break through to Jerusalem. Later, with the establishment of the Israel Defense Forces, the 7th and 8th Brigades were formed, including the 82nd Battalion, the IDF’s first tank battalion. The force relied on a limited number of Sherman, Cromwell and Hotchkiss tanks, as well as soldiers who came from different countries, spoke different languages and brought with them a variety of military traditions.

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During Operations Ben Nun A and B, the 7th Brigade launched determined assaults on the Latrun area in an effort to open the road to Jerusalem. Latrun was not captured, but the repeated attacks pinned the Jordanian forces to their positions and helped open an alternative route to Jerusalem: the Burma Road.

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During Operation Dani, the 8th Brigade played a central role in the capture of Lod, Ramla and Lod Airport, and in widening the corridor to Jerusalem. Armored forces later took part in Operations Yoav, Hiram and Horev. Their success in these later operations demonstrated the gradual transformation of the armored force from one intended to protect convoys into an offensive force capable of breaking through enemy lines, maneuvering and achieving decisive results.​​