Artillery Corps

The Artillery Corps
Official Medal 2009/5769
9th Medal in the "Israel Defense Forces Combat Units" Series

The Artillery Corps serves as the "Pillar of Fire" ahead of the camp. The corps is equipped with a wide variety of sophisticated weapons and is known as one of the world's most technologically advanced field corps. Its designation is to paralyze and destroy enemy forces by exerting firepower deep inside the field of battle, in order to facilitate ground maneuvers. The Israeli Artillery Corps was established in March 1948. At the onset of the War of Independence, the forces of the Jewish “Yishuv” or Settlement as it was called were equipped with only 5 field guns. The first self-propelled cannons were purchased prior to the outbreak of the Sinai War in 1956 and during the years to follow, battle strategies were adapted for extensive mobile combat in combination with the Armored Corps. At the start of the Yom Kippur War, Israel's limited artillery was no match for the enemy's overpowering numbers and Israeli batteries fought under constant bombardment. The Israel Artillery Corps later played a significant role in launching the offensive strike and successfully executed a special operation in which two M-107 cannons neutralized the Damascus International Airport. Today, the primary function of the corps is to curtail “Hezbollah” terrorist activities and infiltration attempts along Israel's northen border, and to play an active role in the routine security of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This medal is a salute to the generations of men and women of the Israeli Artillery Corps.

Obverse: "The Artillery Corps" in English and Hebrew.

Reverse: The Artillery Corps symbol.

Edge: All medals have smooth edges.

Designer: Meir Eshel.

Engraving: USA.

Mint: Bronze and Silver medals: USA. Gold medal: ICMC Mint.