ITEM FOR DCI DISCUSSION WITH SECDEF WEINBERGER DURING 18 JUNE 1982 BREAKFAST MEETING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00049R001603950012-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2007
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: June 18, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/08/30: CIA-RDP84B00049ROO1603950012-0
Approved For Release 2007/08/30: CIA-RDP84B00049ROO1603950012-0
 Approved For Release 2007/08/30: CIA-RDP84B00049R001603950012-0 ,
WASHINGTON POST 12 June 1982 Pg. 5
Nulnerable,
Syria's SovietBui1t Tanks Seen
By Michael Getler
WasUh gton Poatstart Writer
The list of made-in-Moscow
weapons that have become casu-
alties of the fighting in Lebanon
appears to be growing.
Yesterday, Israeli Defense Min- TANKS n i ni,P rI
rae is manage to recover the ve-
ister Ariel Sharon announced ths.. hicles and let American specialists
new Israeli-made Merkava tanks inspect them. The Israelis ca
had knocked out nine of the So- p'
tured hundreds of older Soviet
viet Union's la?~st T72 medium T62 tanks during the 1973 Middle
forces. be es with Syrian East war, and they provided valu-
The T72 is the latest Soviet able information for allies.
main battle tank. Several thou- Soviet-built Mig 21 and Mig 23
jet fighters and SAM-2 and SAME
sand are in service with Soviet
forces and smaller surface-to-air missiles used by the
numbers are in Syrians also were knocked out in
service with Soviet allies in East- Syr large numbers, according Europe and other regions, in- reports' that are generally g to Israeli
arumy g about 400 in the Syrian firmed here, during the six days of
Sharon claimed that the battle - fighting.
showed the supremacy, of the
Merkava, which is equipped with
an American 105-mm. gun, "over
what had been thought of as the
best tank in existence," meaning
the T72.
American specialists said it was
far too early to evaluate such a
claim because the circumstances
of the battle were not known. The
extent of training of the Syrian
crews and of 'Israeli losses also
were not known here.
Nevertieless; this is belie% ed to
be the first combat test of the
T72, and specialists. said analysis
of the results.. could- be .especially.
important for NATO forces. The
T72 is supposed to have improved
armor to protect it.
The loss of these tanks just be-
fore the cease-fire between Israel
and Syria went into effect yester-
day could become a prize for west-
ern intelligence agencies if the Is-
Approved For Release 2007/08/30: CIA-RDP84B00049ROO1603950012-0