▁break through ▁in ▁how ▁the ▁army ▁approached ▁the ▁character ▁of ▁arm ored ▁war fare . ▁, ▁the ▁brig ade ▁is ▁transition ing ▁from ▁Mer k ava ▁ 2 ▁t anks ▁to ▁Mer k ava ▁ 4 ▁t anks . ▁▁ 1 8 8 th ▁" Bar ak " ▁Arm or ▁Brigade ▁Begin ning ▁with ▁the ▁Six - Day ▁War , ▁the ▁brig ade ▁participated ▁in ▁all ▁of ▁Israel ’ s ▁wars . ▁During ▁the ▁Y om ▁K ipp ur ▁War , ▁the ▁brig ade ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁line ▁of ▁defense ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁days ▁of ▁the ▁war ▁in ▁the ▁Southern ▁Gol an , ▁and ▁saw ▁almost ▁all ▁of ▁its ▁officers ▁killed ▁in ▁action . ▁It ▁was ▁the ▁last ▁arm ored ▁brig ade ▁to ▁use ▁the ▁Cent ur ion ▁tank , ▁converting ▁to ▁Mer k ava ▁ 3 ▁t anks ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 . ▁▁ 1 6 2 nd ▁" U tz vat ▁Ha Pl ada " ▁Arm or ▁Division ▁This ▁division ▁is ▁sub ordin ated ▁to ▁Southern ▁Command . ▁It ▁includes ▁the ▁ 4 0 1 st ▁Arm or ▁Brigade : ▁▁ 4 0 1 st ▁" I ' kv ot ▁Ha - Bar zel " ▁Arm or ▁Brigade ▁This ▁brig ade ▁was ▁created ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 8 ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁control ▁the ▁S uez ▁Canal ▁line . ▁During ▁the ▁Y om ▁K ipp ur ▁War , ▁it ▁faced ▁the ▁first ▁line ▁of ▁attack ▁in ▁the ▁canal ▁and ▁suffered ▁heavy ▁losses . ▁During ▁the ▁ 1 9 8