Israeli forces say goodbye to the Uzi
By Toby Harnden in Jerusalem
(Filed: 27/12/2003)


The Uzi sub-machinegun, a symbol of Israeli national identity, has been withdrawn from service by the defence forces after half a century.

Compact, simple and resistant to dust and sand, the 9mm Uzi in its machine-pistol form, was designed by a former resistance fighter, Uzi Gal.

"It was a great moment for Israel," Lt Col Gal, who died in 2002 aged 79, once said, ". . . a weapon that the Jewish people had made for themselves, and I designed it from the ground up."

Still used by the US Secret Service it was once the most widely distributed sub-machinegun in the West.

It was withdrawn from front-line service by the Israelis some 20 years ago but continued to be used in training. It will still be exported.

Why? Wimpy cartridge?

Why?
Because they now have a big pile of M16's and M4a1's.
Covey16

Not really - it's because they've adopted the Tavor 5.56mm bullpup rifle, which is available in a very compact short-barrel version.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum

Tony
There supposed to start issueing those next year,but not to all forces.Right now, most of the line soldiers have M16, those that need them have m4a1.I'm sure some unit somewhere in the IDF has Tavors, but there aren't that many arround yet.
Covey16

As far as I understand the gun was withdrawn many yeasrs ago because it was not very reliable.
I don't see anything strange in that, besides the cartridge itself is to wimpy to penetrate mostly armour and wests.

Regards H�kan

I guess you will never see the Israelies using an HK huh!!