Armored bulldozer

Most are civilian bulldozers modified by addition of vehicle armour/military equipment, but some are tanks stripped of armament and fitted with a dozer blade.

As Allied armies advanced through Europe, the armoured bulldozer was found to be too slow—there was a need for well-armoured, obstacle clearing vehicle that was fast enough to keep up with tank formations.

[citation needed] The main IDF modification is the installation of an Israeli-made armor kit, which provides armour protection to the mechanical systems and to the operator cabin.

[citation needed] During the Battle of Jenin, armoured bulldozers were used for neutralizing the roadside bombs that would line the alleys of the camp, according to Israeli Military Intelligence.

[2][full citation needed] About a dozen armoured Caterpillar D-9 bulldozers were deployed, widening alleys, clearing paths for tanks, and detonating booby traps.

[3] Lieutenant Colonel Ofek Buchris continued to employ extensive use of bulldozers, developing a method to expose IDF soldiers to less risk: first, a bulldozer would ram the corner of a house, opening a hole, and then an IDF Achzarit troop carrier would arrive to disembark troops into the house, where they would clear it of any militants found inside.

[7] During the first Gulf War the United States purchased tractor protection kits (TPK) from the Israel Military Industries (IMI) for their Caterpillar D7 bulldozers.

During the preparation to the war in Iraq in 2003 the United States Army purchased several D9 armor kits from the IDF and used them to produce similarly fortified D9s.