In 1947, while the British Mandate still ruled Palestine, Yaakov (Kuba) Grinshlag - pioneer of agricultural mechanization in the country, owner of the “Agricultural Engineering Company for Palestine and Transjordan,” and an active member of the Haganah - traveled to the United States. Encouraged by the Haganah’s procurement officers, he secretly explored the possibility of acquiring surplus U.S. Army half-tracks, two years after World War II.

As the exclusive Israeli importer of International Harvester (IH) - which had produced half-tracks during the war - Grinshlag used his close ties with IH executives to negotiate a covert plan that would bypass British restrictions on importing weapons. It was agreed to disguise 38 half-tracks as agricultural tractors.

The vehicles were refurbished, painted IH’s red tractor color, marked with INTERNATIONAL IH, and fitted with rear work lights like those on tractors. They were then packed in large wooden crates, similar to how combine harvesters were shipped.

Upon arrival at the Port of Haifa, Jewish stevedores - members of the Haganah - handled the unloading. When a British-appointed Arab inspector noticed one crate showing a suspicious vehicle, he was discreetly bribed, allowing the entire shipment to be transferred safely to the company’s workshops.

These half-tracks became the first used in the 1948 War of Independence, serving in the four raiding battalions:

• 9^th Battalion, Negev Brigade (Haim Bar-Lev)
• 19^th Battalion (Meir Amit)
• 79^th Battalion (Haim Laskov)
• 89^th Battalion (Moshe Dayan)

After the British withdrawal and the declaration of the State of Israel, additional weapons, half-tracks, tanks, and aircraft were brought into the country.

Based on the testimony of Yaakov (Kuba) Grinshlag, verified by his son Alexander.