Israel: rare service pin of the 9th Palmach "Mechanized Attack Battalion" ("Gdud Pshita Memuchan"), 1948-49; weight: 3g, size: 1.5 x 3cm. Also known as the "Attack Battalion" ("Gdud Pshita") of the Palmach's Negev Brigade. Formed in June 1948 from "Negev Beasts" commando unit + 2 armoured jeep companies, motorized infantry & halftrack company; it also absorbed the "French Commando", foreign Jewish volunteers & veterans of the Palmach sea force ("PalYam"), reaching 500 men including 70 women by the autumn of 1948; commanded by Chaim Bar-Lev (future Chief of Staff). The unit fought in the Negev region; between Feb-Mar. 1949 it undertook reconnaisance missions prior to conquest of the South Negev & Eilat; after the war it was assigned frontier guard duties; in September 1949 it was assigned to 7th Armoured Brigade.