THE WAR THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

THE WAR THAT CHANGED THE WORLD The 1973 Arab-Israeli War OLLI Fall 2017, Week 4 Frank Chadwick THE HEIGHTS OF COURAGE, THE VALLEY OF TEARS The Syrian Offensive against the Golan October 6-10, 1973

Additional Slide for Last Week Strength Summary of the Beligerants Category Israel Egypt Syria Manpower 310,000 315,000 140,000 Tanks 2,000 2,200 1,820 ATGM 0 850 359 APCs 4,500 2,400 1,300 Artillery 570 1,200 655 Aircraft 360 598 278 SAMs 75 880 360 AA guns 1,000 2,750 1,000

The Syrian Offensive Against The Golan The Battlefield: Terrain on the Golan Heights The Israeli Defenses Syrian forces and plan of attack Saturday Afternoon, October 6 Night, October 6-7 Sunday Morning, October 7 Sunday Afternoon, October 7 Monday, October 8 Tuesday, October 9

Terrain on the Golan Northern end of the Great Rift Valley Mount Hermon Elevation Volcanic Tels Lava fields The Kuneitra Gap Escarpment Wooded areas Water barriers Purple Line Anti-tank ditch

Mount Hermon Looking from Israel across the Hula Valley

The Kuneitra Gap Tel el Mahafi (Booster Ridge)

The Kuneitra Gap Looking east from the Israeli tank ramp

The Israeli Defenses The standing defenses on the Golan consisted of the following troops: The 188 th Barak Armored Brigade with only two tank battalions (about 75 tanks) Two regular army infantry battalions manning the eleven forward bunkers (one paratrooper battalion in the south, one battalion of the Golani Brigade in the north). Three battalions of artillery Shortly before the war they were reinforced with: 7 th Armored Brigade with two tank and one mechanized infantry battalions One additional tank battalion formed from staff and students of the Armor School One additional battalion of artillery formed from staff and students of the Artillery School. Total Strength on the Golan Five tank battalions (180 tanks, all Centurions, or Sh ot Kal) Three infantry battalions (one regular infantry, one parachute, one mechanized) Four artillery battalions (48 guns)

Israeli Reserves Sent To The Golan Additional Reserves sent October 7 and 8 3 armored brigades (300 tanks, all Centurion or Sh ot) 3 mechanized brigades (130 tanks, all Shermans) 1 reserve tank battalion of Barak Brigade (35 Centurions or Sh ot Kal) 1 infantry brigade 1 parachute brigade 3 artillery brigade equivalents (252 guns) Total Strength Committed to the Golan (regulars and reserves) 650 tanks (520 Centurions, 130 Shermans) 14 battalions of infantry (including paratroopers and mechanized) 300 guns

ISRAELI FORCES: Detailed Order of Battle 36 st Armored Division [MG Rafael Raful Eitan] Initial Troops: 7 th, 188 th Barak: Armored Brigades Arriving 7/8 October: 1 st Golani Infantry Brigade, 212 th Artillery Regiment 146 th Armored Division [MG Moshe Musa Peled] (Oct 7/8) 205 th Armored Brigades, 4 th Kirvati, 670 th Mechanized Brigades, 213 th Artillery Regiment 210 th Armored Division [MG Dan Laner] (October 6-8) 179 th, 679 th Armored Brigades, 9 th Oded Mechanized Brigade, 282 nd Artillery Regiment Separate Brigade 317 th Khgitivat Parachute Brigade (October 7/8)

Syrian Forces Total strength: 27 maneuver brigades, plus artillery 11 armored brigades (1100 tanks, 600 T-55, 500 T-62) (10 committed) 6 mechanized infantry brigades (200 tanks, all T-54) (4 committed) 8 infantry brigades (250 tanks, all T-34) (6 committed) 2 parachute/commando brigades (both committed) 7 artillery brigades (655 guns) (all committed) Grouped as: 3 infantry divisions 2 Armored Divisions 13 Separate Maneuver Brigades (7 armored, 2 para/commando, 2 mechanized, 2 infantry)

Syrian T-34 tank

SYRIAN FORCES: Detailed Order of Battle 1 st Armored Division [COL Tewfiq Jehani] 76 th, 91 st Armored Brigades, 58 th Mechanized Brigade, 64 th Artillery Brigade 3 rd Armored Division [BG Mustafa Sharba] 65 th, 81 st Armored Brigades, 15 th Mechanized Brigade, 13 th Artillery Brigade 5th Infantry Division [BG Ali Aslan] 61 st, 112 th Infantry Brigades, 132 nd Mechanized Brigade, 50 th Artillery Brigade 56 th and 47 th Armored Brigades attached during the war. 7 th Infantry Division [BG Omar Abrash] 68 th, 85 th Infantry Brigades, 121 st Mechanized Brigade, 70 th Artillery Brigade Moroccan brigade attached during the war. 78 th Armored Brigade attached during the war. 9 th Infantry Division [COL Hassan Tourkmani] 33 rd, 52 nd Infantry Brigades, 89 th Artillery Brigade 43 rd and 51 st Armored Brigades attached during the war. Separate Brigades (maneuver brigades which saw combat) 70 th Presidential (or Assad) Guard Armored Brigade [COL Rifat Assad] Para-Commando Group 1 st Commando Group

Force Ratios Correlation of Forces at the start of the war (Syrian forward echelon versus Israeli Golan garrison) Tanks: 800 Syria vs 180 Israeli (4.4 to 1) Infantry: 30 Syrian battalions vs 3 Israeli (10 to 1) Artillery: 480 Syrian guns vs 48 Israeli (10 to 1) Correlation of Forces after both sides had committed their reserves Tanks: 1300 Syrian vs 650 Israeli (2 to 1) Infantry: 44 Syrian battalions vs 14 Israeli (3.1 to 1) Artillery: 655 Syrian guns vs 300 Israeli (2.2 to 1)

THE SYRIAN PLAN The three infantry divisions, (reinforced with a total of five separate armored brigades) will attack on multiple axes to drive to the escarpment overlooking the Jordan River and seize the access roads. The parachute/commando group will capture the Israeli positions on Mount Hermon by vertical envelopment. The remaining commando battalions will conduct airmobile assaults to seize the key bridges across the Jordan River to delay Israeli reserves. (This element of the plan was scrapped at the last minute due to the change in start time.) The two armored divisions will remain in deep reserve. They will be available to reinforce the forward troops if the offensive seems in danger of stalling but ideally will remain uncommitted to guard against an Israeli counterattack toward Damascus.

Israeli Deployment on the Golan *188 th Brigade initially spread along front, then takes charge of south *7 th Brigade initially in reserve, then takes charge of north Syrian Deployment on the Golan *5 th Infantry Division (best equipped and trained) in south *7 th Division in north (with Moroccan battalion) *9 th Division in center (no mechanized brigade) *One separate armored brigade attached to each, two more in immediate reserve in south *1 st and 3 rd Armored Divisions in reserve in north

DAY ONE: Saturday, October 6 Offensive began at 2:00 PM with massive artillery barrage. Engineers moved forward to open gaps through minefields and construct crossing over the anti-tank ditch. Infantry and tanks advance across the front. By about 5:00 PM the Syrian attack appears to stall. Then six fresh brigades (two in north, four in south) are thrown in along the front. As darkness falls, Syrian tanks continue to advance using infrared spotlights.

Syrian tanks knocked out crossing the anti-tank ditch

DIGRESSION: The Unusual Nature of Israeli Battalions Battalion: Three to four companies. Israeli battalions are 35 tanks or 500-700 infantry. Israeli battalions took heavy losses in the field but kept operating, so long as the battalion commander was still able to carry on, or another senior officer was able to take over. If an Israeli battalion commander was killed or seriously wounded and no replacement was available, the battalion was often disbanded, and its remaining elements absorbed by other units.

The Unusual Nature of Israeli Battalions (2) Two Examples 82 nd Tank Battalion (LTC Haim Barak) Came to Golan as a component of 7 th Armored Brigade Transferred to 188 th Barak Brigade, 6 October One company destroyed Night 6/7 October. LTC Barak wounded in counterattack 7 October. No replacement available. Remaining two companies retreated north and were absorbed by other battalions of 7 th Brigade to replace losses. 266 th Tank Battalion (LTC Uzi Mor) Came to Golan evening of 6 October, advanced element 179 th Armored Brigade LTC Mor seriously wounded leading one company of the battalion, by tank ambush about midnight. No replacement available. Remaining and still-arriving elements of battalion absorbed by other ad hoc units and the arriving 679 th Armored Brigade.

NIGHT: October 6-7 The Syrian armor continued to advance during the night, using infrared vision devices. Syrians had not been trained in night combat, nor had their plan anticipated a night advance, but it was necessitated by the altered start time. Both sides struggled to cope with night combat. Neither were really prepared for it. Both sides lost armor in unexpected closerange night combat. First Israeli reserves (Uzi Mor s 266 th Tank Battalion) arrived Nafakh 10:30 PM, in action by 11:00 PM. Ambushed and nearly destroyed. Other small detachments of arriving reservists harass and delay Syrian advance. Syrian advance halts along the line about midnight. Syrian 1st Armored Division committed in south at night to reinforce the drive in the morning, moves forward into position for daylight attack on Nafakh.

DAY TWO: Sunday Morning, October 7 Israeli forces still fighting on the Golan at sunrise: 36 th Armored Division [MG Rafael Raful Eitan] *7 th Armored Brigade [COL Avigdor Yanush Ben-Gal] (three Centurion/Shot battalions, one mechanized battalion) *82 nd Tank Battalion/188 th Brigade near Kuneitra (remnants absorbed by 7 th Brigade that afternoon) * 52 nd Tank Battalion (one company/188 th Brigade) on Tel Faris in far south. *Scratch force (Zwicka Force) of reservists south of Nafakh under COL Yitzhak Ben-Shoham, CO of 188 th Barak Brigade. Reserve assembly points along the escarpment, especially on the Nafakh Road, also served as rallying points for Israeli units driven back. Reassembled small platoon-sized (3 tanks) combat groups under an officer and sent them forward again.

Israeli straggler collection point

DAY TWO: Sunday Morning, October 7 Israeli reserves arriving: 210 th Armored Division [MG Dan Laner] *Elements, 1 st Golani Infantry Brigade (36 th Division) *679 th Armored Brigade [COL Ori Orr] *Rest of 179 th Brigade [COL Ran Sarig] (two remaining Centurion/Shot tank battalions) *4 th Kirvati Mechanized Brigade [COL Yaakov Fefer Hadar] (two mechanized battalions, one Sherman tank battalion) *Reserve Centurion/Shot tank battalion of 188 th Barak brigade

Israeli Reserves Arriving

DAY TWO: Sunday Afternoon, October 7 7 th Brigade sector: Massive attack by two armored, one mechanized brigade through Kuneitra Gap. Attack stopped, 130 Syrian tanks knocked out. The Valley of Tears. Central Sector: *About noon, COL Ben-Shoham killed, Zwika Force overwhelmed. Arriving battalion of 679 th Brigade attacks south, driven back with heavy casualties. *Ori Orr (679 th Brigade) turns forward troops back, attacks toward Nafakh. Last arriving elements of the brigade drive up onto the heights, attack from west. Finally break attack of 1 st Armored Division. *Hofi, Israeli front commander: Ori saved us today. *Ron Sarig s 179 th Armored Brigade reinforced with armored recon battalion. Southern Sector: *9 th Oded Mechanized Brigade arrives Eli Al. *52 nd Tank Battalion withdraws from Tel Faris at nightfall.

Israeli Centurion (or Shot K al) most common Israeli tank on the Golan

DAY THREE: Monday, October 8 Arriving Israeli Reserves: 317 th Parachute Brigade [COL Haim Nadel] in north 146 th Armored Division [MG Moshe Musa Peled] one third of tanks broken down on the way *205 th Armored Brigade [COL Josef Yosi Dzhapka Peled] (3 older Centurion/Shot battalions *670 th Mechanized Brigade [COL Gideon Gordon) (1 Sherman tank battalion, 2 mechanized battalions) 4 th and 9 th Mechanized Brigades added to division. Becomes responsible for major counterattack in the south. North: Syrian Assad Guard arrives. Sunset, 7 th Division reinforced by both armored brigades of 3 rd Armored Division. Attack postponed when BG Omar Abrash killed by artillery fire Center: 1 st Syrian Armored Division renews drive on Nafakh. Orr s 679 th brigade blocks with 60 tanks. Sarig s 179 th brigade pushes forward several kilometers. South: Morning, 47 th Armored Brigade breaks

Israeli M-50 Sherman Tank

Israeli broken down Sherman tank under tow

DAY FOUR: Tuesday, October 9 North: Syrian Attack against 7 th Brigade *Dawn: heaviest barrage so far, artillery and MiG-17s *3 rd Armored Division hits Booster Ridge, backed up by Assad Guard to north *Commandoes land northwest of Kuneitra *Armored School tank battalion destroyed in north, *7 th Brigade down to 15 tanks, running out of ammunition *TF Ben-Hanan ( Barak Battalion ) arrives with 11 tanks, Syrians fall back *260 knocked out Syrian tanks in the Valley of Tears Center: Renewed attack. 679 th Brigade stops 1 st Armored Division, counterattacks and drives south and east. South: Peded s Division advances. Pushes 5 th Division back, reached Purple Line near Rafid. Ends with 70 operational tanks. (Back up to 200 by next morning) Syrians begin wholesale withdrawal across the Purple Line

LTCs Ben-Hanan and Kahalani ( Barak and 77 th Tank Battalions)

Knocked out Syrian tanks in the Valley of Tears

DAY FIVE: Wednesday, October 10 Syrians complete withdrawal across the Purple Line Begin reorganizing for defense against Israeli counteroffensive Israelis close up to the Purple Line 7 th Brigade rests and regroups in the north Last pockets of resistance eliminated in the south. Over 800 Syrian tanks left behind Map shows approximate situation at end of the day. The question for the Israelis now was whether to stop on the fortifications of the Purple Line and shift one armored division to the Sinai, or to continue the drive on Damascus. It would take two to four days to shift a complete division to the Sinai. Prime Minister Meir decided that if a ceasefire was imposed during that time, the political results would be disastrous for Israelis since the Egyptian territorial gains in the Sinai would have to counter-balancing Israeli gains on the Golan. Decision made to attack toward Damascus on the following morning (Thursday, 11 October).

Knocked out Syrian armored vehicles

And Israeli

Next Week Operation Badr The Egyptian Offensive in the Sinai October 6-14, 1973