THE WAR THAT CHANGED THE WORLD The 1973 Arab-Israeli War OLLI Fall 2017, Week 6 Frank Chadwick INTO AFRICA The Israeli Counteroffensive in the Sinai October 15-22, or 24 or 28, 1973
BUT FIRST The Much-Neglected (By Frank) Air War Why Does Frank Ignore it? Air Power was an important, but not decisive, component of the war Frank s Biases about (but not against) Air Power No conventional war in the last 100 years has been won in the face of enemy air supremacy Air Supremacy: Ability to completely prevent enemy effective air operations and conduct own air operations without interference by the enemy In order to win a conventional war, you must be able to at least contest enemy air supremacy If you can contest enemy air supremacy, the war will be decided on the ground. But a word about the heartbreak of ADS (Airpower Derangement Syndrome)
The Air Forces Israeli Air Force Egyptian Air Force Syrian Air Force Opposing Plans General Course of Operations The Air War
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) Operational Strength: 360 front line combat aircraft 140 F-4 Phantom (Fighter Ground Attack) 150 A-4 Skyhawk (Ground Attack) 50 Mirage (Fighter Ground Attack) 12 Super Mystère (Fighter Ground Attack) 8 Vautour (Light Bomber) Strengths Best pilots in the Middle East, and among the best in the world Clearly superior aircraft, with precision air-to-ground munitions (Bullpup, Maverick) Very high sortie rate (about three times the Arab sortie rate) Weaknesses No immediate solution to the enemy SAM threat, particularly the SA-6 Gainful
The Egyptian Air Force Operational Strength: 598 front line combat aircraft 160 MiG-21 (Air Superiority Fighter) 60 MiG-19 (Fighter Ground Attack) 200 MiG-17 (Fighter Ground Attack) 130 Su-7 (Ground Attack) 18 Tu-16 (Bomber) 30 Il-28 (Bomber) Strengths Numbers SAM system gave them security from airfield attacks Weaknesses Pilot losses in 1967 and subsequent rapid expansion meant inferior pilot skills Low sortie rate due to maintenance-intensive aircraft
The Syrian Air Force Operational Strength: 275 front line combat aircraft 110 MiG-21 (Air Superiority Fighter) 120 MiG-17 (Fighter Ground Attack) 45 Su-7 (Ground Attack) Strengths Israelis forced to split attention between two fronts SAM system gave them security from airfield attacks Weaknesses Rapid expansion meant inferior pilot skills Low sortie rate due to maintenance-intensive aircraft
Opposing Plans Israel Conduct massive attack on SAM sites at start of war to neutralize threat (Conduct long-range sling bombing attacks on Egyptian troop concentrations) Neutralize the Arab Air Forces with intensive attacks on airfields Follow up with ground attacks against attacking enemy ground forces Plow the road for the Israeli counteroffensives Egypt and Syria Be prepared to strike outside the limit of the SAM umbrella Israeli forward airfields Israeli forward headquarters In support of limited offensive thrusts beyond the limit of the SAM umbrella Preserve the air force as a fleet in being.
Course of Operations Initial Israeli Frustrations Intelligence failure and diplomatic pressure from USA prevented preemptive attack on SAM network. Attempt to launch attack on Egyptian SAM network on October 7 preempted by need to shift IAF to Golan front. Attempt to launch attack on Syrian SAM network frustrated by bad weather on 6 th and poor intelligence on 7 th. (25 SAM sites attacked, 8 aircraft lost, only one SAM battery destroyed) Unsuccessful Arab Air Attacks Initial deep penetration raids in the Sinai and air support of the offensive n the Golan produced few Israeli losses and heavy Arab air losses. Israeli expedient measures to reduce effectiveness of SAM network Limited attritional attacks against Syrian SAM sites. Attacks adapted to discovered limitations in SAM effectiveness Ground Offensives Gained Israeli Air Force Freedom of Action Forward movement of troops on Golan and later on the Suez front brought SAM batteries within artillery range. Continuing Israeli ground advances physically overran many SAM batteries, tearing holes in the SAM umbrella. Final Israeli offensives enjoyed more effective air support, although Arab air defense artillery systems still caused attrition. Arab Air Forces thrown into the battle Attempts by Arab air forces late in the war to oppose IAF over the battlefield produced heavy losses for very little effect.
Air Losses Total Losses Israel: 109 combat aircraft (30%) Egypt: 223 combat Aircraft (37%) Syria: 117 combat aircraft (42%) Aircraft lost by cause (and percentage of total losses) Cause Arab (447) Israeli (109) Air-to-Air 287 (64%) 21 (19%) Note: 14:1 kill ratio in air-to-air SAM fire 17 (4%) 40 (37%) AAA fire 19 (4%) 21 (28%) Friendly 58 (13%) 2 (2%) Misc/Unknown 66 (15%) 15 (14%) Resupply by the great powers during the war Israeli received 55 aircraft from the USA (20 Phantom and 35 Skyhawks) (50% replacement of losses) Egypt received 93 aircraft from the Soviet Union (types unknown) (42% replacement of losses) Syria received 113 aircraft from the Soviet Union (types unknown (97% replacement of losses) Damage and repair Israel had 236 aircraft damaged during the war (65% of starting force) of which 215 were repaired and returned to service within one week. The Arab air forces had 125 aircraft damaged. Repair rate not known.
Israeli Counteroffensive in the Sinai Strategic Background The Plan: Operation Abirey-Halev (Stronghearted Men) The Battle of Chinese Farm, October 15-17 From Breakout to First Cease-fire, October 19-22 Additional Fighting, Second and Third Cease-fires, October 23-25
The Strategic Background Israel could not sustain an army in the field indefinitely, and could not afford to continue sustaining the sort of casualties it had suffered. The Sinai had deteriorated into a stalemate, with the Egyptians having a solid hold on both banks of the Suez Canal. The Syrian counteroffensive (covered next week) had started well but then ground to a halt in the face of continuing Syrian resistance and reinforcements arriving from Iraq and Jordan. Despite the punishment delivered to them, the Syrians had not broken. There was little indication the Egyptians were ready to break either. Peled, the Air Force commander, believed the Egyptians would collapse in the face of a breakthrough. Elezar, the Chief of Staff, considered that wishful thinking. The Israeli government and high command no longer believed that a conventional victory, in the sense of previous wars, was possible against Egypt. Israel needed a ceasefire to rebuild its strength. Some means had to be found to regain the initiative and deliver a blow which would force President Sadat to accept a ceasefire, while also improving Israel s position in negotiating a postwar settlement.
Operation Stronghearted Men, Phase 1 Sharon s Division will attack to the canal, secure the corridor to the crossing site, and seize a bridgehead on the far side with an attached parachute brigade assaulting in rubber rafts. Bridging assets at Tassa will move forward through the corridor and construct two bridges. Adan s Division with pull out of the line and move through the corridor, cross to the far side by bridge. Sasson s Division will extend south and take over Adan s area in addition to its own.
Operation Stronghearted Men, Phase 2 Magen s division will detach one brigade to South Sinai command, move north, and follow Adan across the canal. South Sinai Command and the attached brigade from Magen will form Division Merom, which will cover Magen s former sector. Adan s division will drive west and south, enveloping the Egyptian 3 rd Army from behind. Magen s division will cover Adan s open right flank. Sharon;s division will hold the corridor and expand it north toward Ismailia and Lake Timsah.
Operation Stronghearted Men Sharon s Spearhead Sharon s 14 th Armored Brigade had identified a path through the sand dunes which would enable it to move quickly at night to the shore of the Bitter Lake south of the Egyptian positions and then move to the objective with the element of surprise. The brigade was heavily reinforced for the assault. The Brigade had only two tank battalions left, but had been reinforced earlier with the divisional armored reconnaissance battalion, which (by this time) was as strong as a tank battalion. One additional tank battalion was attached from the 600 th Armored Brigade. Task Force Shmulik of the 35 th Parachute Brigade, with two companies of paratroopers in halftracks. The Southern Command s elite Sayaret unit, Task Force Shaked (Unit 424). Task Force Shuneri (Unit 582), the reconnaissance unit of the reserve parachute brigade on the Golan.
The Night of October 15, Part 1 *5:00PM Israelis begin artillery barrage further north as part of diversionary attacks. *6:00PM (dusk) 14 th Brigades moves forward through the dunes. *8:00PM reaches road south of Lakekon and turns north. At first column passes Egyptian positions in the dark without drawing fire. 87 th Recon reaches the canal. 196 th Tank now head of the column, drives north. Matt s paratroopers (247 th Brigade) still stuck in traffic far from canal. (This was, according to the plan, when they were to have begun their crossing.) *9:00PM Egyptian infantry and tanks open fire at the Tirtur-Lexicon junction, cut second Israeli tank battalion in half. Ten Israeli tanks knoked out. Lead element (196 th Tank Battalion) comes under fire as well, begins taking casualties but inflicts damage and confusion on Egyptians. *10:00PM Egyptian 14 th Armored Brigade attacking south into the head of the column. 196 th and 184 th Tank Battalions down to ten tanks each. TF Shmulik supports this force. TF Shaked found a way north but hit by tanks and driven back with casualties.
The Night of October 15, Part 2 *10:30PM Matt s paratroopers move down Akavish Road (dashed red line), draw light fire. Lead battalions fall back and form northern perimeter with combined strength of 16 tanks (out of starting strength of 41 or 43). *12:00 Midnight: Matt s paratroopers reach canal, prepare for crossing in inflatable rubber boats. Lead two tank battalions down to ten tanks, fall back nearer the Tirtur-Lexicon junction. *1:35AM October 16, Matt s lead battalion establishes bridgehead on far side of canal. *3:00AM: Yoav Brom s recon battalion attacks toward Tirtur Lexicon crossroads, Brom killed and attack halted. *3:30AM (apprx), Shuneri s infantry company (Unit 582) and one attached tank company (now down to two tanks) from 424 Tank Battalion drive up the Turtur Road, overwhelmed by fire. Both tanks knocked out and Shuneri takes heavy casualties (24 dead and 16 wounded out of 70 men). *5:00AM: 14 th Brigade has lost 57 of 97 tanks, 128 dead and 62 wounded. The Unifloat pontoon rafts are stuck in traffic. The Roller Assault Bridge broke under tow and will take 24 hours to repair. High command beginning to think the attempt has failed and it may be time to call off the attack.
The Battle of Chinese Farm, October 16 (Day) Dawn: Reshef (brigade commander) leads remnant of recon battalion in attack on Tirtur-Lexicon junction. Egyptian infantry breaks and begins surrendering. Road junction secured but 14 th Brigade exhausted. Adan s Division (light blue) arrives south of Kishuf and is told to wait as the bridges aren t ready. The Unifloat pontoons are still stuck in traffic and the RAB is still broken. Sharon s 421 st Brigade (Blue arrows) tries to clear the roads. One battalion fights its way along the Tirtur Road through a curtain of fire and amazingly makes it to the Lexicon junction, but the road is not clear. The other two battalions drive along Akavish, escort the Gilowa amphibians to the crossing site, and then are ferried across. The brigade then conducts a raid on the west bank and destroes three SAM missile sites. Matt s second battalion (also blue arrow) cannot get through on Akavish but swings south along the dune passage and crosses to the far side to join the first battalion. The Unifloat pontoons are now near Kishuf but cannot advance until Akavish Road is cleared. Afternoon: Adan ordered to take over clearing the roads. 217 th Brigade (red arrow) tries but is met with repeated armored counterattacks (red arrow) and waves of missiles whenever it tries to cross the open ground west of the hills. Adan proposes that the road be cleared at night by infantry. 830 th Parachute Battalioin flown north from the South Sinai to undertake the mission.
The Battle of Chinese Farm, Night of October 16/17 (Prelude) Essential one bridge in place by morning. Can ferry tanks over using the Gilowas, but they are vulnerable to artillery fire and cannot move sufficient supplies to sustain a two-division lodgment. 10PM: Uzi Ya iri, commander of 35 th Parachute Brigade arrives at Adan s HQ. Mission is to open the Tirtur and Akavish roads by dawn, so the Unifloat pontoons can still get to the crossing site under the cover of darkness. One battalion available. 890 th Battalion: The original parachute battalion in the Israeli Army, commanded by Ariel Sharon after it was merged with Unit 101. Formed the cadre of all subsequent airborne and special forces units. As Adan says in his memoirs, They were the elite of the IDF s infantry. Early afternoon Mordechai s 890 th Parachute Battalion flown to Refidim Air Base. Waited three hours for ground transport. 5:00 PM taken by bus to Tasa. Delayed by traffic jam. At Tasa unloaded and flown by helicopter to upper Akavish. Arrived about 11:00. Mordechai gets to Adan s HQ at midnight for briefing: Enemy shifting positions in trenches so no specific objectives other than clearing the Tirtur and Akavish roads. Main opposition thought to be well-concealed anti-tank missile teams. No aerial photos available. All detailed intel on previous encounters held by Sharon s division and not available. No time for artillery fire plan, but COL Ya iri will call fire for the battalion and will be the only one using the division s command radio net that night. Only five hours till dawn and infantry on foot will have no chance of advancing in daylight. Only chance for success is to go now.
The Battle of Chinese Farm, Night of October 16/17 (Battle) 1:00 AM October 17: Mordechai s battalion moves out along Tirtur Road (Dark Blue Line), three companies up, one in reserve, 80-90 men in each company, plus fifty extra volunteer officers attached in reserve. 2:45 AM: First contact by right flank company, then all along the line. Attempts to outflank the enemy positions run into more infantry. Within minutes all company commanders and most platoon leaders are down and battalion is now pinned down under heavy fire from multiple directions. 3:00 AM: Adan notices all combat concentrated on Tirtur Road. He orders reconnaissance down the Akavish and when they draw no fire he sends the Unifloat pontoons after them. (Red Line) Dawn: Reinforcing tank company from Ehud Barak s battalion arrives to lead paratroopers in renewed assault. (Light Blue Line) All but two tanks are knocked out immediately, surviving tanks retreat. Surviving paratroopers now pinned down in irrigation ditches along the road. 6:30 AM: Pontoons arrive at crossing site, begin assembling the first bridge.
The Battle of Chinese Farm, October 17 8:00 AM: Egyptian attacks from the north all along the line. (Red Arrows) Tank columns sighted approaching from the south as well. 217 th Armored Brigade sent to defensive positions in hills east of Bitter Lake. 9:30 AM: Adan decides to evacuate the paratroopers. (40 dead and 80 wounded out of about 400 total strength.) MG Gonen overrules him, orders paratrooper to stay in contact to pin down Egyptians. 10:30 AM: LG Bar-Lev arrives at Adan s command post and approves withdrawal of remaining paratroopers. Main body withdrawn soon after (scattered elements rescued after nightfall, about 7:00 PM). 10:45 AM: Egyptian 25 th Armored Brigade approaching from south.(green Arrows) Adan asks for release of his 500 th Armored Brigade from Front reserve. Approved and begins moving into southern part of battlefield. (Green Arrows) 12:30 PM, 14 th Armored Brigade southern elements open fire on head of Egyptian column. 2:45 PM: Main body of Adan s division strikes Egyptian tank column from flank and destroys the brigade (about sixty tanks). (Blue arrows) 5:00 PM Adan s brigades pull back and begin resupplying. 10:00PM Adan s division begins its move across the pontoon bridge into the bridgehead.
Some of the Commanders COL Amnon Reshef 14 th Armored Brigade COL Dan Matt 247 th Parachute Brigade BG Abd el-nabi Hafez 16 th Infantry Division (later as a Lt Gen) COL Abd el-hamid 16 th Infantry Brigade (Later, as Major General)
COL Uzi Ya iri 35 th Parachute Brigade (890 th Parachute Battalion) Immediately after the Battle of Chinese Farm
Thursday, October 18 Adan s division finds the perimeter has not been pushed to the edge of the greenbelt after all. Now occupied by Egyptian commandoes. Adan spends much of the day fighting through the greenbelt to get a good start line for the full-scale breakout. Sharon pushes toward Ismailia against growing resistance from Egyptian paratroopers. Sharon s armor conducts raid into Egyptian rear to overrun SAM bases. More air support in area after that. 890 th Parachute Battalion, after a short rest, crosses canal and joins Sharon s division. Then or shortly thereafter Uzi Ya iri s brigade headquarters crosses and Sharon has two small parachute brigades under command. (May be about this time the brigade was joined by Major Yoram Yaya Yair s 50 th NAHAL Parachute Battalion from the Golan.)
Friday, October 19 6:00 AM: The Roller Assault Bridge is finally in place. Sharon s division reaches the outskirts of Ismailia but is fought to a standstill by the Egyptian 182 nd Parachute Brigade. Magen s 252 nd Division crosses into the bridgehead and drives west, covering Adan s northern flank. Adan s 162 nd Division breaks out of the bridgehead to the southwest and reaches the northern slopes of the rugged Geneifa Hills. Egyptian 3 rd Army (in the south) shifts some of its mobile reserves north as a precaution. In an evening meeting, Egyptian Chief of Staff Shazli recommends pulling several armored brigades back from across the canal to deal with the Israeli bridgehead. Sadat and Ismael (the Egyptian Army Commander) fear this will shake the morale of the east back divisions. Shazli is relieved of his post.
Saturday, October 20 More hard but inconclusive fighting on the outskirts of Ismailia between the paratroopers. The 421 st Armored Brigade of Sharon s division strikes at the Egyptians on the western face of the bridgehead. The 600 th Armored Brigade of Sharon s Division, still on the east bank. Finishes mopping up Egyptian resistance in the Chinese Farm area. They count 56 Israeli and 133 Egyptian tanks knocked out or abandoned on the battlefield, and hundreds of burnt out vehicles. The IAF conducts intensive bombing of the Missouri hill mass to the north of Chinese Farm. Adan s 162 nd division advances thirteen miles, overrunning missile sites and rear area logistics units of Egyptian 3 rd Army, and cuts the mail supply road from Cairo to the 3 rd Army. Egyptian logistical and support units flee. Scattered Egyptians combat units dig in and fight. Magen s 252 nd Division continues to screen the open western flank, clashes with elements of the Egyptian 4 th Armored Brigade. When 3 rd Army commander orders the return of the 4 th Division s second armored brigade, attached to a division across the canal, the division commander refuses, says the bridgehead will collapse without it. On this day, Kissinger arrives in Moscow to begin intensive negotiations with the Soviets toward a jointly imposed cease-fire. The Israelis realized they had only a few more days to complete any operations on the two front.
Sunday, October 21 More inconclusive fighting on the outskirts of Ismailia. The 600 th Armored Brigade of Sharon s 143 rd Division, still on the east bank, is ordered to attack the Missouri hill feature. The brigade encounters a hail of anti-tank missiles and RPG fire loses half of its tanks trying to fight its way through the Egyptian positions, and withdraws, but after dark the Egyptians withdraw to the north. The Egyptian command launches a series of attacks all along the western and southern perimeter of the Israeli incursion: 421 st Armored Brigade fights off armored counterattacks from fresh Egyptian armored brigade arrived from Cairo. Adan s 162 nd division advances hardly at all, spending most of the day mopping up the Geneifa Hills military installations and fending off a series of counterattacks from the Egyptian 6 th Mechanized Division, but by the end of the day the Egyptian division is badly damaged. Magen s 252 nd Division is also slowed by repeated attacks from the Egyptian 4 th Armored Division.
Monday, October 22 Both sides learn that a cease-fire will go into effect that evening. Adan s 162 nd division advances due east and reaches the canal, surrounding a number of rear-area units to the north and destroying more SAM missile sites.. The Egyptian east-bank commander releases the 3 rd Armored Brigade of the 4 th Armored Division, which crosses back during the day and launches an unsuccessful attack against the northern wing of Adan s division. Magen s 252 nd Division drives south, cuts the last supply road to the 3 rd Army, and sets up blocking positions against counterattacks from the west.
Tuesday, October 23 Overnight, Adan: I planned to mop up the area we had captured, hoping that the enemy would violate the cease-fire, thus leading to an expansion of the fight so we could complete our task of encircling the Third Army. 0620: Adan orders his division: All the Egyptians around you are to be taken prisoner. Fighting resumes almost immediately. Adan s division takes the entire green belt along the canal south of the lakes and drives south, encircling Suez City. Sop\uthern Command orders Sasson s division to drive to the canal north of Chinese Farm and Meron s Division to drive to the canal south of the Bitter Lakes to link up with Adan. Neither attack succeeds. Second cease-fire negotiated and new stop time is 7:00 AM the next morning. Gonen in Southern Command tells Adan to Take Suez City if it s empty. But not if it s going to be a Stalingrad. Adan gets updated intelligence on garrison of Suez City: one commando battalion and two mechanized battalions, the remnants of 4 th Armored and 6 th Mechanized divisions. Plans attack for early morning.
Wednesday and Thursday, October 24-25 Adan gives order for attack on Suez City at 5:20 AM. IAF to conduct intensive air bombardment of Suez City to pave the way for the attack, but morning mist grounds them until 0630. After a brief attack they break off in time for the cease-fire at 7:00 AM. Adan s troops are not in place yet. 8:30 AM: (ninety minutes after cease-fire to have taken place) Ground attack goes in. Attack encounters very heavy resistance. Additional troops committed to help extricate the initial attack force, pinned down in the streets by infantry in buildings. Armor finally withdraws but two weak battalions of paratroopers (Yossi s, Hisdai s) cut off in city. Attempts to relieve them are unsuccessful, but after dark they manage to exfiltrate through the Egyptian lines, bringing their wounded with them. Next morning cease-fire actually goes into effect. Israeli casualties in Battle of Suez City: 80 dead, 120 wounded.
Situation at the Cease-Fire Egypt held five of the six original bridgeheads. (The 16 th Division Bridgehead at Chinese Farm/Missouri had been driven north into the 2 nd Division Bridgehead opposite Ismailia. The Israelis held the entire west bank of the canal from Ismailia south, cutting off the supply lines to the two divisions of the Egyptian Third Army. Suez City was surrounded on the land side and under naval blockade. Additional Arab allied troops were arriving in Egypt, including armored formations from Libya and Algeria and infantry from Morocco and Sudan. About 400 Israeli tanks on the west bank faced 250 Egyptian tanks. (Does not count tanks of either side still on the east bank.) Soviet tank deliveries and repairs, and Arab allied contingents, would increase Egyptian tank strength to 1,000 within one month. By three months, 1,500. Israel repairs would eventually bring their total in the Sinai up to about 700, with 400 tanks unrecoverable.
NEXT WEEK (week 7) The Israeli Counteroffensive on the Golan The Ceasefire and After: Peace Negotiations, Territorial Changes Week 8 How and Why the World Changed The Revolution in Military Thinking Peace Between Egypt and Israel Political ramifications for Israel and the Middle East