AAR: Divided Ground, Valley of Tears "Opening Round"

[bootlegger267]

Syrian Turn 10...The attack pushes into the Israeli positions.....

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 10...The arrival of Cpt Ibarr tanks from Ahmadiyah upon the leading slope of Booster Ridge hits the Syrian armor in the flank and rear breaking up the attack. The ground in front of the Israeli positions is filled with burning enemy tanks...

[bootlegger267]

Syrian Turn 11...

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 11...consolidation of the defense on Booster....

[bootlegger267]

Syrian Turn 12....The Syrian's form a defense to protect their gains while preparing an infantry assault on the Israeli right flank...

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 12....Artillery and a swift counterattack regain the lost positions on Booster and break the Syrian assault.

[bootlegger267]

Historical notes...As many had said throughout the numerous historical accounts written on this topic, finding an accurate Order of Battle is extremely difficult. Reading and rereading Abraham Rabinovich's book finally gave me a little insight. Also, a relatively new book, "Inside Israel's Northern Command: The Yom Kippur War on the Syrian Border" by Dani Asher provides a very detailed look at how the Israeli's conducted the war on the Northern Front and the ever changing OOB's during the lead up, and initial attack on the Golan.

Col Ben-Shoham's 188th (Barak) Armored Brigade was the only regular armored unit stationed on the Golan Heights leading up to the October 6th attack. The 7th Armored Brigade, commanded by Col Ben-Gal, arrived between the 1-6 Oct, with the final units only arriving on the morning of the 6th.

Basically, two tank battalions had responsibility for the whole front line on the Golan Heights. But those two Bn's had intimate knowledge of the terrain.

Ltc Nafshi's 74th Bn was assigned to the northern sector which ran from south of Kuneitra all the way to Mt Hermon. The 53rd Bn, commanded by Maj Oded Erez, had responsibility for the southern sector. Each commander had been led to believe that the hostilities that were to occur would entail a"Battle Days" type incursions with artillery exchanges. As such, they deployed their units by Plt's in support of the LP/OP's with one company each in reserve.

With the 7th Bde already in the northern sector, and Ben-Gal's commanders knowing that the Syrian's would launch a full scale attack, Nafshi's deployment worked. With no units behind Erez's battalion in the south, it did not.

...more to follow with the next scenario

[bootlegger267]

End Game vs History....Here is a map, taken from "Israel's Northern Command: The Yom Kippur War on the Syrian Border" by Dani Asher. Based upon this, the scenario takes place at OP 107.






In the game,the units occupying the IP's along the Hermonit and Booster Ridge belonged to the 71st Bn of the 7th Bde. (Ltc Ratees)

Historically, it was the tanks of Ltc Nafshi's 74th Ar Bn who were in the initial positions. Once the extent of the Syrian attack became apparent, Nafshi moved his forces aprox 1.5km's closer to the AT Ditch in response to spot reports that showed the Syrian's attempting to cross the obstacle at multiple points in his sector, and to cover ground that was not visible from his current positions.

The 71th Ar Bn of the 7th Bde was still in its assembly areas north of Nafah when the attack begins.

The 74th Ar Bn, during the first 60 minutes of the battle, had destroyed over 100 enemy vehicles.

The tanks of the 77th Ar Bn initially took up positions on and around the Hermonit some 60 minutes into the fight.


My comments regarding the order of battle is in no way a reflection upon the scenario designer and guru who converted Divided Ground. It is, more accurately, a complement to Alan Arvold. He has done an amazing job!

[Crossroads]

So the brave Israeli tankers held on! Incredible stuff... Thanks for doing this! [:)]

[Big Ivan]

Very nice AAR bootlegger267![&o]

It was my pleasure following this engagement as it unfolded.



Big Ivan