incbob
Posts: 345
Joined: 6/23/2004 From: Cameron, Missouri Status: offline
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10/7/1973 AM Israeli Turn 3 (Second Day of War) First a quick overview from day one. Air War Looking at the air force the only unit I have some problem with is the 3rd Ftr/Bomber group. Their readiness is down to 52 so I am going to order them to rest. The AO has my fighters running air superiority missions and my bombers attacking enemy airfields and this looks pretty good to me. So far, I have lost 22 aircraft worth noting and the Arabs have lost a reported total of 140+. (Is there a way to look up enemy losses? I just added this up from the air reports.) Land War On land I feel I am in a much better position than I should be. The Syrian army has tried no advancement in the Golan Heights and even have a whole in their front line. The Sinai front is about as bad as it was historically. The Egyptians have crossed the Suez and established strong footholds on the east side of the canal. However, this foothold appears to be weak. In the south, east of Suez city (As Suways) the Egyptians have some artillery, an armored recon Bn and a Mechanized Bgd. These do not look very powerful when I see they are facing off against 3 Brigades (401 Armor Bgd/252 Div, 204 Mech Bdg /252 Div, and the 35th Para Bgd/143 Div). Thank goodness no cooperation penalties. However, I note that there is are 2 Mechanized Bgds and an Armored Car Bn just across the Bar Lev line that could strike towards the Milta Pass or north to the crossroads and airfield of Bir Gifgafa. What I call the center (Great Bitter Lake) sees sparse Egyptian units and is strongly held by air units and the 460th Armor Bgd/252 Div in Bir Gifgafa itself. As far as Israel is concerned the north, along the coastal road, appears to be the Egyptians strongest foothold. Strong formations of the Egyptian 2nd Army have advanced and appear to be able to push through and take Tasa and the area south of the coastal road with ease. Historically the Egyptians crossed the Suez, got a strong foothold and then basically dug in. Their war plans did not call for an advance across the Sinai into Israel, but only to advance across the Suez and gain a foothold. In fact, when planning the attack with the Syrians the Egyptians created two plans, one showing them advancing across the Sinai that they showed the Syrian Generals, and the real plan of crossing the canal and digging in. This would create a lot of friction later in the war as the Syrians were getting pressed they kept asking the Egyptians to start attacking and advancing only to receive no reply. Jordan Just in case I have left the 2nd Infantry Bgd/440th Div along the Jordanian border where it can respond north or south. Historically Jordan was consulted before the war. In fact, King Hussein secretly traveled to Israel and warmed the Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, but she did not believe him. During the war Israel warned Jordan not to enter the war and after the debacle of the 6 day war in 1967 I think the only way Jordan would have entered into the war is if Israel Tel Aviv was occupied or both Damascus and Cairo were taken by Israel. On land I have lost a little over 5% of my Assault AT Squads and over half my Medium MG. What has me really bothered though is that I have lost 10% of my Centurion's and a little over 10% of my M48 Patton III's. Plans I plan to continue the air war as it is going and allow the AO to continue to degrade the Arab air force. For the Sinai the Egyptian Forces look weaker, but this seems to be the thornier task to tackle. The coastal road (why is there always a coastal road?) needs reinforcements and I do not think I am ready to try a counterattack. My center, based in Bir Gifgafa, appears strong so I am going to maintain the area. Looking at the weak forces west of Suez City makes me want to counterattack, but I do not have any units prepared for a reserve, so I am going to wait. For the Golan I am going to try to exploit the whole that has been created in the center of the Syrian front and try to adjust my forces northward to take Mount Hermon.
< Message edited by incbob -- 3/13/2019 12:44:19 PM >
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