Chinese Farm 1: "A Most Terrible Night" Narrative AAR

[bootlegger267]

I'll be playing the scenario as close as possible by the accounts of the units involved. The bulk of the information comes from Abraham Rabinovich's book "The Yom Kippur War" The epic encounter that transformed the Middle East

Scenario Info....

[bootlegger267]

Opening Turn 1... The objectives set out by Gen Sharon as part of "Operation Stouthearted Men". The corridor along the Tirtur Road and the crossing point at Matzmed and "The Yard"

"The Yard " had been part of Sharon's pre-war plan to cross the Canal. As such, it was a prepared assembly area in and around the Matzmed strong point, covered by berms from enemy observation and fire. The Tirtur Road was the throughfare by which the bridging equipment was to be brought forward to Matzmed. The road traversed what was known as the "Chinese Farm".

[Crossroads]

Looking forward to this one

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 1...Sharon's 143rd Ugda was in column all along the Akavish road. Leading the column was Ltc Brom's 87th Recon Bn. Their mission was to secure the crossing site in the vicinity of the Matzmed strongpoint. Sharon, prior to his departure as Commander of the Israeli Southern Front (Sinai) had prepared this location for a possible crossing of the Canal, should the need arise. The assembly area around the site, known as "The Yard" contained high sand berms to conceal any units gathering there from being sighted by the Egyptian's.

As Ltc Brom's lead elements made the turn onto the Nahala road, which paralleled the Tirtur road west of Lexicon, the 2nd Company came under light small arms fire. After receiving the contact report, he ordered his Cdr's to hold their fires. Their mission was to secure the crossing site, not to engage the enemy here at the crossroads.

The next unit making the turn was Ltc Mitzna's Tank Bn, leading Col Reshef's Armored Bde. His mission was to reach the intersection of the Lexicon and Tirtur roads and continue north ....

[bootlegger267]

Egyptian Turn 1.....Ltc Brom's column comes under light small arms fire from positions along the Tirtur road. Reports are sent to Col Reshef...His orders are still in effect....gain Matzmed.

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 2... With Matzed and "The Yard" secured,Ltc Brom orders Maj Maimon's 9th Tk Co (Composite) to seek out and destroy whatever forces fired upon the column. It did not take long for the 9th Tk to discover the Egyptian Recon element of BRDM's. Then they are to move north to where the Tirtur road ends at the canal to secure the crossing point. Cpt Peled's Armor Cadet Co. is tasked to support the 9th Tk Co.

Ltc Mitzna's 196th Ar Bn has orders to advance along the Lexicon road to the Tirtur intersection..

[bootlegger267]

Egyptian Turn 2..Massive amounts of enemy artillery fall among the Israeli column. The majority is fired blind but sends the column into disarray. Small arms fire hit elements of the 87th Recon.....

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 3...The intel reports did not mention any significant enemy forces along the east bank of the Canal. The 87th Recon Bn disproved that assesment.....Tanks and BRDM's in improved positions....

[bootlegger267]

Turn3 cont...As Mitzna's lead Tk Company reached the intersection of the Lexicon and Tirtur roads, they come under heavy AT fires....

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: bootlegger267

I'll be playing the scenario as close as possible by the accounts of the units involved. The bulk of the information comes from Abraham Rabinovich's book "The Yom Kippur War" The epic encounter that transformed the Middle East

Forgot who it was, but I was recommended to read the Crossing Suez, 1973: A new point of view, by Amiram Ezov. It covers the Suez crossing as depicted in these scenarios, in wonderful detail, and is one of the best books on battlefield friction while at it. A recommended read for sure, and costs but a couple of bucks on Kindle.

[bootlegger267]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

ORIGINAL: bootlegger267

I'll be playing the scenario as close as possible by the accounts of the units involved. The bulk of the information comes from Abraham Rabinovich's book "The Yom Kippur War" The epic encounter that transformed the Middle East

Forgot who it was, but I was recommended to read the Crossing Suez, 1973: A new point of view, by Amiram Ezov. It covers the Suez crossing as depicted in these scenarios, in wonderful detail, and is one of the best books on battlefield friction while at it. A recommended read for sure, and costs but a couple of bucks on Kindle.

I'll pick that up....Thanks!

[bootlegger267]

Turn 4...87th Recon Bn written report to the 143rd Ugda Hq's brought by messenger: Matzmed and surrounding areas secured. Amphibious units in position to cross and secure west bank. Encountered enemy BRDM's and PT76's in IP's north of Tirtur. Enemy either eliminated or retreated. Tirtur secure west of Lexicon.....

Sharon read the dispatch and gave the messenger the following: "Heavy enemy resistance vic Tirtur/Lexicon. Tirtur, I repeat Tirtur NOT OPEN. Proceed north and recon possible Egyptian crossing site for use."

[bootlegger267]

Turn 4 cont...After advancing 500m from the intersection of Tirtur and Lexicon, Mitzna's lead Tk Co comes under murderous enemy fire. The following Company, turning east down Tirtur, stirs up a hornets nest of enemy troops well dug in. Engagements are at ranges less than 100m's. Mitzna requests permission to fall back and regroup after receiving reports that 14 of his tanks have been destroyed....

[bootlegger267]

Turn 4 cont...Col Reshef requests massive amounts of artillery fires and Sharon grants it....

[bootlegger267]

Turn 4 Cont...
Mitzna's C Co was the only element combat effective. Alpha and Bravo were reduced to to few tanks each. The Egyptian AT and missile fires had destroyed Alpha and Bravo Co's. Enemy artillery continued to fall all along the Israeli's...whether accurate or not, it proved to be very disconcerting.......

Israeli artillery added to the confusion all along Tirtur.....The road still belonged to the enemy.

[Jason Petho]

Looks like you have lots of flares! Don't forget to use them.

[bootlegger267]

ORIGINAL: Jason Petho

Looks like you have lots of flares! Don't forget to use them.

I know! lol. Deliberately not using them yet east of Tirtur thinking if I could see them.....

[bootlegger267]

Turn 5..Ltc Mitzna requested permission to pull what remained of his Bn back but Col Reshef refused. "Hold your positions and meet me at the crossroads" ordered Reshef. Reshef was not about to change his plans. This was a fight of the "stubborn". Enemy resistance was not expected this far south, but Akavish and Tirtur were not open and the bridging equipment nor the crossing forces would be able to use those roads to Matzmed.

The big picture....

[bootlegger267]

The traffic jam on Akavish was horrible and enemy Sagger teams were able to attack vehicles on that road from Tirtur. Reshef requested that elements from Danny Matt's Para Bde be given the mission of clearing Tirtur from the Akavish/Tirtur intersection up to the irrigation ditches. Meanwhile, Mitzna ordered his Mech Infantry Co to dismount and close with the enemy hunter-killer teams. Problem was, that's not what they were facing.....

Reshef believed he was going to be up against a forward security element from the Chinese Farm position. Instead, his forces were battling a heavily fortified position consisting of trenches, ditches, improved positions, dug-in tanks, infantry teaming with Saggers, RPG's, and machineguns. Once the surprise of Mitzna's appearence wore off, all hell broke loose. Tank engagements were at ranges less than 50m. Israeli's and Egyptian's were occupying trenches/ditches on opposite sides of Tirtur road.

[bootlegger267]

Turn 6...Reshef requested, and Sharon agreed to have a Bn of Paratroops attempt to clear Tirtur. The terrain on either side of the road was marked by trenches and irrigation ditches that his tanks could not navigate. Col Matt ordered his lead units off the Avakish road to alleviate the trafic jam and ordered the lead Bn to clearTirtur from its intersection with Avakish to the beginning of the irrigation ditches..


As the lead Co approached the curve on Tirtur where it turn west, a hail of gunfire erupted....