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

[bootlegger267]

Egyptian turn 39... The Egyptian's swarm the Israeli tanks that have crossed the bridge.

A random artillery strike destroys vehicles crossing the canal.

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Israeli Turn 40...

Reshef sends more tanks across the the canal knowing that his forces are attracting the Egyptian's to him, and not the bridgehead...

Star shells are fired but fall short, exposing the Israeli forces...

More Israeli forces cross the canal .....

[Crossroads]

With only five more turns to go, the Israeli High Command must be quite happy! Perseverance has paid off [:)]

[bootlegger267]

Turn 40 cont....

The Intel chief returned to the briefing room with an updated map of the battle. The room was crowded with various staff personnel from Southern Command. Elazar ordered the room cleared before the Intel officer began his brief.

"I have 4 radio intercept teams eavesdropping on the various Div/Bde Command nets. Sharon's, Reshef's, Erez's, and Nir's." The Intel Chief turned to the map he had just posted on the wall. "Two lifts have been completed across the canal by Sharon with a third in progress."

"Why is it taking so long to get people over there?" asked Gonen.

"The process of embarking, crossing, and debarking, then returning to the east bank is taking approximately 60-90 minutes for each lift" replied the Intel Chief. "They are under continuous artillery fire which has already reduced the available number of units capable of making the crossing. Fortunately none of the Alligators have been hit, but since the first lift of tanks, they have been ferrying infantry, not a very efficient use of assets, but the only one we have." explained the Col.

"The tank company commander, the senior officer on the west bank, has set up two blocking positions along the north/south road paralleling the sweet water canal. The northern force captured the bridge over the sweet water and pushed out another 500m's before making contact with light enemy forces. We believe the next lift of forces currently underway will be used to reinforce this position."

"What does the next lift consist of?" asked Bar-Lev.

"Best we can tell...a reinforced armored engineer company." answered the Col. "The only enemy armor near the bridgehead is at Desevoir and it hasn't moved from their positions. The bigger threat is infantry at this point."

The Col continued.."Reshef's crossing has drawn all the enemy's attention and those forces are currently under heavy attack. They are being swarmed...."

Elazar walked over to the bank of radios that were in the room. Each had a sign designating which radio net it was tuned to. Elazar reached for the one labeled "Southern Command Artillery". "This is Elazar, give Reshef priority of fire for all large guns." ordered the IDF Chief. He then grabbed the mic for Reshef. "Reshef, you have all the artillery support. Use it to hold your position, understood?" A one word response came back..."Understood"

"Continue Col" said Elazar.

"Nir and Ezer are squeezing the enemy between them. These are the operating boundries the Bde Cdr's have set. Reshef north of Amir, Ezer, south up to the western edge of Missouri. Nir to the eastern side."

Dayan, who had remained quiet to this point got up and said..."The next few hours will be critical. Reshef has to keep those forces engaging him away from the bridgehead. If they move south, we will have a problem."

[bootlegger267]

Been doing a lot of traveling lately...last turns will be posted tonight.... then more traveling.....ugh

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 41...The main crossing bridgehead is expanded.....

The second wave consisting of an Armored Engineer Co. lands on the west bank. Once settled, the tanks and infantry from the first wave move north and south. The Bridgehead is now 3 km's wide by 1 Km deep.

A small force lands by raft east of Deversoir ....

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Turn 41 cont....Reshef's force at the Egyptian Assault bridge is reinforced but encounters a heavy AT response.

The east bank position is expanded....

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Turn 412 cont....Erez's advance and flank security.

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Turn 41 cont...Nir continues to attack towards the Missouri finger....

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Egyptian turn 41...Reshef loses 2 tanks on the west bank to enemy fire...

The enemy advances in an attempt to regain the bridge...

[Jason Petho]

Nice to see this back! Well done!

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 42... The Israeli's expand the bridgehead.....

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Turn 42 cont...Erez and Nir decimate the Egyptian armor....

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Turn 42 cont...The Operations Officer for Sharon's 143rd Ugda entered the command bunker at Tasa. Sharon had sent him to personally brief the IDF senior Command.

"Gentlemen, within the next 20 minutes, another Company of troops will be on the west bank." stated the Col. "Reshef has been able to draw off the bulk of the enemy forces by seizing the enemy assault bridge. Yea, his forces are under heavy pressure and he is taking loses, but he has enabled us to secure the bridgehead.

"What about the tanks?" asked Gonen

"Probably not until 0900...Erez's units are still cleaning up the forces threatening Lexicon."

"They need to get them across or the IAF will not be able to lend support. It is imperative that the "Daisy's" are taken out" said Elazar referring to the Sam sites on the west bank.

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 43...The situation on the West Bank....

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Turn 43 cont..Nir and Erez continue to reduce the Egyptian forces SW of Missouri...

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Israeli Turn 44...Expanding the bridgehead south into Devesoir....

More infantry arrive on the west bank....

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Turn 44 cont...Reshef keeps the Egyptian's at arms length...

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Turn 44 cont...Erez and Nir split the Egyptian defense.....

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Israeli Turn 45....Dawn was approaching as the leadership of the IDF stepped outside the bunker complex at Tasa. They were waiting on representatives from each of the Brigades to arrive. Each was told to give a raw report to these men on how the fight was going. A small convoy of jeeps and half tracks approached the complex from the west.....

The group of some 15 officers adjourned to the largest of the rooms within the bunker. Maps were laid across the table and the first to speak was Sharon's operations officer.