Operation Gazelle

Egypt (Yom Kippur War)

1973

Rumani

Quantara

Ismailia

Tosa

Deversoir

Suez

Operation Gazelle - 1973 (Yom Kippur War).

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This is an interesting scenario. I must admit, its not complete and im a bit lost with the Wikipedia article as its quite long and involved and considering that 3 hours ago I hadnt even known of this action I think I have done OK, so far.

The map is based on the Wikipadia map but it doesnt show any of the places mentioned in the article and im assuming the scale is too low, which is where im getting confused so i'll probably have to come back and redo much of this.

The Isrealis get paratropper reinforcements on turn 10. It interesting to note that they arrive by helicopter to a position 10 miles East of the canal and then take buses to the canal but are held up by traffic jams. Whilst I cant replicate these issues its interesting to note how certain things shape the play that cant be covered by wargames rules.

I have also added three odd units that are detailed on the maps but not in any lists that I can find, they are Sassoon, Meron and Gavish, Gavish arriving on turn 10 (16 Oct).

Essentially the game play is that the Isrealis strike for Deversoir which whilst having 2 forts nearby is not defended and the forts are empty. The 252nd Division to the south makes a diversionary attack towards Suez. Well, looking at it I cant see why they didnt just attack Suez? Maybe there was no bridge and there were more troops there but the Wikipedia article doesnt deatil what was in Suez, or at least I cant see that. The Isrealis get to Deversoir with little resistance and cross over and make a beach head after which I gather that the plans to expand and move down to Suez are hampered and it turns into a disaster. Its at that point where I loose tracl of whats going on really.

Im pretty sure theres air power involved and the article reffers to Isreal using artillery to deliver 70tons of ordanance over the canal even though there were no Egyptian forces there, point being, I dont see any artillery units in the unit breakdown so presumably they were Battallions within the Regiments?

As such, this has to stand as an incomplete game until I manage to get another round of development, however, its still playable.

I still dont have bridge building rules which I think would be important here but there is a bridge on the map at Deversoir so that will do for now.

Also, it appears that there are several other scenarios that use the same map, in particualar the Battle of Ismalia which I will probably do as well at some point using this map and the units created.

The Raanana Gamer links show a pretty interesting map of the same game which make my current set up look fairly poor. I imagine that the Regiments have been broken down into Battalions etc giving a lot more units, but I also think there were probably a lot more units involved than I have at the moment anyway. Nothing is ever as simple as 1 Division.

I have now also given both sides some air power. Cant find any direct reference but it appears that the Israelis had Mirages and the egyptians had Mig 17s, as well as other planes, of course. They both have 15 sorties.

see Wikipedia

see Wikipedia for Badr Order Of Battle for approximate troop strengths and structures.

see West Point

see Raanana Gamer