The 2nd Battle of Mt Hermon 1973 AAR

I was saving this post from back in October until we could play day 2 but decided this is still a few months off so I would share it with you.

As restrictions had eased back in October we decided it was time for a game, although back on now as this was played quite a few weeks ago, Richard and Andy of Legendary Wargames made their Wargames cabin available and Rich Croisdale created a scenario around the 2nd Battle of Mount Hermon in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Not a period I know loads about, however early in the campaign the Syrians captured this defended observation post in the Golan Heights from the Israelis in the first battle, in the second the Israelis were trying to re-take it.

The terrain looked fantastic and the collections are also great, I was looking forward to the opportunity to get my Israeli Paratroop Brigade on table for the first time in some years.

The Israeli's would start from what I guess is the west and have to cross the river at the choke point of the only bridge with a light armoured column.

The post itself was pretty well defended with dugouts, tunnels and pill boxes.

A small town sat at the foot of the mountain on the Syrian side.

Two batteries of Syrians guns were already set up at the far Eastern end of the table.

I began preparing my forces, getting the Huey's on their stands ready to pounce on the Syrians.

This gunship is Richards and would support my choppers.

Richard H's light armour was also getting organised.

I opened the box to get my Paras out, I have to admit I let out a few expletives, Elizabethan Irish were not going to help me take the heights in 1973. Bugger, I had picked up the wrong box. Nothing for it I had to borrow Richards British and hope nobody noticed.

Move one our plan was fairly straight forward, the first Para battalion would drop onto the farms and orchards at the foot of the mountain to clear the way for the column to pass through and give it some support as it pushed up the slopes. Fortunately these were just the right distance for me to land in one move from the table edge and pile out of the choppers. I asked if anyone could play ride of the Valkyries as we flew in but nobody seemed that interested. Please yourselves!

Not so great was that the roads were mined and I managed to land a chopper on one of the mines, taking one of my rifle companies straight down to half strength, not a great start. Chris C had occupied one of the orchards with a company of elite Syrian paras and these also gave another of my companies a hard time inflicting more casualties. The upside was that when he came to drop artillery on us we were just outside extreme range.

Move two and as the battle raged at the foot of the mountain and Richards column raced to cross the river my second battalion dropped straight onto the post at the top of the mountain, audacious and unexpected we managed to drop the battalion with minimal casualties and some of the bunkers being empty we were straight into cover for about half of the unit.

Two companies however would start the next move in the open moving to storm the enemy emplacements and heavy casualties were to be expected.

In one move we had discovered where all of Chris's troops were posted, however as they were all elite, in cover and ready for us that only helped up to a certain point. As the Syrian turn started my Paras braced for a kicking.

Not to be outdone the Syrian Paras had their own helicopter landing, this had been pre-planned and was to land at the other end of the post form my troops which was only a minor relief given we would now be outnumbered two to one with the Syrian armour ahead of our own and climbing the slopes to relieve the garrison.

On the road from Damascus a great big column of Syrian armour is speeding towards the sounds of firing. My poor Paras are going to be in a bit of trouble very soon.

The Israeli colum is not quite so far advanced, I just hope we can hang on long enough to keep the road open. Its going to be close.

What remains of my first battalion of airborne are clearing the orchard and putting some fire into the trenches on top of the mountain.

Rich brings on a battalion of infantry to support the units on the further road, whilst Andy advances his own Syrian armour and foot a bit further up table

My gunship supports the fighting in the orchard but then scoots up the mountain to support the attack here and also to keep moving!

The fighting is close quarters and viscious with both sides elite paras there is nothing in it and the grind each other down.

The last of the Israeli column is on table and speeding to support the beleagured Paras.

I look with despair at the Syrian choppers piling onto the mountain top post, fortunately for me their DZ is pre-determined and it will take another move for them to get stuck into my guys, still its looking ever more grim.

As the Israeli column climbs the slopes of Mount Hermon the pill box fires and heavy damaged a scout car, a return shot from my recoilless rifle scores a six and the shell goes straight through the slit and destroys the pill box. About time I had some luck!

The casualties start to pile up and I am still not able to break into the gun pit, I draw a close assault leaving me on the outside with no cover and Syrian Paras all over the place.

Around this time we did get an airstrike which destroyed a Syrian Troop carrier and most of the occupants, for some reason I failed to get shot of this, I was probably a little bit excited!

The fighting in the rough ground at the edge of the mountain is particularly brutal and close quarters.

The Syrians are closing in on two sides and my Paras having lost of 20 casualties now have to take a morale test which they pass. The Syrians are also close to a test.

Finally however the Israeli column is near enough to start lending some support and clearing some of the trenches, the super Shermans pile off the road and open up on the remaining Syrian Paras of the original Garrison.

 

Two more entrenchments are cleared and the Syrian Paras will now also need a morale test, however the Syrian armoured support has also just turned up and its becoming a little bit of a carpark.

On the plain below a battalion of mechanised Israeli infantry with more Centurian's turn up to support the small holding force.

The Israeli Paras pass another morale test and the armour starts to deploy on side of the hill, the Syrian Paras in turn then have to take a test which they too pass. It really could go either way.

The Southern slopes have now been almost cleared but the Syrian reinforcements are all over the crest and through the post with the remaining Paras clinging on by their fingernail.

AT this point the days gaming draws to a close with both initial forces battered and reinforcements for both sides starting to run into each other the scene is set for great second day of gaming. on the plain below the mountain both sides sit behind opposing hills ready to push forward, who will jump first? Tune in next time to find out. (Whenever that ends up being)

 Great game designed by Richard Croisdale and hosted by Andy and Rich, very much looking forward to day 2 and hoping to remember to take my Israelis! 

It may be a little time before we get to finish the second half with Lockdown and Tier 3 restrictions, let you know when we do though.