The Israelis spent the rest of the day repairing their vehicles, resupplying their ammunition and fuel and tending to their wounded and dead. Those that could, slept even as Egyptian shells continued to rain down on their positions within the village. Their day was still not done. It would be a long night.
October 31, 1956 - Abu Ageila, Egypt
The sun was setting as the Israelis moved out from their covered positions within the village and lined up in a column. In the fading light, Egyptians shells continued to rain down and explode. Sometimes they found their target and destroyed it. Sometimes they found dirt and sand, kicking it up into the air, causing a smoke screen-type effect.
Adan ordered his task force forward. The half-tracks once again took the lead creating clouds of dust that protected the tanks. As they approached the slope leading to the dam, the Israeli column broke and formed a front. The half-tracks kept up a barrage with their machineguns on the Egyptian positions. The Egyptian tank guns fired at close range, destroying one half-track after another. Only when the Israeli tanks moved up into positions did the half-tracks stop exploding, the Egyptians diverting their fire to the larger threat. The Israelis advanced up the slope toward the dam.
Even as the last of the daylight disappeared, the Egyptian fire was accurate and murderous. Every single one of the Israeli tanks suffered a hit from the Egyptian artillery and anti-tank guns. Fortunately, many of the shells did only superficial damage when they exploded against the tanks sloped armor. The Israelis kept moving up the hillside, taking their beating and giving it back to the Egyptians.
As night fell upon the battlefield and tracer rounds lit up the sky, the Israelis reached the dam and the Egyptian positions. Some of the Egyptian gunners began to flee. Other held their ground and continue to fire their guns. And then the unthinkable happened. The resupply problem caught up with the task force and the Israelis tanks ran out of ammunition. On the verge of winning, Adan encouraged his men to keep fighting. Their main guns and machineguns empty, the Israeli tank commanders opened their hatches and hurled grenades into the Egyptian positions as they overran them. When the grenades ran out, the tankers used their rifles and sidearms. The last of the Egyptians broke and fled. The Israelis let them go. The dam was theirs.
As the last Egyptian soldier disappeared over the horizon, the Israelis climbed from their tanks and half-tracks and fell to the ground exhausted. They had given their all.
The Israelis were still in a precarious position. The Egyptians could counterattack and the Israelis had little with which to fight them off. Adan told his commanders that in the event of a counterattack, the Israelis would use whichever of the anti-tank and artillery pieces had not been spiked by the Egyptians before fleeing.
With both the and the village captured, the Israelis would open a new supply route. It was just a matter of time before they were resupplied and could continue their attack on the western side of the Hedgehog.
October 31, 1956 - Abu Ageila, Egypt
After only a few hours’ sleep, the Israelis in the 7th Armored Brigade woke and got to work. There was a lot to be done. All of the Israeli tanks had been hit at least once and those still viable needed to be repaired. The resupply of ammunition was slowly arriving. The fighting positions left by the Egyptians were in the wrong locations and new positions needed to be dug facing Katef Ridge on the western side of the Hedgehog. It was at that moment that the Egyptians counterattacked.
Archer tank destroyers came from the western ridge of the Hedgehog supported by the Egyptian artillery on the Shinhan Ridge to the south. The shore of the dam exploded in violence. The Israelis ran to their fighting positions at the top of the slope. They had little with which to fight back but were determined to show the Egyptians their resistance. If the Egyptian tank destroyers reached the crest of the dam, the badly damaged Israeli tanks and artillery would be at their mercy.
The night sky flashed bright from one explosion after another. Israeli trucks with ammunition arrived as the Egyptians approached the Israeli positions. The Israelis formed lines to pass shells from the trucks to their tanks and artillery. Israeli tanks shells were fired within seconds of being unloaded from the trucks. Israeli machineguns sprayed the Egyptian infantry accompanying the tanks up the slope, slaughtering some, driving others to ground. The Egyptian tank destroyers finished off three more Israeli tanks and their crews. The Israelis fought back giving everything left inside their exhausted bodies.
The Egyptians broke and withdrew from the dam leaving thirty-eight dead along with four of their precious Archer anti-tank guns burning in the night. The battle had consumed most of the night and the rest that the Israelis so desperately needed. No sooner had the Egyptians left the battlefield than the Israelis again collapsed from exhaustion. Those with anything left to give unloaded the ammunition from the trucks and carried it to the remaining Israeli tanks. Then they too fell on the ground and slept. In the morning, they would be expected to fight again.
October 31, 1956 – Washington D.C., USA
Eisenhower was just sitting down to a State Dinner honoring the President of Mexico, when he was handed the message that Britain and France had begun bombing Egyptian positions. He kept his emotion in check and exchanged pleasantries with the people sitting near him at the head table. Inside, he was boiling mad, but not surprised.
It was as he thought. Britain and France had every intention of attacking Egypt right from the start. They were carrying through with their plan. He would need to wait to see what their endgame would be, but he already had his suspicions. He suspected they would give Egypt a good drubbing, then negotiate a ceasefire that left them in control of the canal zone perhaps alongside some sort of U.N. peacekeeping force. But Britain would have the real control over the canal. It was no longer about revenue. It was about security and reflecting power. They would destroy Egypt’s military and political aspirations. It would be the end of Nasser.
Eisenhower was no fan of Nasser. He understood Nasser’s complaint about the French and British imperialists. He agreed with him. But Eisenhower didn’t see the logic in egging on the Western nations to enhance his personal power. Sure, it was good politics for any Arab leader to stand up against the Westerners but it was also risky. Eden was not wrong to think that Nasser had brought all this upon himself. But that didn’t make Eden right. There was little Eisenhower could do except smile and sip his soup.
ELEVEN
November 1, 1956 – Cairo, Egypt
It was early morning. Francis Powers was again tasked to take reconnaissance photos of strategic locations in Egypt. Eisenhower wanted to keep a close watch on what was happening on the ground. The U2 was flying at seventy thousand feet when it passed over the West Cairo military airfield. The planes and buildings were clearly visible. The runway looked like it was still in good shape and absent of any bomb damage. Powers didn’t personally care one way or the other. It was above his pay grade to figure out the mess unfolding down below. That’s Ike’s job, he thought. He pressed the record button on his camera controls and took a series of high resolution photographs of the airfield and surrounding area.
He had orders to take photos at a minimum of two different angles so the analysts could compare any questionable photographs. The U2 was an unwieldly beast and wasn’t the kind of aircraft that would turn on a dime like a jet fighter. He performed a slow arcing turn and circled back around. It took almost ten minutes to complete the full turn and reposition the aircraft for a second reconnaissance run. When he flew over the airfield again he noticed that things had dramatically changed. Most of the buildings and aircraft were burning and the runway had huge craters in it. He thought for a moment, then realized that while he was making his turn, British or French bombers had attacked the airfield below. He looked around for any sight of them. The sky was clear except for the black smoke rising from the airfield. He hit the record button again and photographed the damage. This will be a great story that I can tell my grandchildren, he thou
ght. They’ll probably be bored to tears. He slowly turned his aircraft for home.
November 1, 1956 – Suez Canal Zone, Egypt
French reconnaissance planes combed the Suez Canal and the surrounding area for potential targets and to keep tabs on Egyptian troop movements. The pilot of an F-84 Thunderstreak was flying over Lake Timsah when he saw two tug boats pushing the Egyptian Navy’s LST Aka toward the narrow channel at the southern end of the lake.
The LST Aka was three hundred and twenty-eight feet long and weighed over sixteen hundred tons. She was a big bruiser and ideally designed for her new purpose as a blockship. Originally built as a military landing craft for tanks and vehicles, the Aka was being pushed into the main channel by the two tug boats. Her hull had been filled with cement and debris. Once scuttled, she would be difficult to raise. If she landed upright on the bottom of the channel, she was tall enough to prevent all commercial vessels from traveling through the Suez Canal unless they were willing to risk their hulls being ripped open by the Aka’s bridge tower and loading cranes.
The pilot radioed back his findings including details of the ship’s current position, speed and direction. It wouldn’t take long before the Aka had been moved into position and scuttled. There was no time to waste if the British were going to stop her. The Thunderstreak flying overhead did not have any bombs loaded on the hardpoints under its wings. It was on a reconnaissance mission and needed to conserve as much fuel as possible. The most it could do was strafe the ship with its machineguns which wouldn’t cause any real damage but might give the crew of the tug boats a good scare. He checked his fuel gauge and decided against it. He was running low on fuel. He banked his aircraft hard and headed back to his base on Cyprus.
November 1, 1956 – Mitla Pass, Egypt
Brigitte joined an Israeli reconnaissance unit sent to scout the area between the Mitla Mountains and the Suez Canal. The Egyptians were retreating to the west and crossing over the canal. Sharon wanted to know what was out there and if the retreat was real or just a ruse. He had strict orders from Dayan not to move his brigade any farther west than its current position. Sharon did not believe that meant he was to remain blind. He instructed his reconnaissance units to keep out of sight and to avoid all enemy contact as they traveled west. They were to observe only and maintain radio silence. At the first sign of trouble they were to return and report.
Sharon still had not heard any news of the Spanish cargo plane crash. He didn’t know if Brigitte’s American pilot was dead or alive. He considered telling her about the crash but decided against it. He had grown to like the sassy French journalist. She was doing her job and telling her would only hurt her. He wasn’t sure how she would respond and he didn’t need a weeping woman while fighting the Egyptians. The time would come when he could not hold back the truth anymore, but for now his silence was merciful.
Brigitte boarded one of the three jeeps, and the reconnaissance unit took off down the mountain. She had seen the carnage from the last Egyptian ambush and was feeling anxious as the jeeps snaked their way down the mountain road into the valley below. She was surprised at the complete absence of Egyptian soldiers. The pass was clear. The three jeeps drove out into the valley and toward the Suez Canal, unmolested.
November 1, 1956 – Mediterranean Sea
A flight of four British Hawker Sea Hawks was already armed and ready for takeoff on the HMS Eagle aircraft carrier sailing in the eastern Mediterranean when the message came in from French intelligence. The aircraft were immediately retasked to sink the Aka in Lake Timsah before she entered the main channel. The jets launched, formed up and headed inland at maximum speed.
November 1, 1956 – Suez Canal Zone, Egypt
The three reconnaissance jeeps from the 202nd Paratrooper Brigade pulled to a stop behind a small hill. The Lieutenant in charge of the unit pulled out his binoculars and exited the jeep. Brigitte followed him to the top of the hill where he laid down. In the distance was the Suez Canal. Brigitte laid down next to him and said, “Why are we stopping here? Why not go all the way to the canal?”
“I suppose we can if you don’t mind being shot at. The Egyptian army is on the opposite bank. If they spot us they might decide to take a few potshots with their artillery and mortars. We can see everything we need to see from here,” said the Lieutenant. “That alright with you?”
“Sure. I’m in no hurry to die,” said Brigitte pulling out her own set of binoculars and peering at the canal.
Just as the lieutenant had said, she could see Egyptian forces on the opposite bank. There were two tanks with their gun barrels pointed toward the eastern bank of the canal. “Can they see us?” said Brigitte, alarmed.
“No. Not unless they are really looking for us. I doubt they know we are here.”
Brigitte relaxed. She trusted the lieutenant even though he was young. There was something about him that made her feel safe like when she was around Coyle or Bruno. She scanned the horizon and spotted the Aka being pushed by the tug boats. “Looks like someone’s having engine trouble,” she said.
The lieutenant turned his binoculars to see what she was seeing. “I don’t think that’s it. I think it’s a blockship.”
“What’s a blockship?”
“Nasser threatened to block the canal if any foreign army set foot in Egypt. He fills old ships with heavy debris from demolished buildings and floats them into the center of the canal. When the time comes, he blows out their hulls and sinks ’em.”
“You think that’s what they’re doing?”
“Probably. Most of the ships are headed for salvage and their engines are caput. They have to be towed into position.”
“Mind if I ask you a few personnel questions?”
“No. Go ahead and ask. I just don’t promise I’ll answer.”
“Fair enough. What’s it like living in a country where all your neighbors want you wiped off the face of the earth?”
“More boring than you would expect.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, well… our commanders drill the possibility of complete annihilation into our heads so much we kinda become numb to it. Most of our time is spent waiting around for the apocalypse. It’s times like these when we can actually go out and do something about it that are exciting.”
“Interesting.”
“Probably not but it is the truth. I’ve had a target on my back my whole life, yet one day pretty much looks the same as the last.”
“The idea of millions of armed Arabs doesn’t scare you?”
“Sure. A little… but we’re well trained and I’m told we have God on our side.”
“You don’t believe in God?”
“I don’t believe and I don’t not believe. I just don’t know and frankly I don’t think it matters.”
“And yet you fight for Jews?”
“I fight for the survival of my people and my country. Religion has nothing to do with it.”
“I think there are a lot of both Jews and Arabs that would disagree with you.”
“And I think you’d be surprised if you really knew what was in people’s hearts.”
“Maybe.”
“At the end of the day war is a test of wills. They fight for revenge. We fight to survive. Now who do you think is gonna win?”
The lieutenant stopped talking as if something had caught his attention. He looked toward the sky. “Listen… jets,” he said.
“Egyptian or Israeli?” said Brigitte feeling very vulnerable on a hill with no cover in sight.
The lieutenant spotted the incoming aircraft and peered through his binoculars to get a closer look. “Neither. They’re British. Sea Hawks, I think.”
The British aircraft reached the Egyptian vessel as she was about to enter the mouth of the narrow channel at the southern end of Lake Timsah. The first two Sea Hawks swooped in for an attack as the other two kept overwatch in case any Egyptian fighters showed up. The first two Sea Hawks were armed with four five-hundred pound bombs ea
ch. It was not the ideal weapon to attack a ship like the Aka but there had been no time to switch out the armament before takeoff. As they flew over the ship, the pilots released their payloads.
One of the bombs hit one of the tug boats and blew it apart killing the crew. Another bomb hit the Aka just in front of the bridge and blew a ten-foot hole in the deck. The damage looked a lot worse than it was since the cement and debris packed into the cargo area prevented the explosion from reaching the bottom of the hull. The Aka was pouring out black smoke but still moving toward the channel with the help of the remaining tug.
Sèvres Protocol Page 20
