The pairs of Sea Hawks switched places and the second set of aircraft swooped in to attack while the first set kept watch. One of the aircraft in the second set had been armed with sixteen 127-mm unguided rockets designed to take out heavily armored vehicles such as tanks and mobile artillery. The first aircraft dropped its bombs with little effect. The second aircraft swooped in low hugging the water surface. As it approached within five-hundred yards it fired all sixteen rockets in a matter of seconds and pulled up into a hard climb to clear the ship’s masts. One of the rockets struck the Aka’s hull and punched a hole at the waterline.
The Aka started to take on water. It was sinking, but slowly. The Egyptian tug captain pressed his vessel to maximum speed and pushed the Aka deeper into the channel. The Aka had been rigged with explosives at the bottom of the cargo area but they proved unnecessary. The Aka stayed afloat just long enough to move into perfect position before sinking. It settled upright on the bottom of the main channel.
On the hillside, Brigitte watched. She couldn’t help but think of the irony of what had just transpired. It was the first time in eighty-seven-years the Suez Canal had been blocked and it was the British that sank the blockship. The whole point of the French and British invasion was to keep the canal open and now it was blocked. This is gonna make a great story, she thought.
The Aka was the first of many.
November 1, 1956 – Suez Canal Zone, Egypt
In retaliation for the British and French airstrikes on Cairo, Nasser had given the order to block the Suez Canal. If Egypt wasn’t allowed to control the Suez Canal, it would be closed to the entire world until the world saw reason.
Forty blockships were towed out into the shipping channels of the Suez Canal. Each ship was placed in a strategic position in an area of the canal to achieve maximum affect. The Egyptian engineers lit the fuses to the explosives in the hulls and ran for the waiting tug boat to carry them away to safety. The explosions were spectacular and caused small earthquakes in the villages and cities near the canal. Egyptian spectators along the shores of the canal cheered as each ship exploded, sending geysers of water into the blue sky. Some ships cracked in half and others tipped their bows up for a final salute before sinking. Each ship sank until it came to a rest on the muddy bottom of the canal. Although some of the ships were completely submerged, many still had their steam stacks and masts visible above the waterline.
The destruction was complete. Any commercial or military ship that dared to navigate the wreckage was risking having its hull torn open and sinking, causing even more blockage. Insurance companies refused to insure any shipping company attempting to use the canal. The Suez Canal would be blocked from all shipping traffic for over a year until the sunken ships could be cut into pieces by divers and the pieces removed by tugs and tractors. The canal was the very reason nations were fighting and now it was completely useless. Egypt would miss out on millions of dollars in tolls and construction of their dam project would be delayed once again for lack of funds.
The Suez Canal, one of mankind’s greatest engineering achievements, was nothing more than a very long and narrow swimming hole in the middle of a desert.
November 1, 1956 – Washington D.C., USA
It was very early in the morning in the White House. Eisenhower was asleep when his personal butler opened his bedroom door and entered. The butler walked over to the bed and gently shook Eisenhower’s arm until the president awoke. “Mr. President, Director Dulles would like to see you. He says it is urgent,” said the butler.
“Of course. What time is it?” said Eisenhower.
“Two-thirty, Mr. President.”
“Alright. Give me a moment. I’ll meet him in my study,” said Eisenhower.
The butler left and Eisenhower rose and put on his robe and slippers. With luck, he would be able to go back to bed and get a few more hours of sleep before starting the day. He walked through the bedroom doorway and into the hallway. His personal study was just two doors down. He entered. Allen Dulles was waiting. “I’m sorry for waking you, Mr. President,” said Dulles.
“No, you’re not. It’s your job. Out with it.”
“We just received word… Nasser has sunk thirty to forty ships in the main canal. It’s completely impassible. The canal is shut down to all naval traffic.”
“Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. When a lion is backed into a corner it fights back. How long before it can reopen?”
“We won’t know until we get a better look at the damage. We are sending a U2 to take reconnaissance photos.”
“Alright. Let’s wait and see where we stand.”
“Should I have waited until morning?”
“No. I’ve grown used to it. I’d rather be informed than awake and chirper.”
“Are you heading back to bed?”
“Yeah. I won’t get any sleep but I think better horizontally.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“Ya, know, Allen… this may not be all bad news.”
“How’s that, Mr. President?”
“Britain and France just shut off most of their oil supply, along with the rest of Europe. They’ll deplete their reserves within a week or two.”
“You think there may be an opportunity?”
“Perhaps. I’ll think on it. You do the same. Let’s rendezvous at breakfast. Good night,” said Eisenhower moving toward the door.
“Good night, Mr. President.”
Eisenhower went back to bed and surprisingly… slept.
November 1, 1956 – Sinai, Desert
Coyle and the navigator continued their trek across the wasteland of the Sinai. They had dodged several Egyptian patrols over the last two days. The farther north they moved, the more panicked the retreating Egyptian forces seemed to be. They even saw a group of twenty soldiers crossing the hot desert barefoot and weaponless. Coyle thought about stopping them using their pistols, but he figured they probably didn’t have any water or food. The Egyptians were in worse shape than they were.
Coyle and the navigator stopped for a moment and shared the remaining water in the goat-skin bag. “Well that went fast,” said Coyle tossing the empty bag to the ground.
The navigator picked up the empty bag and slid it over his shoulder. “I like your positive attitude. That’s great if we find water but it’s gonna slow us down. Even empty it’s heavy,” said Coyle.
“Esta bien,” said the navigator.
“Suit yourself,” said Coyle continuing to walk in the same direction. “I suppose it ain’t gonna matter much anyhow if we don’t find some water soon. Then your bag’s gonna come in real handy. Whoopi.”
The navigator followed, silent.
November 1, 1956 - Abu Ageila, Egypt
The 7th Armored Brigade was given the mission of preventing Egyptian forces from escaping the Hedgehog and fleeing north to Al-Arish. They would be the anvil. The 10th Infantry Brigade commanded by Colonel Shmuel Goder would be the hammer and assault the Hedgehog from the eastern side. Without any armor, the 10th Infantry Brigade was not well-suited to assault the well-defended Hedgehog. With only three infantry battalions, a jeep-mounted company and a heavy mortar company, the 10th Brigade was no match for the Egyptian anti-tank guns, artillery, and heavy machine guns dug into the ridge. To make matters worse, it was an uphill battle for the Israelis and they were attacking a well-prepared defensive position. It spelled disaster from the start.
The Israeli Defense Forces commander Moshe Dayan was an infantry-man. He believed that his infantry brigades were the best for almost any situation. Infantry was flexible and could be easily mobilized if required. They could climb the roughest terrain. They were more dependable than his armor brigades which were always having problem with breakdowns and required large amounts of fuel to keep going. He ensured his infantry brigades were well-armed to take on armor when encountered or any other mission they were tasked with. Few politicians agreed with Dayan but he was the man in charge and would have things his way. D
ayan wanted infantry to take the Hedgehog.
As their jeeps rode over the desert, 10th Brigade began their assault. It didn’t take long before the Egyptians responded with a ferocious barrage of artillery and heavy machinegun fire. The Israelis abandoned their jeeps which were easy targets for the Egyptians. It was safer to approach on foot so the Israelis could use the terrain as cover. Even a shallow slope or wadi offered some protection against the Egyptian machineguns.
The Egyptians were using up their ammunition at an alarming rate as they poured shells and bullets into the approaching Israelis. They were acting as if they had an infinite supply of munitions, which they didn’t. The Egyptians had been cut off from resupply when the village of Abu Ageila was captured by the Israelis. But either they hadn’t realized that fact or they just didn’t care. They were determined not to let the Israelis get any kind of foothold on the eastern front of the Hedgehog.
Adan and his men attacked from the western side up the Katef Ridge. Their job was not to take the Egyptian positions on the ridge but to give up enough of a fight that the Egyptian commander would split his forces in two allowing the 10th Infantry to successfully assault the ridge on the opposite side of the Hedgehog. It was a feint but it had to be believed. The Israeli tanks, now repaired and resupplied with ammunition, fired on the Egyptian positions from the base of the slope while the Israeli infantry fired their anti-tank guns and heavy machineguns from the top of the dam. The Egyptians were taking a beating from both sides of the Hedgehog, but they held on.
Just after noon, the Israelis on the eastern side broke off their assault. They had suffered heavy casualties and lost most of their jeeps. They were stuck and unable to make any progress against the Egyptian positions. It was hopeless without armor to support their advance. It didn’t matter what his commanders believed. Infantry alone was not going to make it up the slopes of the Hedgehog. Goder finally pulled the plug on the operation and ordered his men to withdraw back down the slope.
November 1, 1956 - Southern Israel
Dayan was furious when he received word that 10th Brigade had withdrawn from the battlefield. He refused to believe that the ridge could not be taken with infantry. He decided to visit the battlefield and confront Goder directly.
November 1, 1956 - Abu Ageila, Egypt
Dayan arrived by small aircraft in the early afternoon and reviewed the situation for himself. He railed on Goder for not properly preparing the battlefield before the attack. He was especially adamant about the lack of a preparatory bombardment of the Shinhan Ridge where the Egyptians had been using their artillery to support their defensive positions on the eastern side. Goder reminded Dayan that his brigade was not equipped with artillery or armor. The one heavy mortar company that he did have at his disposal focused its attack on the Egyptian positions on the ridge his men were assaulting.
“Why did you withdraw?” said Dayan.
“My men were unable to advance. They were being slaughtered,” said Goder.
“You know to expect some losses.”
“Some losses, yes. But if we had stayed much longer my entire brigade would have been wiped out.”
“Shmuel, we have to take the Hedgehog. If we could go around it, we would. It’s just not possible without exposing our supply lines.”
“I understand the need for the mission. But I will not just sit back and watch my men get slaughtered without at least a hope of success.”
“You are the commander. You create the hope. You create the opportunity for success.”
“I tried, Moshe. The Egyptians wouldn’t budge.”
“Then you eliminate them one by one.”
“Of course, if we could find them. Our intelligence reports have been worthless. They showed the Egyptian guns in one position and when we arrived they had shifted to another. Lives wasted capturing dirt and sand.”
“Then you should have kept going until you found them.”
“We tried. My men took a terrible beating.”
“They’re soldiers. It’s their job to take a beating when on a mission.”
“Sir, now that they’ve taken the dam and opened the road, 7th Armor is receiving supplies. The Egyptians in the Hedgehog are cut off. It is only a matter of time before they run out of ammunition and supplies. They’ll be forced to surrender. We don’t need to sacrifice Israeli lives to take the Hedgehog. It will fall on its own.”
“That’s wishful thinking. They could counterattack and retake the village cutting off our supply lines once again.”
“And if they do, we can take the Hedgehog and rain fire down upon them. They will surrender. Our men shouldn’t be asked to give up their lives for nothing. No man should.”
“It’s not for nothing, Shmuel. If we don’t win this war soon, the Egyptians will consolidate their forces and counterattack. If they are successful at driving us back, I doubt they will stop at the border. Our country is at risk. Our intelligence reports that the Egyptians are at the point of collapse. We just need to push them.”
“Moshe, 37th Armor will arrive this evening. With their tanks we can combine forces and take the Hedgehog.”
“We cannot wait. I am taking over operational control.”
“What?!”
“I am sorry but your mission is too critical to the overall strategy. You have become soft and indecisive, Colonel. I am taking over.”
“I see.”
“You will attack within the hour.”
“In broad daylight?”
“Yes… in broad daylight. That is an order.”
“Yes, sir,” said Goder offering a lackluster salute and moving off.
November 1, 1956 - Abu Ageila, Egypt
The Israeli Infantry lined up, some riding in the remaining half-tracks. Colonel Goder said, “I hope everyone got some sleep. No naps are allowed during the assault.”
His men chuckled at their commander. They all knew what they were facing and few were in the mood for humor. Many prayed in the last moments. Goder glanced at his watch. It was time. The Israeli artillery opened fire.
The ridge above them exploded in cascades of rock and sand. It would do little good. The Egyptians were dug in like ticks. They would keep their heads down and wait for the attack they knew was coming. Some looked forward to it. Another chance to kill Jews.
Goder felt terrible ordering his men up the long slope leading to the ridge top. He had his orders and he would obey them. He knew he needed to display confidence for the sake of his men. “Advance,” he shouted in the strongest voice he could muster. The Israelis moved forward.
The Egyptians waited until the first half-track reached the base of the slope before opening fire with their Archer anti-tank guns. Three Israeli half-tracks were destroyed and their crews killed in the opening ten minutes of the assault. More Israeli infantry fell as Egyptian machineguns raked their lines and artillery shells tore into the hillside. Some Israelis took cover behind groups of boulders only to have 120-mm mortar shells rain down on them. The Egyptians had pre-targeted any position that looked like it could offer cover. Their aim was deadly.
The Israelis fought back, targeting the Egyptian positions with their light machineguns and ordering in artillery and mortar strikes. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Each time the Israelis attacked they chipped away at the Egyptians who were unable to receive replacements or resupply. They had what they had and it was enough to hold off the Israelis once again.
The assault lasted less than an hour. The Israelis didn’t even get close to the top of the ridge line. It was the Israeli platoon sergeants that finally called for their men to retreat. They were the bravest of the brave, but they knew when a mission was beyond hope. They didn’t care about the consequences. They could not watch their men die for no reason. The company commanders said nothing and let the sergeants’ orders stand.
Goder ran out to meet the survivors. Most were wounded. Every half-track had been hit by at least one Egyptian shell spraying the driver and riders with ho
t shrapnel. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he said to the men in his brigade as they limped past him. He knew he was done as their commander. Dayan would be furious at the brigade’s failure to take the ridge. Goder didn’t care. He could not order his men to attack the ridge again. It was too much to ask.
Goder was right. Dayan relieved him of his command and replaced him with a more aggressive colonel experienced in infantry tactics.
November 1, 1956 – Sheik Zuweid, Egypt
In the early afternoon, the Israeli vanguard rolled into the Egyptian outpost of Sheikh Zuweid about six miles west of Rafah. It was empty and every building was a smoking ruin. Israeli Ouragan and Mystère jets had caught the Egyptians forming up in a convoy to abandon the outpost and head toward the bridges over the Suez Canal. The destruction was complete. The Egyptians had removed their dead and wounded but it was clear from the burning armored cars, jeeps, and trucks, that the air attack had been devastating. It was an eerie demonstration of mankind’s perfection of warfare. The Israelis were silent as they moved through the wreckage.
The Egyptians were retreating to the western bank of the Suez faster than the Israelis could advance. The Israelis had mixed emotions learning about this development. It meant little resistance, but it also meant that significant Egyptian forces were escaping destruction and could be used in a counterattack later in the conflict or in a future war.
November 1, 1956 – Jeradi Pass, Egypt
The Egyptian rearguard, an infantry company, had taken up a blocking position at Jeradi Pass. The mountain range holding the pass was the last natural obstacle between 27th Armor and Al-Arish. The gap in which the pass was located was narrow with high cliffs making a flanking attack all but impossible. It was a strong position for the Egyptians.
Sèvres Protocol Page 21
