Colonel Barlev considered going around the pass. After all, it was only a company of riflemen and a few artillery pieces. They wouldn’t create much of a threat of attacking the Israeli tanks from behind as they assaulted Al-Arish. Besides, they would probably just surrender once the city fell. The problem was his supply lines. If the Egyptians were stubborn and didn’t give up, they could harass his supply convoys. He decided the pass had to be taken.
There was a minor road that rounded the southern part of the mountain range, but it would take time to get a company in behind the Egyptians. Barlev was already behind schedule. He chose brute force over tactical maneuvers to root out the Egyptians. He sent several of his AMX tanks south to get a better angle of attack on the Egyptian positions. The Sherman tanks in his brigade had thicker armor in front than the light AMX tanks. They would become his battering ram. Like his boss, General Dayan, Barlev didn’t like mixing the Israeli air power with ground assaults because of the risk of friendly fire from the overzealous pilots. But Barlev was cautious and requested a squadron of prop-driven Mustangs armed with rockets to be on standby as his armor attempted to take the gap on their own. The Mustangs flew in huge circles nearby like vultures hoping for a meal.
Israeli artillery and mortars joined the AMX tanks firing from a distance. Israelis shells pounded the enemy positions, forcing the Egyptians to keep their heads down while the Shermans advanced up the road into the gap. As the Shermans approached, the Egyptians opened fire and destroyed the lead tank, which blocked the narrow pass. There was no way to clear the wreck without risking several more tanks and men. Barlev cursed like a sailor and called in an airstrike.
The Mustangs flew in high from the east and dove on the Egyptian positions. As prop-driven planes, they were slower than jets, but that made them ideal air-to-ground fighters. Their rockets were deadly accurate and took out several of the Egyptian artillery pieces and machineguns. With their rocket launchers empty, each Mustang took its turn diving down using its six 50-cal machineguns. Eighteen hundred rounds from each plane tore into the Egyptian soldiers killing over a dozen.
Barlev watched and waited as the Mustangs finished their attack. As the warplanes headed back to their airfields across the border, Barlev ordered his tanks to advance once again. And again, the Israeli artillery, mortars and AMX tanks fired a heavy barrage of shells from a distance, pounding the Egyptian positions.
The Egyptians had finally had enough and broke. They fled back through the gap. They bypassed the city of Al-Arish and fled toward the safety of the west bank of the Suez Canal. The Israelis secured the pass, setting up defensive positions facing the city in case the Egyptians changed their minds and counterattacked. They didn’t.
November 1, 1956 – Mitla Pass, Egypt
Brigitte returned in the jeeps with the reconnaissance team. She was tired from the long drive but wanted to make some more notes on the sinking of the Aka before grabbing some shuteye.
“You made it,” said Sharon approaching.
“I did and I have one hell of a story to tell,” said Brigitte.
“That’s good I suppose.”
“So where do you go from here?”
“Nowhere. We stay put. The British and French have issued an ultimatum. We must keep 10 miles from the canal.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“You do?”
“I heard one of the men discussing it.”
“I see,” said Sharon wondering if Brigitte knew more about what was going on than he did.
November 1, 1956 – Suez Canal Zone, Egypt
A flight of six Egyptian MiG-15 prepared for take-off on an airfield near the shores of the Suez Canal. Their mission was to attack advancing Israeli ground forces in the northern Sinai. Once in the air, the MiGs were fast and maneuverable. They could compete with any of the Israeli jets. However, the Egyptians were no match for the Israeli pilots.
The Soviets had sent experienced instructors and technical advisors to train the Egyptian pilots and ground crews in the use of the technically-advanced aircraft. Unfortunately, none of the instructors or the advisors spoke Arabic. Each training session had to be painstakingly translated by an interpreter. The interpreters provided by the Egyptians knew little about flying and many of the technical terms were misinterpreted, confusing the pilots and ground crews.
Many of the Egyptian generals that commanded the air force had never fought in combat. They were political appointees with family connections. They did not understand the need for training and were reluctant to spend their yearly budgets on the fuel, spare parts and ammunition required for a robust training program. Live fire exercises were particularly scarce and many of the Egyptian pilots fired their first shots at the Israeli planes and tanks during a battle. Experience in the cockpit made a much bigger difference in air battles than technical advancements. The Israelis shot down seven Egyptian jets for every one jet they lost themselves.
When the pilot of the first MiG rolled onto the runway, he looked toward the horizon on the opposite end of the runway and saw eight British Sea Venoms flying at maximum speed toward the airfield. He radioed the flight commander to report as he throttled up his engine. He knew his only hope of surviving was to get into the air where he could fight or run. Considering the enemy’s advantage, running was the most appealing option. He released his wheel brakes and roared down the runway. The anti-aircraft guns protecting the airfield opened fire at the incoming enemy jets.
Halfway down the runway, the lead Sea Venom dropped a one-thousand-pound bomb directly in the MiGs path. The explosion blinded the Egyptian pilot and created a hole in the concrete runway the size of a bus. The MiG was moving too fast to stop or even veer out of the way. Its landing gear hit the edge of the crater and the nose of the jet tipped downward. The aircraft smashed into the opposite side of the crater. Its fuel tank and munitions exploded killing the pilot and creating an even large crater in the runway.
The other MiGs were trapped. With the runway destroyed the pilots could not take off and there was nowhere on the airfield to hide their aircraft. Some of the pilots abandoned their cockpits and ran for their lives, while others simply said their final prayer to Allah and waited for the inevitable.
The pilots of the Sea Vemons still had to deal with the anti-aircraft guns blazing away at the edge of the airfield. They were flying fast and low making it difficult for the electrically-powered guns to swing around as they passed.
One of the British Sea Vemons firing on the airfield took a direct hit, killing the pilot. The burning aircraft slammed into the desert floor and cartwheeled, sending flames and wreckage into the air.
Seeing his friend die, the pilot of a Sea Vemon dropped his entire payload on an anti-aircraft gun crew and their gun. The resulting explosion left little evidence that the gun ever existed. The pilot swung back around and used his Hispano 20-mm cannons to strafe the MiGs still on the airfield. Three more MiGs along with their munitions blew up killing their pilots and destroying the remaining anti-aircraft gun. With the anti-aircraft guns silenced, the Sea Vemon pilots took their time and destroyed every aircraft, vehicle and building on the airfield. They left the enemy airfield burning out of control and headed for home out in the Mediterranean.
November 1, 1956 – Cairo, Egypt
Amer and the Egyptian generals were in a conference room with maps marked with the British and French air strikes. Nasser was in a panic. The Halloween bombing campaign had shocked him and his generals. “How is this possible?” said Nasser. “The British and French have destroyed half of our air force in less than twenty-four hours.”
“They have been incredibly lucky. Our pilots and air defenses were overwhelmed,” said Amer. “The British and French have committed a large part of their fleets and air forces to this campaign.”
“A campaign that you assured me was a bluff,” said Nasser.
“As you said, what the British and French are doing doesn’t make sense. They will enrage the Arab countries and l
ose all credibility in the Middle East.”
“Not if they win. I will be made the fool.”
“They cannot win as long as we fight. Our Arab brothers will join our struggle and we will drive the British and French into the sea if they dare set foot on Egyptian soil.”
“I want all of our armed forces across the Suez now. Everything. We must be prepared to repel their invasion when it happens. We must protect the heartland. We must protect Egypt.”
“Of course. It is already being done.”
“I want the rest of our aircraft out of harm’s way. Move our bombers to the Sudan or even Russian if you need to. I can’t lose those bombers.”
“I will see to it personally,” said Amer. “Time is precious. Perhaps you should let me take care of the redisposition of our forces. Your time may be better spent coordinating with our allies and the Russians.”
“Yes. Yes. There is much to do,” said Nasser.
Nasser left the meeting and called the Arab leaders of neighboring countries. At first, he demanded their help as part of the defensive pact they have formed. When that didn’t work, he pleaded for their help as fellow Muslims, declaring Jihad against the Western countries. Whatever his argument, it didn’t matter. Nobody showed any interest in taking on the Israeli, French and British armies. They did however wish him luck and would offer prayers to Allah for his protection. Cowards, he thought. How would they react if their country was being invaded? They will be reminded of this moment when the shoe is on the other foot and they call Egypt for help.
Nasser’s only hope of surviving the coming onslaught was the United Nations and the Soviets. He called his foreign minister and instructed him to plead Egypt’s case to the United Nation general assembly. He knew the U.N. moved like a river of honey and it would take days or even weeks of debate before they could come to any conclusion to help Egypt… or not.
Nasser’s next call was to the Soviet Communist Party Leader, Nikita Khrushchev. Khrushchev was a poorly-educated metal worker that had worked his way up the political ladder to become one of Stalin’s closest advisors. He had been brutal during the Great Purge and had personally ordered the arrests of thousands of Soviet citizens that were eventually executed. He was respected by the military and won the struggle for power that followed Stalin’s death to become the leader of the Communist Party. It was in the Communist Party where the true power of the Soviet Union lay. It was as the leader of the Communist Party that Khrushchev rejected Stalinism and opted for a more liberal society. Many of his policies, especially in agriculture, were well-meaning and intended to help the average Soviet citizen. Unfortunately, most failed and drove the Soviet Union deeper into stagnation and, in some cases, famine. Even with these failures, Khrushchev was one of the most powerful leaders in the world. He had nuclear missiles and wasn’t shy of threatening their use when required to achieve his objectives.
Both Nasser and Khrushchev used translators on the call which made communication laborious and slow. Khrushchev listened as Nasser laid out the situation and predicted the invasion of British and French troops that was about to be unleashed on Egypt. “You say that you want the Soviet Union to be a friend to the Arabs. This is your chance to prove it. We need your help in defending ourselves from Western aggression and we need it now,” said Nasser.
“Of course. Of course, we will help in your struggle against the capitalist swine. But there are practical limitations to what we can do militarily,” said Khrushchev.
“What type of limitations?”
“Moscow is almost three thousand kilometers from Cairo. It could take weeks or even months for our troops and equipment to reach Egypt. That’s assuming we could obtain the required permission from all the countries in-between our two nations and that is highly unlikely. Turkey would be especially difficult.”
“What about ships? You have a Navy.”
“Yes, but we do not have any ports that would allow us quick access to the oceans. Even if we did, the French and British would likely blockade Egyptian ports and the ports of its surrounding neighbors.”
“Fine. Your air force can surely reach Egypt. Your jet fighters could destroy the Western air forces and your bombers could drive the British and French landing forces back into the sea.”
“True. But we still need permission to fly over neighboring countries. That will take time to negotiate. And even if we are successful, I doubt the Americans would sit idly by if they saw Soviet fighters and bombers heading toward the Middle East. We are not yet prepared for a military confrontation with the Americans, not to mention NATO. We are still building our nuclear arsenal. We cannot risk all-out war. Not yet.”
“There must be something you can do,” said Nasser exasperated.
“Yes. Of course. We have a great deal of influence in the international community and powerful allies. We can put a great deal of pressure on both the British and the French.”
“Pressure? You offer pressure?”
“Do not underestimate our influence. Politics got you into the mess and politics can get you out. As a member of the Security Council, Russia also has veto power in the United Nations. If the U.N. attempts to pass any resolutions against Egypt I assure you, Russia will stand by you and use its veto.”
Nasser was crestfallen. After delivering the bad news, Khrushchev asked Nasser to keep him informed on the situation and that he would make himself available at any time if Nasser needed a sounding board for any possible solution. Nasser thanked the Soviet leader but secretly cursed him in his mind. The Soviets would be of little help. Egypt was on her own. He promised to remember this lesson when searching for allies in the future.
November 1, 1956 – Al-Arish, Egypt
Before the Israelis was a long, wide plain leading to the city of Al-Arish, the largest city in the Sinai. It was getting late in the day. Barlev decided to keep pushing his forces forward while he still had sunlight. The company of AMX tanks sped ahead toward the outskirts of the city. The Egyptian forces were in disarray and scrambling back and forth as they prepared to move back across the Suez Canal.
With Egyptians literally running across the desert trying to find safety, the Israeli had to be careful not to attack their own units. Friendly fire from tanks and aircraft was turning out to be more costly than enemy fire. Israeli 7th Armor had formed an ambush for the fleeing Egyptians and accidently fired on a company of Sherman tanks from Israeli 37th armor. Before they realized their mistake eight Sherman tanks from the 37th had been hit and their company commander along with several other Israeli soldiers were killed.
Again, the Egyptians set up a blocking force on the eastern outskirts of the city to buy time for the rest of Egyptian forces as they escaped the Israeli advance. When the AMX column came into range, the Egyptian rearguard opened up with an earth-shattered barrage of artillery. The Egyptian shells rained down and exploded en masse churning up the main road, cratering the path to Al-Arish. Barlev called off the attack. The Egyptians were in full retreat. There was no need to risk his men’s lives. By morning the city would be in Israeli hands with little effort. He would leave the remaining Egyptians for the Israeli Air Force and the British and French ground forces landing at the mouth of the Suez Canal.
November 1, 1956 - Abu Ageila, Egypt
The Israeli 37th Armor Brigade arrived at the eastern edge of the Hedgehog as the sun set on the Sinai. The brigade Colonel Shmuel Golinka in command, it consisted of two armored battalions and two motorized infantry battalions with half-tracks. The motorized infantry battalions arrived with Golinka while the two armored battalions lagged behind.
Golinka had heard of Goder’s fate and had no desire to succumb to Dayan’s temper. After looking at the intelligence reports, Golinka, like Dayan, was convinced the Egyptians were ready to break and run. When he received a report that his tanks were still hours away from the battlefield, Golinka grew impatient. He ordered his infantry battalion commanders to get ready to attack. What remained of 10th Infantry would ac
t as their reserve during the assault.
Golinka decided to lead the attack himself using one of the half-tracks as a mobile command post. He ordered the drivers to turn on the lights on their half-tracks. He believed the Egyptians would be intimidated when they discovered that two full battalions were attacking their position.
It was just before midnight when Golinka ordered his men forward. They were well-rested after a few hours’ sleep and eager to get at the enemy.
The Egyptians were surprised to see the headlights on the Israeli half-tracks still on and wondered it was some sort of ruse. They opened fired with their Archer anti-tank guns destroying more than a dozen of the Israeli vehicles. Twenty Israelis died and sixty-five were wounded. Golinka was among the dead. His half-track had been hit by multiple anti-tank shells. The Israelis retreated once again into the night. The half-track drivers, defying their dead commander’s last order, turned off their headlights.
TWELVE
November 2, 1956 – Sinai Desert, Egypt
It was just past midnight. Coyle and the navigator had walked as far as they could during the early evening when it was cooling off. Exhausted, they had made camp in another outcropping of rocks. Their faces were drawn and blistered from the sun. Their lips were cracked and bleeding. A fire burned brightly. They didn’t care if the Egyptian patrols found them.
Coyle held up the water bottle from the aircraft. He swirled it around. A small amount of water sloshed inside. It was the last of it. Coyle and the navigator longed for a drink, but they had agreed to wait until morning to finish it off. Then… it was just a matter of time until they died.
Sèvres Protocol Page 22
