Divided Ground - 1948 Revisions incl. Bootcamp - Divided Ground
| Rating: | 0 (0) |
| Games Played: | 0 |
| SM: | 3 |
| Turns: | 20 |
| Type: | Stock |
| First Side: | Israel |
| Second Side: | Egypt |
| Downloads: | 217 |
Divided Ground 1948 Scenario Revisions
By Alan R. Arvold
A Cruel Khamsin Wind
25 May, 1948 [Latrun, West Bank]: [H2H] [HIS] [GD]:
The Arab Legion was making slow but steady advances towards the Old City. Supplies and reinforcements were urgently needed but the road to Jersulaem was blocked by Arab Legion positions around Latrun. The Israeli General Staff, knowing that the fall of the Old City would have untold effects on the morale of the fledgling nation, formed a new brigade to attack the Latrun stronghold from the west and open the corridor to Jerusalem. The 7th Mechanized Brigade, like many other Israeli units, was an ad-hoc formation and was based on a small mechanized battalion (the 73rd) equipped with halftracks which were recently arrived in the country, and a motly collection of armored cars captured from the enemy. A second battalion (the 71st) was scraped together from various training cadres while a third (the 72nd) was formed using recently arrived immigrants from various European countries. The 7th Mechanized Brigade was given a bare minimum of time to organize and plan Operation Ben-Nun and faced a daunting frontal assault against a solidly entrenched, well led, 4th Arab Legion which was supported by the 3rd Arab Legion Brigade artillery assets and various Jordanian and Palestinian irregulat units.
The 32nd Infantry Battalion, from the Israeli 3rd Alexandroni Infantry Brigade, was attached and tasked to make the main assault against the Latrun fortress. What few vehicles from the 73rd Mechanized Battalion that could be made ready in time wee to provide support from the rear. The 72nd Infantry Battalion was to move south of Latrun and then wheel north to clear the heights overlooking the Jerusalem road for the supply column waiting near Hulda to make the journey to Jerusalem. The Israeli operation was already risky enoungh with a planned night attack and became even riskier when zero hour was delayed and the attack had to begin at dawn. The day would see an agonizing heat borne from a cruel Khamsin Wind from Arabia and with it, clouds of biting black mosquitoes. This is a revision of the original scenario by Edwin "Mick" Conmy. [1.02]
Fatih Allah
10 June, 1948 [Mishmar, Hayardan, Israel]: [H2H] [HIS] [GD]:
The Israeli settlement at Mishmar Hayardan controlled a vital entry into Palestine, the Bridge of Jacob's Daughters. These since antiquity, the Via Maris, a thoroughfare from Egypt to Damascus that was built by the Romans, crossed the Jordan River. Despite its strategic location, Mishmar Hayardan was unprepared for the Syrian attacks which began on the morning of June 6th, 1948. While it and other settlements in the Finger of Galilee were extensively pounded with artillery, Syrian units forced the Jordan River and advanced west towards the north-south road connecting the Finger of Galilee to Tiberias and other points south. The Syrians failed in crossing their armor to the west bank and their attack was repulsed. The Syrians pulled back across the Jordan River to reorganize and reinforce.
Two brigades were assembled for the renewed attack. The lead brigade (the 2nd Infantry) would ford the Jordan River again, acting as the spearhead, while the follow up brigade (the 4th Infantry) would exploit the breakthrough. The Syrian objective was to drive a wedge across the Finger, cutting it off from the rest of Israel, before the anticipated truce froze the opposing forces in place.
The Israeli 9th Oded Infantry Brigade was defending the area and though supported by the various militias from the local settements, was short of arms, ammunition, and men. Reinforcements from the Israeli 2nd Carmeli Infantry Brigade were sent to bolster the 9th Brigade's defense, but before they could arrive and have a chance to strengthen the positions, the decisive Syrian thrust was launched early on the morning of June 10th. This is a revision
of the original scenario by Edwin "Mick" Conmy. [1.02]
Never Go Far
10 July, 1948 [Lydda, West Bank]: [H2H] [HIS] [GD]:
When it became apparent that the truce would not be extended, the fate of Jerusalem was uppermost on the minds of the Israeli leaders. Their plan, Operation Dani, called for the envelopment of the strategic towns of Lydda and Ramle which were located between the southern flank of the Iraqi force at Majdal Yaba and the Arab Legion strongholds around Latrun. Success would give the Israelis control of the Lydda air and rail facilities and establish better positions from which to continue the offensive in the vital Latrun-Jerusalem corridor. Lydda and Ramle were defended by local Arab forces, well fortified and bolstered by small independent Arab Legion detachments, but the defenses were oriented against an attack from Tel Aviv to the northwest. Operation Dani designated the Israeli 8th Armored Brigade to penetrate in the north while the 11th Yiftach Infantry Brigade would assault from the south. This pincers were to meet at the village of Ben Shemen before jointly attacking Lydda-Ramle from the east. The 11th Infantry Brigade, beginning its movement first, fought its way to Ben Shemen the following afternoon.
The commander of the lead unit, the 3rd Infantry Battalion, decided to attack Lydda alone rather then wait for the 8th Armored Brigade, which was being delayed by Arab Legion mechanized forces in the Beir Naballa area to the norrtheast. After encountering stiff resistance on the outskirts of the town, the 3rd Battalion sent a signal to the 8th Armored for armor reinforcements. In the confusion of the battle this call was not received by the 8th
Brigade's headquarters, but instead by its light 89th Mechanized Battalion.The 89th's one-eyed commander, Lt Col Moshe Dayan, abandoned his unit's supporting position at Deir Tarif to race his jeeps and halftracks to the assistance of the 3rd Infantry Battalion. Led by a lone armored car nick-named "The Terrible Tiger", the 89th ripped through Lydda in a flying column, firing in all directions, then continued west to Ramle where its suprise appearance stunned the defenders. Learning that an Arab Legion armored reinforcements were being sent from Latrun, the 89th retraced its route, fighting its way through Lydda again. The shock of these audacious attacks allowed the 3rd Infantry Battalion
to subdue the Lydda defenses. Ranle, now surrounded, surrendered without a fight the next day. Historical note: The 8th Armored Brigade's commander, commenting on the 89th's unauthorized attack which allowed the Arab Legion to gain temperary control of Dier Tarif, said that such disobedience to orders indicated that the 89th's commander would "never go far" in the Israeli Army. Moshe Dayan's subsequent career proved that prediction to be way off the mark. This is a revision of the original scenario by Edwin "Mick" Conmy. [1.02]
Available both with a Mediterranean and Desert maps:
Bootcamp Mission 1 / Bootcamp Mission 1a
15 October, 1948 [Fictional Terrain]: [Side A] [FIC] [GD]:
Brigade Intel has determined that the area around Emanual Aldam is the weak point in the Egyptian lines. Take "Gimel" Company and clear out the road leading toward the town of Sinat. Your imediate objective is the hamlet of Barot.
Reports indicate that it is weakly held. Hopefully you will be able to secure your objective with little loss. This is a revision of the original scenario by Matthew Kreager.[1.02]
Bootcamp Mission 2 / Bootcamp Mission 2a
17 October, 1948 [Fictional Terrain]: [Side A] [FIC] [GD]:
After you captured Sinat, Intellignece has learned of a major effort to reinforce Chanting. In light of this situation, you are ordered to attack with "Aleph" Company and capture the town before enemy reinforcements have arrived. By the way, some "heavy Weapons" units are on the way, and will probably arrive witthin the hour. Keep your losses light, we do not want to be sending too many letters home. Move out! This is a revision of the original scenario by Matthew Kreager. [1.02]
Bootcamp Mission 3 / Bootcamp Mission 3a
19 October, 1948 [Fictional Terrain]: [Side A] [FIC] [GD]:
Driving the Egyptians out of Chanting and that village was no easy task. Luckily the night passed without incident. Your men should be well rested. We do not believe that you will be blessed with quiet for much longer, however. Reconnaissance reports that Egyptians are approaching your position from the north. It is imperative that your and yur men hold onto the village. The old man is already on the radio trying to round up some reinforcements to send your way. Look for "Beth" Company to arrive, but it will be a half hour until they can move out. In the meantime, give "em hell'! We have confidence that you will be able to hold out. This is a revision of the original scenario by Matthew Kreager. [1.02]
By Alan R. Arvold
1948
A Cruel Khamsin Wind
25 May, 1948 [Latrun, West Bank]: [H2H] [HIS] [GD]:
The Arab Legion was making slow but steady advances towards the Old City. Supplies and reinforcements were urgently needed but the road to Jersulaem was blocked by Arab Legion positions around Latrun. The Israeli General Staff, knowing that the fall of the Old City would have untold effects on the morale of the fledgling nation, formed a new brigade to attack the Latrun stronghold from the west and open the corridor to Jerusalem. The 7th Mechanized Brigade, like many other Israeli units, was an ad-hoc formation and was based on a small mechanized battalion (the 73rd) equipped with halftracks which were recently arrived in the country, and a motly collection of armored cars captured from the enemy. A second battalion (the 71st) was scraped together from various training cadres while a third (the 72nd) was formed using recently arrived immigrants from various European countries. The 7th Mechanized Brigade was given a bare minimum of time to organize and plan Operation Ben-Nun and faced a daunting frontal assault against a solidly entrenched, well led, 4th Arab Legion which was supported by the 3rd Arab Legion Brigade artillery assets and various Jordanian and Palestinian irregulat units.
The 32nd Infantry Battalion, from the Israeli 3rd Alexandroni Infantry Brigade, was attached and tasked to make the main assault against the Latrun fortress. What few vehicles from the 73rd Mechanized Battalion that could be made ready in time wee to provide support from the rear. The 72nd Infantry Battalion was to move south of Latrun and then wheel north to clear the heights overlooking the Jerusalem road for the supply column waiting near Hulda to make the journey to Jerusalem. The Israeli operation was already risky enoungh with a planned night attack and became even riskier when zero hour was delayed and the attack had to begin at dawn. The day would see an agonizing heat borne from a cruel Khamsin Wind from Arabia and with it, clouds of biting black mosquitoes. This is a revision of the original scenario by Edwin "Mick" Conmy. [1.02]
Fatih Allah
10 June, 1948 [Mishmar, Hayardan, Israel]: [H2H] [HIS] [GD]:
The Israeli settlement at Mishmar Hayardan controlled a vital entry into Palestine, the Bridge of Jacob's Daughters. These since antiquity, the Via Maris, a thoroughfare from Egypt to Damascus that was built by the Romans, crossed the Jordan River. Despite its strategic location, Mishmar Hayardan was unprepared for the Syrian attacks which began on the morning of June 6th, 1948. While it and other settlements in the Finger of Galilee were extensively pounded with artillery, Syrian units forced the Jordan River and advanced west towards the north-south road connecting the Finger of Galilee to Tiberias and other points south. The Syrians failed in crossing their armor to the west bank and their attack was repulsed. The Syrians pulled back across the Jordan River to reorganize and reinforce.
Two brigades were assembled for the renewed attack. The lead brigade (the 2nd Infantry) would ford the Jordan River again, acting as the spearhead, while the follow up brigade (the 4th Infantry) would exploit the breakthrough. The Syrian objective was to drive a wedge across the Finger, cutting it off from the rest of Israel, before the anticipated truce froze the opposing forces in place.
The Israeli 9th Oded Infantry Brigade was defending the area and though supported by the various militias from the local settements, was short of arms, ammunition, and men. Reinforcements from the Israeli 2nd Carmeli Infantry Brigade were sent to bolster the 9th Brigade's defense, but before they could arrive and have a chance to strengthen the positions, the decisive Syrian thrust was launched early on the morning of June 10th. This is a revision
of the original scenario by Edwin "Mick" Conmy. [1.02]
Never Go Far
10 July, 1948 [Lydda, West Bank]: [H2H] [HIS] [GD]:
When it became apparent that the truce would not be extended, the fate of Jerusalem was uppermost on the minds of the Israeli leaders. Their plan, Operation Dani, called for the envelopment of the strategic towns of Lydda and Ramle which were located between the southern flank of the Iraqi force at Majdal Yaba and the Arab Legion strongholds around Latrun. Success would give the Israelis control of the Lydda air and rail facilities and establish better positions from which to continue the offensive in the vital Latrun-Jerusalem corridor. Lydda and Ramle were defended by local Arab forces, well fortified and bolstered by small independent Arab Legion detachments, but the defenses were oriented against an attack from Tel Aviv to the northwest. Operation Dani designated the Israeli 8th Armored Brigade to penetrate in the north while the 11th Yiftach Infantry Brigade would assault from the south. This pincers were to meet at the village of Ben Shemen before jointly attacking Lydda-Ramle from the east. The 11th Infantry Brigade, beginning its movement first, fought its way to Ben Shemen the following afternoon.
The commander of the lead unit, the 3rd Infantry Battalion, decided to attack Lydda alone rather then wait for the 8th Armored Brigade, which was being delayed by Arab Legion mechanized forces in the Beir Naballa area to the norrtheast. After encountering stiff resistance on the outskirts of the town, the 3rd Battalion sent a signal to the 8th Armored for armor reinforcements. In the confusion of the battle this call was not received by the 8th
Brigade's headquarters, but instead by its light 89th Mechanized Battalion.The 89th's one-eyed commander, Lt Col Moshe Dayan, abandoned his unit's supporting position at Deir Tarif to race his jeeps and halftracks to the assistance of the 3rd Infantry Battalion. Led by a lone armored car nick-named "The Terrible Tiger", the 89th ripped through Lydda in a flying column, firing in all directions, then continued west to Ramle where its suprise appearance stunned the defenders. Learning that an Arab Legion armored reinforcements were being sent from Latrun, the 89th retraced its route, fighting its way through Lydda again. The shock of these audacious attacks allowed the 3rd Infantry Battalion
to subdue the Lydda defenses. Ranle, now surrounded, surrendered without a fight the next day. Historical note: The 8th Armored Brigade's commander, commenting on the 89th's unauthorized attack which allowed the Arab Legion to gain temperary control of Dier Tarif, said that such disobedience to orders indicated that the 89th's commander would "never go far" in the Israeli Army. Moshe Dayan's subsequent career proved that prediction to be way off the mark. This is a revision of the original scenario by Edwin "Mick" Conmy. [1.02]
Bootcamp Missions + Bootcamp Manual
Available both with a Mediterranean and Desert maps:
Bootcamp Mission 1 / Bootcamp Mission 1a
15 October, 1948 [Fictional Terrain]: [Side A] [FIC] [GD]:
Brigade Intel has determined that the area around Emanual Aldam is the weak point in the Egyptian lines. Take "Gimel" Company and clear out the road leading toward the town of Sinat. Your imediate objective is the hamlet of Barot.
Reports indicate that it is weakly held. Hopefully you will be able to secure your objective with little loss. This is a revision of the original scenario by Matthew Kreager.[1.02]
Bootcamp Mission 2 / Bootcamp Mission 2a
17 October, 1948 [Fictional Terrain]: [Side A] [FIC] [GD]:
After you captured Sinat, Intellignece has learned of a major effort to reinforce Chanting. In light of this situation, you are ordered to attack with "Aleph" Company and capture the town before enemy reinforcements have arrived. By the way, some "heavy Weapons" units are on the way, and will probably arrive witthin the hour. Keep your losses light, we do not want to be sending too many letters home. Move out! This is a revision of the original scenario by Matthew Kreager. [1.02]
Bootcamp Mission 3 / Bootcamp Mission 3a
19 October, 1948 [Fictional Terrain]: [Side A] [FIC] [GD]:
Driving the Egyptians out of Chanting and that village was no easy task. Luckily the night passed without incident. Your men should be well rested. We do not believe that you will be blessed with quiet for much longer, however. Reconnaissance reports that Egyptians are approaching your position from the north. It is imperative that your and yur men hold onto the village. The old man is already on the radio trying to round up some reinforcements to send your way. Look for "Beth" Company to arrive, but it will be a half hour until they can move out. In the meantime, give "em hell'! We have confidence that you will be able to hold out. This is a revision of the original scenario by Matthew Kreager. [1.02]
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