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From JPost Archives on Yom Kippur War | MORE ARTICLES

Egyptian forces lose 200 tanks; drive on Damascus continues. Israelis beat back Egyptians

By Jerusalem Post Military Reporters
October 15, 1973

TEL AVIV — The Egyptian forces yesterday lost some 200 tanks after an eight-hour armored battle in an attempt to breach the Israeli defenses along a wide sector of the Suez Canal front. They were repeatedly repulsed after launching their attack at 6 a.m.

The Egyptians opened up with an intensive 90-minute artillery barrage, followed by a massive attack of armor. It was the third consecutive day that the Egyptians attacked and observers here suggested that the determined Egyptian pressure was inevitable following the continued build-up of their forces on the east side of the Canal for the past few days.

The Egyptians are believed to have transferred more tanks across the Canal until yesterday. In yesterday’s battle the Israel ground units were actively supported by the IAF which provided close support.

No figured were given as the number of tanks that went into action yesterday but the battle was said to have exceeded in scale the famous WWII fight at El Alamein in which 1450 tanks were involved, or Germany’s opening move on the Russian front in June 1941, where 1400 tanks were deployed.

A total of 19 enemy planes were brought down yesterday, 15 of them Egyptian, including two Mirages, and four Syrian aircraft.

Early morning sorties by Egyptian fighter-bombers included for the first time an undisclosed number of French-built Mirages presumably out of the batch delivered by France to Libya.

The IAF continued its raids against Egyptian and Syrian airfields and also provided more of its close air-to-ground support on both fronts as well as against anti-aircraft missiles and military installations in Port Said for the fourth day running.

During Saturday night Israel Navy missile boats attacked the port of Damietta in the Nile Delta, and shelled port installations.

JPost Features AMOTZ ASA-EL: The big one The Yom Kippur War: The epic confrontation that transformed the Middle East ABRAHAM RABINOVICH: The height of hutzpa MOTTI ASHKENAZI: Just a scared soldier MEIR RONNEN: 'Sic transit gloria' YEHEZKEL DROR: Re-engineering history MARTIN VAN CREVELD: The last conventional war YOSSI KLEIN HALEVI: War and atonement HAIM SABATO: Days of Awe PINCHAS LANDAU: The rise and fall of oil From JPost Archives 7.10.1973 - Egyptian-Syrian attacks held 10.10.1973 - Israel regroups along the Canal. Syrians halted 9.10.1973 - Israel takes offensive, bitter battles raging. Syrian armored units bid to counter-attack 9.10.1973 - Many Syrians said fleeing on foot 9.10.1973 - 13-tank Yuval tells his story 9.10.1973 - Wounded tell of battle in Sinai 9.10.1973 - Yariv: No rapid conquest; Bar-Lev line is evacuated 14.10.1973 - Thrust into Syria widens over 21-kilometer front 14.10.1973 - Last Israeli strongpoint surrenders 15.10.1973 - 656 Israelis killed in eight days of war 15.10.1973 - Egyptian forces lose 200 tanks; drive on Damascus continues. Israelis beat back Egyptians 15.10.1973 - Arabs won't accept cease-fire: Decisive battle ahead - Dayan 17.10.1973 - Israel task force crosses Canal. Syria loses 105 tanks, 10 planes 17.10.1973 - Anti-aircraft missile batteries destroyed 19.10.1973 - Heavy Egyptian tank and plane losses as counter-attack fails 21.10.1973 - Israel forces widen Canal Bridge-Head 22.10.1973 - Israel expands bridgehead, downs 32 enemy aircraft 23.10.1973 - Shooting continues at Canal despite Israel-Egypt cease-fire 26.10.1973 - Emerged from great danger, Golda says 28.10.1973 - Israel, Egypt agree to meet on supplies for 3rd army, truce Non-military convoy to be sent 4.11.1973 - Government to probe questions about war, Bar-Lev believes 13.11.1973 - Sharon tells how he crossed the Canal 25.09.1998 - Shattered Heights: Part 1 25.09.1998 - A sober look at how the war was won 25.09.1998 - A victory remembered as a defeat 27.09.1998 - History may repeat itself 29.09.1998 - EDITORIAL: The watershed war 29.09.1998 - Two wars in one, vividly relived 2.10.1998 - Shattered Heights: Part 2 7.10.1998 - Egypt marks anniversary of Yom Kippur War 9.10.1998 - A Diary from Hell 11.10.1989 - Memorial service marks 16 years since Yom Kippur War 14.09.1994 - Another fiasco like 1973? 17.09.1999 - War and Lack of Inner Peace 11.10. 2000 - Barak preaches unity sermon to families of fallen 28.09. 2001 Debunking a myth: Dayan never feared Israel's 1.10. 2001 - Security checks delay start of Yom Kippur War memorial ------------------------------------------------------ [ Click Here to Start the Photo Tour ] ------------------------------------------------------