The Yom Kippur War is but another battle in a war which began in 1948. In the 1948 and 1956 battles, the winner lacked the strategic depth and strength to force an end to the war. In the 1967 and 1973 battles, the Soviet Union refused to accept the defeat of her client states, and so the war still continues today.

The preparation for the 1973 battle began some time before the battle, when the Soviet Union began supplying SA-6 missiles, GSP heavy tracked as- sualt ferries, PMP heavy assault bridges, BTR-40P amphibians, and PT-76 amphibian tanks to Egypt. The Yom Kippur War began on October 3, 1973, when the Soviet Union launched Cosmos 596, the first of five photo-reconp naissance satellites, into a low-altitude reconnaissance-type orbit over the Mideast, and began evacuating dependents from Cairo and Syria. On October 3-5, the Arab Armies moved up reinforcements to the front lines.

Prior to the moving up of the reserves, the Egyptians outnumbered the Israelis on the Suez by 25:1 in manpower, 26:1 in artillery and 9:1 in armor. The Syrians outnumbered the Israelis on the Golan Heights by similar ratios, and they are known to have had more T-62 tanks and artillery than the Egyptians.

On October 5, the Israelis were sure that the Egyptians and Syrians were preparing an offensive. The Israeli Cabinet considered a pre-emptive strike by the air force. but rejected it and began a partial mobilization at 10:00 a.m. on the sixth. The Egyptians and Syrians attacked at 2:00 p.m. on the sixth of October.

More Yom Kippur War

Prologue
Starting Lineup: Egypt and Syria
Starting Lineup: Israel
Rounds One and Two
Weapons: SA-6 Gainful SAM, Israeli Soltam L-33, MiG 21, Egyptian Hangerette
The Naval Balance
Combat Aircraft
The Cost: The Butcher Bill
Results, Conclusions, and Myths