The Israeli Defense Forces
in the Yom Kippur War

Parachute and Infantry Corps

by Greg Novak and Frank Chadwick

The Israeli Parachute Brigades had built a reputation for combat ability in the cross border raids of the 1950's and expanded on it ever since. It was after all a Parachute Brigade that recaptured the Wailing Wall and liberated Jerusalem in 1967. During the Fourth War, "the War of Attrition", it had been the Para's who had been called on for the operations deep into Egypt, as well as the anti terrorist missions.

There existed one Regular Parachute Brigade and three Reserve Parachute Brigades in 1973. One served on the Golan, while elements of the other three served in the Sinai. It is an interesting commentary on the fitness of the parachute troops vs. the mechanized infantry, that for the cross Suez operations their services were demanded by the commanders of the armored divisions involved.

The 1973 Parachute Brigade would be organized as follows:

Parachute Brigade


All Elements Veteran, Morale 10
Recon Elements, upgrade 1 level

Parachute Brigade Headquarters Troops

    Brigade Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 jeep
      1 halftrack
      1 staff radio halftrack

    Engineer Company * with:
      1 command stand
      3 engineer stands
      3 halftracks or two medium trucks

    Recon Company, with:
      2 recon infantry stands
      2 recon jeeps with HMG's
      2 recon jeeps with LMG's
      1 jeep with 106mm recoiless rifles

    AAA Battery *, with:
      1 command stand
      1 halftrack
      3 T-20 AAA vehicles

    Antitank Company with: 2 jeeps with 106mm recoilless rifle

3 Parachute Infantry Battalions, each with:

    Headquarters, with: 1 command stand and 1 jeep
    4 Infantry Companies, each with:
      1 command stand
      3 infantry stands
      3 APC's or 2 medium trucks or 1 bus

    Weapons Company, with:
      1 command stand
      1 81mm mortar (ds)
      1 MMG stand
      1 jeep with 106mm recoiless rifle
      1 bazooka stand
      2 medium trucks

Artillery Battalion*, with:

    Headquarters Battery, with:
      1 command stand
      1 FO stand
      2 jeeps
      1 staff radio halftrack

    3 Artillery Batteries, each with:
      1 bazooka support stand
      1 halftrack
      1 halftrack with 120mm mortar

    or

    3 Artillery Batteries, each with:

      1 bazooka support stand
      1 SP 155 howitzer
      1 medium ammo truck

Notes

1. * means that the unit is attached to the Brigade from another Corps 2. Elements of the 31st/80th/3l7th Parachute Brigade (Reservist) fought on the Golan. The 35th Parachute Brigade (Regular), as well as the 23rd/247th and the 55th/243rd Parachute Brigades (Reservists) served in the Sinai. (No two sources agree on the numbers used by the Israeli Reserve Parachute Brigades.)

3. Though not Mechanized Infantry, the 35th Parachute Brigade was issued M-3 halftracks for transport purposes. The Reserve brigades used a mixture of whatever they could find, including halftracks, buses, and civilian trucks.

4. The 55th1243rd Parachute Brigade was issued TOW's on jeeps replacing their 106mm recoiless rifles on or about the 14th Of October This appears to have been the only Israeli unit issued with these weapons prior to the cease-fire.

5. The Parachute Brigades seem to have used the 3.5" bazooka as their Medium Antitank Weapon (MAW), and also issued captured RPG-7s to their stands as an additional Light Antitank Weapon (LAW).

6. The 50th NAHAL Parachute Battalion was assigned to the Golani Brigade.

For most of the Israeli Infantry Brigades in 1973, their primary assignment was serving as garrison troops in the occupied territory. Several did see active service, including one of the most famous units in the Israeli Army, the 1st (Golani) Infantry Brigades.

The Golani Brigade was the Regular Army Infantry Brigade of the Israeli Army, and had reputation that was the equal of that held by the Parachute Brigades. The Golani was tasked with holding the most important stretch of the Israeli border along the Golan Heights. As the majority of the Syrian Army was based in full view of the Golan Heights, it was the post of danger for the Israeli Army. A common statement among the Golani was that if the Syrian Army leaves their bases and goes east -- it's maneuvers -- if they go west -- it's war, and we are in the way.

The 1973 Infantry Brigade would be organized as follows:

Infantry Brigade

Golani Infantry Brigade: All elements Veteran, Morale 11 except Recon Company, Elite, Morale 11 Otherwise, All Elements Regular to Experienced, Morale 9 except Recon Elements, upgrade 1 level

Brigade Headquarters Troops

    Brigade Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 jeep
      1 halftrack
      1 staff radio halftrack

    Engineer Company * with:
      1 command stand
      3 engineer stands
      3 medium trucks

    Recon Company, with:
      2 recon infantry stands
      2 recon jeeps with HMG's
      2 recon jeeps with LMG's
      1 jeep with 106mm recoiless rifles

    AAA Battery *, with:
      1 command stand
      1 halftrack
      3 T-20 AAA vehicles

    Antitank Company, with: 2 jeeps with 106mm recoilless rifles

3 Infantry Battalions, each with:

    Headquarters, with: 1 command stand and 1 jeep
    3 Infantry Companies, each with:
      1 command stand
      3 infantry stands
      3 APC's or 2 medium trucks or 1 bus

    Weapons Company, with:
      1 command stand
      1 81mm mortar(ds)
      1 MMG stand
      1 jeep with 106mm recoiless rifle
      1 bazooka stand
      2 medium trucks

Artillery Battalion*, with:

    Headquarters Battery, with:
      1 command stand
      1 FO stand
      2 jeeps
      1 staff radio halftrack

    3 Artillery Batteries, each with:
      1 bazooka support stand
      1 gun crew stand (ds)
      2 medium trucks
      1 towed 120 or 160mm mortar or towed 155 howitzer

      or

      3 Artillery Batteries, each with:

        1 bazooka support stand
        1 SP 155 howitzer
        1 medium ammo truck

Notes

1. * means that the unit is attached to the Brigade from another Corps

2. The following Mechanized Brigades are reported to have served in 1973: 1st (Golani) Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Brigade, 14th Infantry Brigade, 16th Infantry Brigade, 99th Infantry Brigade, 116th Infantry Brigade.

3. Though not Mechanized Infantry, the Golani Brigade was issued M-3 halftracks for transport purposes.

The Israeli Defense Forces Yom Kippur War

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© Copyright 1997 by Greg Novak.
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