The Battle The few principle escape routes used by UN and Israeli forces in their retreat from the Golan funnelled down to a single crossing point over the river. The Soviets considered that if the bridge could he captured and held Allied evacuation plans would be greatly frustrated. A simple but daring plan was hatched. Paratroop assault engineers and the brigade Recce Company would seize both ends of the bridge in a surprise airborne attack. The 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 105th Guards airborne brigade were then to helicopter-assault to the north and south of the objective. All attempts to dislodge them would be resisted until relieved by ground forces. The dawn attack was a success. Complete surprise was achieved and the few sentries guarding the bridge were quickly overpowered. Demolition charges were soon located and disconnected and shortly afterwards paratroopers from the 1st and 3rd Battalions swooped in from their helicopter transports. UN and Israeli forces in the area reacted quickly and counter-attacked, But were unable to repel the attackers. In the next few hours twelve thousand UN prisoners were taken by the outnumbered paratroops. The operation was not a complete success however as the first paratroops were preparing to touch-down, the bridge disappeared in the midst of a huge explosion. The reason for the bridges destruction has never been satisfactorily explained, but the favourite scenario is that the attached explosives were detonated by a stray 57mm rocket. The Wargame The game begins after the bridge has been seized by the engineers/recce and gun company, these figures are initially placed on the table. The Soviet player decides the landing zones for the 1st and 3rd Battalions (one on each side of the river Jordan). When these have been noted, the UN player can position his forces. One battalion should be billeted in Mishmar Hayarden and the UN deployed on the Southern side of the river (but not within twenty inches of the bridge) the two emplaced SP guns may be sited at the discretion of the UN commander. The Soviet primary objective is to secure the bridge by preventing its recapture by counter-attacking UN forces. The Soviets take the first turn during which each paratroop battalion lands. The Hind-F sorties must be ordered before the start of the game. To simulate the possibility of the bridge being destroyed by a mysterious explosion two percentage dice (d10) are thrown at the end of each UN turn; 5% or less and up goes the bridge. The Soviets can still win, however, if they can capture the two SP guns and defeat the local UN forces. The two UN tanks arrive at the point indicated on the map on the turn determined by a d10 roll. They may not move more than 6" onto the table on their turn of arrival. Special Rules Allied 'reserve fire' in the first turn is restricted to the two SP guns Soviet Order of Battle 105th guard's airborne brigade. RECCE COY :1 BRDM2, 1 BMD 2(AT-4B), BHQ ; CO (lieutenant Nicolas Romanoff)+ 4 FIGS. GUN COY-1 SD-44 85mmA/T GUN +3 crew, 1 GAZ 66 truck ENGINEER COY- 6 FIGS (2 flame, 1 mine detector) 1 UAZ 469 jeep. Deployed at the bridge. 3rd Air Assault Battalion. ELITE (Colonel Remsikof) BHQ ; CO +3. (Sniper/1 x 3OrnmGL) 1 BMD 1(no ATGW). 3 COMPANIES: @ 6 FIGS (1 RPG 7/1 BG-l5).l BMD 1+AT3. 1 COMPANY; 8 FIGS (2 SA7 ), 1 UAZ 469, 1 S0-120 SP MORTAR. TOTAL 30 FIGURES & 1 Mi-6 HOOK 1st Air Assault Battalion. ELITE (Colonel Poldarksky). BHQ ; CO+5, (1 SA-7/1 30mmGL/1 AT-4 ) 3 COMPANIES; 8 FIGS @ (1 RPG 7/I BG-15/l SPG-9) 1 COY 6 FIGS (1 AT-4B/ l x 120mm Mortar ) TOTAL 36 FIGURES & 1 Mi-8 E with 6x 57mm ROCKET PODS 115th Guards Attack Helicopter Regiment. Mi-24F ; 2 x 30mm, 4 x ROCKET PODS UB80-20, 1 (4) x AT6 All troops are "ELITE". UN Order of Battle 9 Gerrman Panzer Grenadier brigade. SP ARTILLERY REGT ; 2 x PzH2000 Mechanised Battalion. REGULAR (Colonel Fritz Godel the 2nd ). BHQ:CO+3 FIGS, 1 M577 radio station, 1 Redeye SAM (2 figures) 3 COYS; @ 7 FIGS (I Pzfaust 3) 1 MARDER with MILAN 1. 1 COY- 1 M113 / 120rnm Mortar + 4 CREW. TOTAL 31 FIGURES. Leopard Company. REGULAR: 2 x LEOPARD II TANKS. 234 Gebirgsjager Battalion. REGular (Colonel Hans Upbabie ). BHQ ; CO + 5 (SNIPER / 1 REDEYE SAM) 1x TPZ-1 3 COYS ; @ 10 FIGS (1 Pzf 3 /1 )1 x TPZ-l 1 support COY; 6 FIGS (1 MILAN 1/1 x 120mm Mortar ) 1x TPZ-1 TOTAL 42 FIGURES. All troops are "Regular". Back to Frontline Vol. 3 Iss. 1 Table of Contents Back to Frontline List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by Rolfe Hedges This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com