02-02-2007, 22:55 PM
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#48 (permalink)
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Senior Contributor
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From Tank-net
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Given that the longest tank-versus-vehicle precision engagements appear to have been Israeli ones (for example, documented by George Forty in _Tank Action_ and concerning the destruction of Syrian earth-moving equipment using 105mm APDS at 11km), it doesn't seem unreasonable to suggest that Israeli FCS may have an edge in ultra-long-range engagements, because they have seen a need for them.
David
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Quote:
More details, are perhaps in order. The book explains this set of engagements in pages 252-254.
It seems that the Syrians had been attempting to divert water in the Golan Heights area.
The aim of the Israelis was to stop this, but rolling over the border with tanks to duff-up some earth moving equipment, or using lots of artillery to do the same, was not considered in order, as there was a brokered ceasefire in place at the time.
The whole exercise depended on the Syrians first breaking the ceasefire, thus enabling the Israelis to respond. Various engagements at various ranges (1500metres and up) using a variety of equipment took place, culminating in the APDS shot, which was apparently observed directly (although by off-board observers, which shouldn't be a surprise at that range).
The shot had been previously simulated in a training area that had been remodelled for the purpose.
According to the book, it was a first-round hit on a track, which caused the Syrians to move their earth-moving efforts to a distance of 22km, behind a ridge.
After that, the Israelis had to bomb the worksite and the occupation of the Golan Heights in 1967 ended the Syrian's waterworks projects altogether.
Can any of "our" Israelis confirm/contradict/expand upon this story?
David
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Tzefa,
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yjavehn, DB is exactly right... there was an 11km tank hit in august of 1965 and several other long range engagements, called Operation "Bezek".
Interesting that General Tal was the gunner in one of the tanks.
See Áèòâà çà âîäó, 1964-65ã.ã.
Учи родную историю, мать твою : )))
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Marsh Gelbart, author of book/s on the Merkava series.
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Yep, the "War of the Waters" in 1965, where the IDF intervened to stop the Syrian's diverting the headwaters of the Jordan and cutting Israel's main supply of fresh water.
On the 17th March 1965, Israel Tal and the well known "tank sniper" Shlomo Cohen, destroyed Syrian earth moving equipment at a range of 11Km. On the 17th August, in one of a series of border clashes which followed the destruction of the earth moving equipment, the IDF destroyed three dug in Syrian tanks at a range of 3 km with direct tank fire. Not a bad job considering the primitive FCS in use and all part and parcel of Tal's obsessive drive to improve long range tank fire in the IDF's armoured corp.
cheers
Marsh
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