What a Tanker Golan Heights

After last week’s titanic clash between the armoured night of Palmyra and Rome, attention turned last night to events in October 1973 .  A game of WAT saw the armoured spearhead of the Syrian Army trying to break through the Israeli defences on the Golan Heights.  6 T55s took on a trio of Centurions supported by a lone M51 “Supersherman”.
 
The Syrians rolled onto the table at speed.  The Israelis were slow off their start-line but recovered to take up defensive positions.  However the “Supersherman” soon realised that “Super” referred to its gun, not its WW2 era armour plate. Cue one dead M51. Now with a  2:1 numerical advantage the Syrians continued to advance, and even managed another kill.  At that point Israeli reinforcements arrived in the guise of two M48 Magachs. One joined Phil, the other Rob. The much-vaunted Israeli gunnery  proved disappointingly ineffective. Lots of hits but little damage caused.
 
The Syrians continued to advance but against a now much more cautious Israeli foe, who was proving adept at “shoot and scoot” from the crestlines back into cover.  

The Syrians found their poor optics a problem, exacerbated by a few hits which removed activation dice. Eventually the Israeli gunnery told and two T55s were left smoking hulks.

 
Tony charged forward against Rob and Phil rashly charged round to try to outflank Chris or even get a rear shot. Poor dice left Phil’s Centurion in flames but Chris’ smart 180 degree turn to despatch him left his T55 open to a rear shot from the Magach lurking below the crestline.  

The battle north of the  village saw tank carnage.

 
With time running  out darkness intervened and it was declared a draw……albeit only thanks to the Israeli reinforcements.        
 
So, what did everyone think? Everyone seemed to enjoy the game, and I think the simple  rule modifications worked well.  The points of the various adversaries did feel wrong but this was suspected from before the game.
 
Most pleasingly for me the battlefield actually did look at bit like photos from the Golan heights during Yom Kippur. Some individual tanks smoking in the distance but evidence of brutal close-quarter engagements .
 
Next up the Egyptian Front….
 
Simon