The Final Attack on the Radar Station
On the night of July 2 1948 another attack was made upon the radar station. Platoons from the Fourth and Fifth Battalions, and from the Field Corps, began infiltrating the fortified compound. A shell from the supporting forces fell among the attackers, and caused a number of casualties. When our men were spotted, the enemy counter-attacked and caused them further losses. Our men were forced to withdraw. The Jordanians further fortified the compound, and continued to hold it until 1967.
Another attempt on the radar station was made on June 1, at night, by platoons from the Fourth and Fifth Battalions, and from the Jerusalem Field Corps. Air support did not arrive; and two old French cannon fired shells which did not go off. Several 3-inch mortars and one “Davidka” were in support.
The platoon from the Fifth Battalion went first. They skirted the camp to the Ramalla side, and began cutting the barbed wire. The plan was for them to infiltrate the camp, and then open fire. Then, while the enemy’s attention was distracted by this attack, the platoon from the Fourth Battalion would burst through the main gate. The field service platoon were to remain in reserve, 80 meters away.
The supporting mortars went into action only after the attack had begun. By the worst of luck, the first shell fell in the midst of the platoon from the Fifth Battalion, which had already cut through the barbed wire and penetrated the compound. A number of men were hit. From the cries of the wounded, the Arabs were able to locate the platoon, and opened intense fire on them. They were unable either to advance or to retreat; nevertheless, the surviving fighters were able to hold their own against the Arab counterattacks. Reinforcements were called for, but did not appear.
The platoon from the Fifth Battalion meanwhile attacked the main gate and the positions around it, as planned. Two squads were involved in fighting with hand grenades at short range: most of them were wounded in this fight. The third squad were able to capture one of the Legion’s positions, but they too suffered heavy casualties. At daybreak our forces were forced to withdraw, carrying their dead and wounded.
14 men were killed in this action.
The radar station remained in enemy hands, but its activity was reduced; and the Legion were not able to achieve their intention of using it as a critical factor in the battle for the road to Jerusalem. It was held by them until the Six Day War.
The platoon from the Fifth Battalion went first. They skirted the camp to the Ramalla side, and began cutting the barbed wire. The plan was for them to infiltrate the camp, and then open fire. Then, while the enemy’s attention was distracted by this attack, the platoon from the Fourth Battalion would burst through the main gate. The field service platoon were to remain in reserve, 80 meters away.
The supporting mortars went into action only after the attack had begun. By the worst of luck, the first shell fell in the midst of the platoon from the Fifth Battalion, which had already cut through the barbed wire and penetrated the compound. A number of men were hit. From the cries of the wounded, the Arabs were able to locate the platoon, and opened intense fire on them. They were unable either to advance or to retreat; nevertheless, the surviving fighters were able to hold their own against the Arab counterattacks. Reinforcements were called for, but did not appear.
The platoon from the Fifth Battalion meanwhile attacked the main gate and the positions around it, as planned. Two squads were involved in fighting with hand grenades at short range: most of them were wounded in this fight. The third squad were able to capture one of the Legion’s positions, but they too suffered heavy casualties. At daybreak our forces were forced to withdraw, carrying their dead and wounded.
14 men were killed in this action.
The radar station remained in enemy hands, but its activity was reduced; and the Legion were not able to achieve their intention of using it as a critical factor in the battle for the road to Jerusalem. It was held by them until the Six Day War.