The “Orphan” Convoy
This convoy was nicknamed “The Orphan” because only one single truck got through, while the wireless code name for the convoy was “The Family”.
Instead, an attempt was made to send a convoy over a new route: an unpaved road (called “Gazelles’ Way”). This road begins before Latrun, and rejoins the road to Har-Tuv south of Sha’ar Hagai. In this way the most difficult part of the route, opposite Dir Ayyoub, would be by-passed.
On the following night – 16.5 – “A” company of the 52nd Battalion occupied hill 200, and a second company, commanded by Noam Launer, occupied the village of Latrun without opposition. The Fourth Battalion occupied the village of Dir Ayyoub and the outposts close to it.
The convoy, with Aryeh Reisz in command, left Hulda at 0130. It consisted of three armoured vehicles and an ammunition truck carrying mortar bombs. The intelligence officer of “Harel” brigade, Zerubavel Arbel, took the convoy to “Gazelle’s Way”. This path was known to the Arabs, who used it to move between Latrun and Beit Mahsir. Progress was slow – mines had to be cleared to let the convoy through. One truck went over a mine. Though its load was unharmed, its whole front part was damaged, and it remained stuck in the middle of the path, with the truck behind unable to pass it. Luckily, a group from “Harel” arrived from the other direction, and the damaged truck’s load was transferred to theirs.
This convoy was nicknamed “The Orphan” because only one single truck got through, while the wireless code name for the convoy was “The Family”……
At dawn, firing began from the groves around Latrun monastery. The forces which had occupied the villages of Latrun and Dir Ayub withdrew, their mission accomplished.
On the following night – 16.5 – “A” company of the 52nd Battalion occupied hill 200, and a second company, commanded by Noam Launer, occupied the village of Latrun without opposition. The Fourth Battalion occupied the village of Dir Ayyoub and the outposts close to it.
The convoy, with Aryeh Reisz in command, left Hulda at 0130. It consisted of three armoured vehicles and an ammunition truck carrying mortar bombs. The intelligence officer of “Harel” brigade, Zerubavel Arbel, took the convoy to “Gazelle’s Way”. This path was known to the Arabs, who used it to move between Latrun and Beit Mahsir. Progress was slow – mines had to be cleared to let the convoy through. One truck went over a mine. Though its load was unharmed, its whole front part was damaged, and it remained stuck in the middle of the path, with the truck behind unable to pass it. Luckily, a group from “Harel” arrived from the other direction, and the damaged truck’s load was transferred to theirs.
This convoy was nicknamed “The Orphan” because only one single truck got through, while the wireless code name for the convoy was “The Family”……
At dawn, firing began from the groves around Latrun monastery. The forces which had occupied the villages of Latrun and Dir Ayub withdrew, their mission accomplished.