More Attempts at Getting Convoys Through
A further attempt the following night (17.5) to get a convoy through, failed. “Harel” and the 52nd Battalion took positions, but then it transpired that the convoy could not be organized, and nothing was sent.
A further attempt the following night (17.5) to get a convoy through, failed. “Harel” and the 52nd Battalion took positions, but then it transpired that the convoy could not be organized, and nothing was sent.
About a day later, another convoy was dispatched via “Gazelle’s Way”, after the road had been carefully cleared of mines. 35 vehicles were assembled at Hulda. The convoy set out under the command of Aviv Barzilai, accompanied by three armoured vehicles. Zerubavel was navigating. Near Latrun, they were fired on. Some of the vehicles were damaged; about half of them reached Kiryat Anavim.
In Jerusalem, since the “Harel convoy”, there remained some 200 vehicles which could not be brought down to the plain. They were desperately needed: the supply department in the plain was no longer able to assemble enough vehicles for fresh convoys. It was decided to try and return them --- but the attempt was postponed night after night, until any attempt at all was rendered impossible by a new development: a large force of the Legion arrived at Latrun, with about 3500 legionnaires and numerous irregulars. They were well trained and well equipped. At the same time, the Legion renewed its attacks on Jerusalem itself; headquarters were obliged to postpone the plans for Latrun and bring up additional forces to the city.
IDF forces in the area at the time were from the “Harel” brigade (about 700 soldiers), the “Beit Horon” battalion (about 450) and the 52nd Battalion (about 600).
About a day later, another convoy was dispatched via “Gazelle’s Way”, after the road had been carefully cleared of mines. 35 vehicles were assembled at Hulda. The convoy set out under the command of Aviv Barzilai, accompanied by three armoured vehicles. Zerubavel was navigating. Near Latrun, they were fired on. Some of the vehicles were damaged; about half of them reached Kiryat Anavim.
In Jerusalem, since the “Harel convoy”, there remained some 200 vehicles which could not be brought down to the plain. They were desperately needed: the supply department in the plain was no longer able to assemble enough vehicles for fresh convoys. It was decided to try and return them --- but the attempt was postponed night after night, until any attempt at all was rendered impossible by a new development: a large force of the Legion arrived at Latrun, with about 3500 legionnaires and numerous irregulars. They were well trained and well equipped. At the same time, the Legion renewed its attacks on Jerusalem itself; headquarters were obliged to postpone the plans for Latrun and bring up additional forces to the city.
IDF forces in the area at the time were from the “Harel” brigade (about 700 soldiers), the “Beit Horon” battalion (about 450) and the 52nd Battalion (about 600).