The 'Negev' Brigade invasion of Sinai- occupations and raids
'Negev' and the 8th armored Brigade 82nd Battalion, invaded Sinai, encountered an Egyptian force entrenched in Um-Qatef and an infantry Company occupied the site after a night of fighting. The Brigade occupied Abu-Agila, from where 2 Mobil companies were sent to raid the Bir-Chama and the Bir-Lachfan airfields.
The Negev Brigade - 6
The Negev Brigade - 7
On the afternoon of the 28th of December, 1948, the 'Negev' Brigade and the 8th Brigade 82nd Battalion crossed the international border to Sinai with a battery of 120 mm mortars. The objective: to occupy Abu-Agila, advance towards El-Arish in order to move north and fight the western Egyptian branch located on the Israeli border.
The occupation of Um-Qatef
The fighters advanced along 10 km of narrow road surrounded by deep sands. The 9th Battalion (a jeep Company, armored infantry Company mounted on halftracks and an armored Platoon) led the force, followed by Brigade tactical H.Q. and a mortar battery followed by the 82nd Battalion (an armored Company, an armored infantry Company and 3 tanks). The 7th Battalion (2 infantry companies and a support Company) rear guarded the convoy. Our aircraft accidentally attacked the jeeps in the front and the trucks at the rear, killing one of the signalers and wounding the Company's Commander and a driver.
An armored vehicle carrying one cannon taken the previous day during the Shivta battle led the spearhead and was blown up once it arrived 800 m from the Um-Qatef ridge by Egyptian infantry fire. The wounded team was rescued and evacuated by Lieutenant Sherlona. The armored infantry Company halftracks attempting to flank from the right, were bogged down in the sand. Enemy artillery prevented the jeep Company from flanking from the left and the fighters were forced to abandon the vehicles and entrench in the sand, blocking the convoy along dozens of km.
9th Brigade Commander' Haim Bar-Lev, requested the support of an infantry Company in order to overcome the blockade. Adan's Company was moved from the rearguard to the location of the 9th Brigade tactical H.Q., arriving after sundown. 1500 m ahead a low ridge could be seen on the sky-line and the burning armored vehicle could be seen 800m ahead. Due to the darkness bombardment was Ineffective. Ambiguous information concerning the enemy location caused Haim-Bar-Lev and Bren to carry out a diversion on the ridge to the right of the road, with 2 companies under the command of Sashka Witkon. Bren's force was to flank from the left, during which the 2 companies would open fire opposite the ridge allowing Bren's force to invade the sight from the left. Causing the Egyptian forces to counterattack, uncove their location and enabe Bren's force to attack. Bren and his deputy, Haim Guri encountered difficulties encouraging the 'Gachal' (recruits from the camps in Cyprus) Company members who complained of having to move from the rear to the front.
Eventually, the attack was carried out according to plan, the Egyptians responded to the offensive patrol and Bren's Company deployed in front of the army post. The Company was attacked by heavy fire once they arrived 80 m from the post. A bullet hit one of the attackers hand grenade 15 m from the post, killing 2 fighters and wounding 15 others, but the post was occupied none the less. The Company purged 1200 m of the Battalion's area, while demolishing posts located on the ridge during the night. Some of the vehicles and cannon battery that blew up our armored vehicles were taken as loot.
The Capture Abu-Agila and raids against Bir-Chama and Bir-Lachfan airfields:
The occupation of Um-Qatef enabled the advance towards Abu-Agila and the town was occupied at 07:00 am, on the 29th of December. The Political prisoners released from the prisoners cam found in the town reported that the Bir-Chama airfield located 70 km from Abu-Agila was still active. Brigade Commander sent 2 forces to raid the airfields in Bir-Chama and El-Arish. 7th Battalion deputy Commander, Uri Ben-Ari commanded the Bir-Chama attack force that included a force from Solel Cohen's Company mounted on 4 נ.נ and two 9th Battalion jeep companies. The force encountered heavy fire and was forced to return to Abu-Agila. The 82nd Battalion that was assigned to raid the El-Arish airfield with heavy artillery encountered an Egyptian Battalion entrenched near Bir-Lachfan, occupied Bir-Lachfan and the near by airfield. The force returned to Abu-Agila the following day, dragging a 'spitfire' aircraft taken as loot.
On the 29th of December, the UN Security Council decided the I.D.F must return to its former positions and due to pressure of the British and American ultimatum, Prime minister and Minister of Defense, David Ben- Gurion ordered the army to retreat to the mandatory border by the noon of the 1st of January. Yigal Alon went north in order to try and convince Ben- Gurion and Foreign Minister, Moshe Sharett to complete the operation.
The occupation of Um-Qatef
The fighters advanced along 10 km of narrow road surrounded by deep sands. The 9th Battalion (a jeep Company, armored infantry Company mounted on halftracks and an armored Platoon) led the force, followed by Brigade tactical H.Q. and a mortar battery followed by the 82nd Battalion (an armored Company, an armored infantry Company and 3 tanks). The 7th Battalion (2 infantry companies and a support Company) rear guarded the convoy. Our aircraft accidentally attacked the jeeps in the front and the trucks at the rear, killing one of the signalers and wounding the Company's Commander and a driver.
An armored vehicle carrying one cannon taken the previous day during the Shivta battle led the spearhead and was blown up once it arrived 800 m from the Um-Qatef ridge by Egyptian infantry fire. The wounded team was rescued and evacuated by Lieutenant Sherlona. The armored infantry Company halftracks attempting to flank from the right, were bogged down in the sand. Enemy artillery prevented the jeep Company from flanking from the left and the fighters were forced to abandon the vehicles and entrench in the sand, blocking the convoy along dozens of km.
9th Brigade Commander' Haim Bar-Lev, requested the support of an infantry Company in order to overcome the blockade. Adan's Company was moved from the rearguard to the location of the 9th Brigade tactical H.Q., arriving after sundown. 1500 m ahead a low ridge could be seen on the sky-line and the burning armored vehicle could be seen 800m ahead. Due to the darkness bombardment was Ineffective. Ambiguous information concerning the enemy location caused Haim-Bar-Lev and Bren to carry out a diversion on the ridge to the right of the road, with 2 companies under the command of Sashka Witkon. Bren's force was to flank from the left, during which the 2 companies would open fire opposite the ridge allowing Bren's force to invade the sight from the left. Causing the Egyptian forces to counterattack, uncove their location and enabe Bren's force to attack. Bren and his deputy, Haim Guri encountered difficulties encouraging the 'Gachal' (recruits from the camps in Cyprus) Company members who complained of having to move from the rear to the front.
Eventually, the attack was carried out according to plan, the Egyptians responded to the offensive patrol and Bren's Company deployed in front of the army post. The Company was attacked by heavy fire once they arrived 80 m from the post. A bullet hit one of the attackers hand grenade 15 m from the post, killing 2 fighters and wounding 15 others, but the post was occupied none the less. The Company purged 1200 m of the Battalion's area, while demolishing posts located on the ridge during the night. Some of the vehicles and cannon battery that blew up our armored vehicles were taken as loot.
The Capture Abu-Agila and raids against Bir-Chama and Bir-Lachfan airfields:
The occupation of Um-Qatef enabled the advance towards Abu-Agila and the town was occupied at 07:00 am, on the 29th of December. The Political prisoners released from the prisoners cam found in the town reported that the Bir-Chama airfield located 70 km from Abu-Agila was still active. Brigade Commander sent 2 forces to raid the airfields in Bir-Chama and El-Arish. 7th Battalion deputy Commander, Uri Ben-Ari commanded the Bir-Chama attack force that included a force from Solel Cohen's Company mounted on 4 נ.נ and two 9th Battalion jeep companies. The force encountered heavy fire and was forced to return to Abu-Agila. The 82nd Battalion that was assigned to raid the El-Arish airfield with heavy artillery encountered an Egyptian Battalion entrenched near Bir-Lachfan, occupied Bir-Lachfan and the near by airfield. The force returned to Abu-Agila the following day, dragging a 'spitfire' aircraft taken as loot.
On the 29th of December, the UN Security Council decided the I.D.F must return to its former positions and due to pressure of the British and American ultimatum, Prime minister and Minister of Defense, David Ben- Gurion ordered the army to retreat to the mandatory border by the noon of the 1st of January. Yigal Alon went north in order to try and convince Ben- Gurion and Foreign Minister, Moshe Sharett to complete the operation.