Battle of Serabaeum October 1973
Pedro and I played a simple Rapid Fire Able Archer.game based on the Israeli attacks west of the Suez in 1973 around the village of Serabaeum. We are play testing the new Able Archer rules before their release later in the year. We are planning English, French and German language release, then Finnish, Spanish and Chinese (as these languages cover all of our French Wargame Holiday guests)
Village is considered as hard cover, observation to fire required, auto observation at 6 inches, armour must morale test to enter village, artillery observation by Observation team and infantry commanders only. Isreali infantry and centurions elite.
Israeli Order of Battle
243rd Paratrooper Brigade
After taking the village the Orders hold village of Serabaeum for 10 turns against Egyptian counter attack. Support infantry and armour arrives on a D10 turn.
1st parachute battalion (in village)
HQ
OC + 5 radio, light mortar team, anti tank team vehicle
1st company
8 figs, lmg, grenade launcher
2nd parachute battalion arrive Radom D10 turn
HQ
OC + 5 radio, light mortar team, anti tank team
1st company
8 figs, lmg, grenade launcher
2nd company
8 figs, lmg, grenade launcher
Tank Company
2 x Sho ‘t Meteor Centurions L7 105mm, class 3 gun, class C armour, medium
Egyptian order of Battle
Egyptian orders are to recapture the village and prevent the Israelis from taking the high ground to the west of the village.
73rd Sa’iqa Parachute Regiment
1st Battalion
HQ
OC, radio, sniper, observer element + 2 vehicle
1st Coy
RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5 + vehicle
2 Coy
RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5 + vehicle
3rd Coy
RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5
Support coy
HMG, 81mm mortar, sagger AT vehicle
2nd Battalion (arrive on D6 turn)
HQ
OC, radio, sniper, observer element + 2 vehicle
1st Coy
RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5 + vehicle
2 Coy
RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5 + vehicle
3rd Coy
RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5
Support coy
HMG, 81mm mortar, sagger AT vehicle
Armour Battalion (arrive D6 turn)
Morale tests per company for armour 120mm class 2 gun, D class armour, slow
HQ
1 x JS3
1 x zSU 57-2
1st company
3 x JS3
Rocket battery
BM13 Katyusha rocket 132mm 10 points table 4, unguided rocket templates 4 rounds, after observation, use rocket template.
 |
| The village of Serabaeum |
Egyptians arrive, the HQ Armoured coy arrived with the first battalion
 |
| The first IS 3 falls victim to antitank fire |
 |
| The Egyptians assault |
 |
| Isreali reinforcement arrives turn 5, immediately the first centurion is knocked out by long range fire from the IS-3 |
 |
Israeli reinforcements arrive in the village turn 6
|
 |
| Second of Egyptians battalion arrives |
A draw,
Israelis lost one company of Para, and both centurions, but held two buildings at the end of turn 10
Egyptians held the one building of the edge of the village, and contested another, lost one JS3 however one battalion lost a commander and was down to below 50% but managed to pass its morale check.
Next game more armour and add reconnaissance by air, then air support.
Cheers
Matt
