Page 638 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

638 XXXIX Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

The Shayetet was equal to the task, which this time around entailed an exceptionally
difficult professional test.
Both professionals and layman alike sense the physical, mental, and technical dif-
ficulties that the operation demanded and appreciate the fitness, perseverance, valor of
spirit, dedication, and wisdom of those that brought it to fruition.
With all the sorrow and anguish over the death of LCdr Rafi Miloh, First Lt Shlomo
Eshel, and CPO Oded Nir, who fell as a result of a technical malfunction after fulfilling
the mission, I would like to express my esteem to you and through you to the Shay-
etet—first and foremost to those men that personally carried out the mission— for this
accomplishment.
Haim Bar-Lev, General
Chief of the General Staff

Operation “Raviv”
The force was trained properly, including model drill. Specific code-maps were pre-
pared.
On the night of the 8th September, 1969, 6 tanks and 3 APC’S were loaded on 3,
36 meters, landing crafts at Ras
Sudar in the Sinai peninsula. All
of these were T-55 Egyptian tanks
and BTR-50 APC’S which were
captured by the IDF during the
Six-Day War, this in order to con-
fuse the Egyptians. The landing
force under command of Col. Ba-
ruch Harel (Pinko), was secured
by Israeli naval boats and naval
commandoes.

The order
The Aim: “RAVIV” force will
execute a raid along the Gulf of
Suez and will hit military targets,
without be involved into battles
with high probability of many
casualties.
Concept of Operation: landing
an armor force by LCTs on the
west bank of the gulf of Suez…
destroying the radar site and mili-
tary camps at Ras abu Darag’ and
Ras Zaafrana.