Preparation for the war

The late president Al-Sadat said in his book "In Search of Identity" ( On 30 of September 1973, I convened the national security council, I asked the members to give their opinion in the situation, some of them called for war but the others were hesitant. The minister of supply said that the present provision would not be enough for a long battle.

After everyone talked about the battle and the condition of the country, I said to them "everyone gave his word but I would like to say that our economy now equals zero and we have commitments to banks which we can not fulfill it. After two months when the year of 1974 comes, we will not be able to provide a loaf of bread to citizens, we will not be able to ask any of the Arab countries for one dollar, because they will answer that they pay the Suez Canal subsidy (because canal was closed since 1967) and there is no war.")

Source:Book of the late president Al-Sadat "In Search of Identity"

The Egyptian military historian Gamal Hammad said about the preparation for war in his book "The war operations on the Egyptian front" ( The problem of how to cross the Suez canal which forced the Egyptian leadership to innovate a combat uniform that could carry all weights of infantryman in a proper way after it had been discovered that the old one was no longer suitable, the ordnance department made many attempts in this subject, till it reached the required results. Before the end of October 1972, fifty thousand of new combat uniforms put into use. The capacity of soldier water bottle increased to 2.5 liter instead of ¾ of a liter, to be enough for a complete day. Because of heavy weights of a soldier, infantry corps were provided with carriages that can be pulled by hands for 5 kilometers and could carry 150 kilogram of munitions and military weapons over untracked roads.

Infantryman was provided with many of modern weapons. In the middle of 1972, infantry units were provided with lighting tools which were operated by the infrared rays or enlarging star lights. In addition to these modern tools, there were simple tools such as black glasses, which were used by soldier, when enemy used Zinon rays to blind our soldiers’ eyes, our soldier could wear these black glasses then, launching a missile to the source of light to destroy it.

One of the simple tools is the rope ladders, it is similar to that tool which naval units use it and its sides made of rope while its steps are made from wood it is easy to roll and carry it, then to stretch it on the sand barrier (high artificial Israeli mountain of sand on the eastern bank of the Suez Canal), by it, the infantryman can climb the sand barrier, and his leg will not sink in the sand and we can put two ladders together, upon them we can pull our cannons, such as B-10 and B-11 recoilless cannons, missile malutka, RPG, Strela SAM 7 for aircrafts, medium machine cannon 7.62 mm and heavy machine cannon 12.7 mm, in addition,  the infantrymen can pull carriages and move on the sand barrier without sinking in the sand

Source:The Egyptian military historian Gamal Hammad from his book "The war operations on the Egyptian front"

General Mohamed Abd Al-Ghany Al-Gamasy, said in his memoirs ( President Al-Sadat gave a strategic direction to general commander Ahmed Ismail in 10th of Ramadan – 5th of October 1973 as follow: Upon military strategic directions of me on 1 of October 1973, and upon conditions and political situations I give the order to the military forces to do the following strategic jobs.

- Break the status-quo and cease-fire on 6 of October 1973.

- Causing a great loss to the enemy in individuals and weapons.

- Libration the occupied land (Sinai) on stages depending on the development and capability of armed forces.

These steps should be executed by the Egyptian Armed Forces only, or in co-operation with the Syrian Military Forces.

When General Ismail informed me about these strategic directions, I asked to know reasons for which president Sadat sent this message, although we had the strategic direction dated on 1 of October 1973 which asked for war. The strategic goal was defined and the plan of operation that would be executed was completely clear for him, and the war would start on 6th of October. General Ahmed Ismail told me that he asked for that direction to make the issue clear for history. )

Source: October War 1973, second edition 1998. General Mohamed Abd Al-Ghany Al-Gamasy chief of operations of Egyptian Army during the war.

contact us