The Southern flank, 2200 hours.
The "skeleton Iraqi Infantry" had three tank platoons in reserve, unbeknownst to the Iranians. As their armored spearhead approached the highway from the east, a close range melee ensued. Neither side's IR systems appeared to be working, and the gunners were forced to use the tracers of their coaxial machineguns to identify their targets. Though the Iranians began the melee by opening fire first, the Iraqi's quickly annihilated the combined arms group and wiped the entire armored force out within 20 minutes. A reserve platoon was also destroyed completely as it rushed to the aid of the attack. 12 Iranian tanks and Armored Personnel carriers were left mere feet from the road as 3 T-55's, a T-62, 3 BMP's and a BTR-60PB were also knocked out. The void left over from the action was quickly filled with Iraqi infantry.
a final, short action
Combined arms force moves on the crossroads
IR sights were useless as no one had any light
"So much for old men and boys.."
Knocked out at the crossroads
Final desperate moments at the crossroads.
Gunners were forced to use tracers and explosions instead of their IR night sights.
T-62's at the crossroads, the destroyed armored force just beyond
The BMP's were caught by the reserve platoon and fell like flies before the platoon was also overwhelmed
only feet from their objective..
T-55 and small arms mops up the reserve platoon survivors
The Iraqi's had substantial reserves, contrary to military intelligence
the battlefield
In the morning, a counterattack by the Iraqi infantry is blunted by a barrage from M60's being used as self propelled artillery. 2 M60's and a T-55 are lost in the exchange, along with another BMP and BTR. Soon the clear skies give way to more rain, and the fire dies down.
As the sun comes up the Iranians scramble to regain the initiative. An immediate armored spearhead is ordered on a north to south bearing, flanking the Iraqi gains and giving the Iranian infantry breathing room.
A flight of F-5's supports the Iranians as the Pattons surge forward. This time, it is the Iraqi's who are caught in the open. T-55's desperately maneuvering to escape the relentless strafing runs by the F-5's are identified and fired upon at a thousand yards. Unlike usual, the first two go up in flames in the first salvo. A T-62 is caught just behind the first T-55's and also destroyed. As the force continues to push south, another T-55 is identified and suffers the same fate. The Iraqi's quickly retreat, as the Iranians appear to vastly outnumber them. 5 Iraqi vehicles are destroyed while the Iranians suffer no losses.
105mm fire from entrenched Patton tanks on its way to Iraqi positions. The fire was incredibly effective, killing a platoon commander and destroying a BMP
An M60a1 awaits orders to fire
F-5's inbound on Iraqi positions
A T-62 is caught in the open trying to hide from the F-5's and annihilated.
The Armored force hurdles south
A T-55 maneuvering to a hull down position doesn't arrive
The Iraqi armored force was wiped out in mere minutes
The real MVP
Caught in the open and destroyed
The Iranians smash the Iraqi position
Iranian infantry quickly overtake the farthest advances from the previous night, but there are no survivors
In a desperate bid to recapture their positions, the Iraqi's launch an all out counter assault with their only remaining units. Two more T-62's are destroyed as they advance through the fog and a short infantry action and point blank range leaves an M60 damaged. As the fog lifts, BMP's begin a AT-3 barrage, but to no effect. Now the range finders on the M60's are working correctly, and each is knocked out in turn at 1100 yards. The Iranian perimeter is finally advanced beyond the crossroads, but at a heavy cost.
T-62's are knocked out as they advance to the north
Defending the crossroads
The Iraqi's are quickly mopped up in turn, again without Iranian loss.
Overrun supply trucks
In the south the campaign is over. The Iraqi armored forces have been wiped out, though at a heavy cost. In the north, a final attempt to recapture the causeways over the irrigation canal is met head on by an Iranian combined arms force. Quickly the Iraqi infantry is dispatched small arms fire along with their carriers, but the T-55's following in their wake quickly knock out an M60 and force the other to occupy a hull-down position and take pot-shots until the mechanized reserve arrives from the south. High explosive and SABOT rounds pound the Iranian positions and make crossing the irrigation canal a costly move. M47 Dragon teams begin firing at the two remaining T-55's and account for one. The remaining T-55 continues to fire on the causeway, in spite of accurate fire from the M60.
An M60 is knocked out by accurate T-55 fire.
The remaining M60 continues to fire on the T55 position
Neither side is having any effect
Iranian Paratroopers cross the causeway as the remaining tank crew continues pounding the Iraqi position
The Iranian attack is successful. Iraqi forces have suffered huge casualties and are forced back, however the Iranians also suffer terribly.