- Title: JUDEAN DESERT: ISRAEL SHOWS ITSELF BATTLE READY ON ENGINEERS CORPS DAY.
- Date: 9th August 1974
- Summary: 1. GV and SV Military officials watching event (2 shots) 0.08 2. GV Mine being exploded 0.16 3. SV Military officials watching 0.24 4. GV Another mine being exploded 0.34 5. SV Remote control bulldozer starts up 0.42 6. GV and SV bulldozer begins to clear field (2 shots) 0.54 7. SV PAN TO GV soldier operating bulldozer from
- Embargoed: 24th August 1974 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: JUDEAN DESERT
- Country: Israel
- Reuters ID: LVA5PC11DMSDS1L77FQZF4F014K6
- Story Text: Amid increased fears that hostilities could break out again in the Middle East, Israel's Corps of Engineers gave an impressive display of their battle readiness somewhere in the Judean Desert on Wednesday (August 7) - Engineer's Corps Day.
Reports of massive Soviet arms deliveries to Syria and Iraq coupled with war threats from Damascus and other Arab capitals has led Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to say publicly that Israel must be geared militarily as though war could break out soon.
Israel's Engineering Corps unveiled newly invented machinery for use if the attempts to hold the peace should fail. They were seen by military attaches of the United States, Britain, Italy, the Philippines, Brazil, Turkey and Canada.
The task of the engineers is to impede and hinder the enemy's offensive operations by putting asmany obstacles as possible in the way. The engineering units must also ensure freedom of movement and action ??? their own troops by breaching enemy obstacles.
The star attractions at the display included the remote controlled bulldozer which saved many lives during the "War of Attrition" in the north, and the Israeli built "Seev" missile.
The Engineers also demonstrated two mine planters which can sow a mine field of 1600 mines in a day, and a Soviet mine exploder which can clear safe passages through mine fields by exploding mines on its way.
The Engineering Corps say their task can be summed up in a single biblical quote: "A time to destroy and a time to build".
SYNOPSIS: Engineer field units have the job of building obstacles in the path of the enemy to hinder their advance. PAUSE TWO SECONDS. The engineers also have to deatr??? anomy fortified strongholds to ensure freedom of movement for their own troops.
Military leaders and attaches watched as the engineers showed how they cope with anti-tank ditches or natural barriers.
With battle in this area often dictated by speed of manoeuvre the mobile brigos can be crucial in getting armoured personnel carriers or tanks into action again.
Here the engineering weapons are used in a mock battle. But if the peace should fail, the fighting could be only too real
In any future fighting this Israeli built "Seev" missile could have an important role. This week Defence Minister Shimon Peres warned Arab countries that Israel would not be so unprepared again as on the day of Yom Kippur offensive last October.
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