288th Reconnaissance Battalion

The 288th Reconnaissance Battalion (Hebrew: גדס"ר 288, Gadsar 288) was a divisional reconnaissance unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), active from March 1973 until its disbandment in March 1974. It was established under the 146th Division and was one of several mixed reconnaissance battalions created by the IDF in the early 1970s. These battalions combined tanks, armored personnel carriers, and jeeps to provide wide-area surveillance and intelligence for their parent division while also functioning as independent combat forces. The battalion was commanded by Major Zvika Dahav, with Deputy Commander Elisha Brodsky. Its structure included three combat and observation companies, each with seven tanks and eight M-113 armored personnel carriers, plus a jeep reconnaissance company of eleven jeeps and a headquarters company. The unit trained in May 1973 and was deployed during the Yom Kippur War. During the war, the battalion fought on the southern Golan Heights under the 205th Brigade and later the 4th Brigade. It participated in the battles of Tel Saki, Tel Juchader, Tel Faris, the Rafid junction, and Umm Butna. After the ceasefire, it was sent to the west bank of the Suez Canal to reinforce IDF positions opposite Ismailia, engaging in attrition battles until the separation of forces in March 1974. The battalion lost nine soldiers during the war and was disbanded in March 1974. A memorial was established at the Yad La-Shiryon armored corps museum.

The 288th Reconnaissance Battalion was established in March 1973 under the 146th Division, part of a program by the IDF to create divisional reconnaissance battalions that combined tanks, armored personnel carriers, and jeeps. These units were designed to provide wide-area surveillance and intelligence for their parent division while also being capable of independent combat. The battalion conducted its founding training in May 1973. The battalion was commanded by Major Zvika Dahav, with Deputy Commander Elisha Brodsky. It consisted of three combat and observation companies, each equipped with seven tanks and eight M-113 armored personnel carriers, a jeep reconnaissance company with eleven jeeps, and a headquarters company. The unit was equipped with Sho't Kal tanks, M-113 APCs, and jeeps. When the Yom Kippur War broke out on October 6, 1973, the battalion was mobilized at Camp Ofer north of Jerusalem. The next day it moved on tracks to the Jordan Valley via the Jerusalem–Ramallah–Nablus–Jenin–Tzemach route. On October 8, it ascended to the Golan Heights via the Kursi route with the 146th Division. The battalion was attached to the 205th Brigade under Colonel Yossi Peled and fought with it on the Golan Heights against the Syrian Army. At Ramat Magshimim, the battalion fought Syrian forces. Its soldiers reached Tel Saki and Outpost 116, evacuating the besieged soldiers of the 50th Paratroopers Battalion of the Nahal Brigade (35th Brigade) who had been fighting since Saturday. The battalion fought at Tel Juchader, gaining fire control over the hill and taking Syrian prisoners on October 9. It captured Tel Faris, which overlooked the Rafid gap and the oil route. After capturing the hill, the outpost at the top resumed full operation by the battalion's soldiers, who provided observation reports and directed artillery fire. The battalion then participated in the blocking battles in the Hushniya sector and captured the Rafid junction. The battalion moved to fight under the 4th Brigade under Yaakov Hadar in the same sector. After the blocking battles ended, it moved east of Quneitra and deployed for observation on the volcanic hills in the southern enclave. On October 17, it positioned in the Khan Arnaba area, and on October 18, it deployed for observation at Tel al-Mal, Tel Sha'ar, Tel Maskhara, and Tel Krin. The battalion participated in the Battle of Umm Butna and Tel Maskhara, and helped block counterattacks by the Syrian Army and Iraqi and Jordanian forces (the 40th Jordanian Armored Brigade) that had come to reinforce the Syrian force from the south. On October 20, the battalion moved to a staging area in the villages of Nasej and Atayha and observation toward Tel Hara. After the ceasefire was declared, the battalion was sent with the 146th Division and other forces from Central Command to reinforce IDF positions on the west bank of the Suez Canal. It was attached to units opposite Ismailia west of the Suez Canal and participated in attrition battles against Egyptian forces until the separation of forces between the IDF and the Egyptian Army in March 1974. Most of the fighting was carried out by the tanks, which destroyed dozens of enemy tanks, while the APC and jeep soldiers provided close support, including rescue and evacuation of casualties and arming and refueling the tanks near the front line. The battalion's headquarters company initiated ammunition and fuel supply, deployed the battalion collection station, returned damaged tanks to service, and integrated with the battalion's scouts in securing the tanks at night to allow crews to gather strength for continued fighting. These actions enabled continuous combat. During the war, the battalion lost nine of its soldiers. After the war, in March 1974, the battalion was disbanded. A memorial to the fallen of the battalion was established in the Park of the Formations at Yad La-Shiryon.

• 1974

  Battalion disbanded.

• 1973

  Battalion established under the 146th Division.

• 1973

  Founding training conducted.

• 1973

  Participated in the Yom Kippur War on the Golan Heights and later at the Suez Canal.

1. 1גדס"ר 288he.wikipedia.org
2. 2288th Reconnaissance Battalion - Wikidatawikidata.org