Here's an excerpt from Jerusalem Post:
Criticism has been heard in the army on the hurried way that some of the forces were sent into the village. The Egoz force was sent in daylight by a route that exposed them to Hizbullah, and some of the tanks operating in the area weren't properly protected.
On Sunday a makeshift workshop had been set up on the old border road next to Moshav Avivim, where technical teams were attaching huge steel plates underneath Merkava tanks to protect them from explosive devices like the one that had killed four soldiers during the first hours of the kidnapping that began the conflict 12 days ago.
"That's the way it works, you learn from mistakes" said the chief of one of the technical crews. Not only ground devices worried the tank crews. A tank driver from Brigade 7 resting at the side of the road after his tank had left Lebanon said that "many of our tanks took hits, mainly from Sagger rockets; none of the tanks were destroyed but quite a few of our friends were wounded."
OC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam said at a briefing at Northern Command on Sunday that "the force in Maroun Al-Ras came across opposition that necessitated additional back-up and a paratrooper force professionally took control of the village."
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153291981228&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
In an operation like this, there is going to have to be some probing of your enemies defenses. Unfortunately, you can end up get hit with some strong resistence at first.
I'm sure the IDF will adapt and overcome any weakness in their plans.
| Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alternative Designations | Malyutka Complex | |
| Launching Platforms | Manpack BMD BMP BRDM/BRDM-2 Mi-8 Hip Mi-24 Hind |
|
| Date of Introduction | 1963 | |
| Proliferation | At least 45 countries, including: Former Soviet Republics, Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iraq, India, North Korea, Libya, Mozambique, Poland, Romania, Syria, Uganda, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zambia. | |
| Description | ||
| Crew | 3 | |
| Primary Mount | Ground mount on "suitcase" launcher | |
| Alternate Mounts | Rail on BMP-1, BMD-1, BRDM, BRDM-2 etc. | |
| Weight Overall, Excluding Missile (kg) | 30.5 launcher + guidance | |
| Length Overall in Firing Position (m) | 0.86 with AT-3/a/b/c 1.02 with Malyutka-2 |
|
| Height Overall In Firing Position (m) | INA | |
| Width Overall In Firing Position (m) | INA | |
| ARMAMENT | ||
| Launcher Name | 9P111 Case launcher | |
| Launch Method | Rail on case | |
| Elevation (°) | Fixed for launcher | |
| Rate of Launch (missiles/min) | 2 | |
| Reaction Time (sec) | INA | |
| Emplacement Time (min) | 1.7 POLK set | |
| Displacement Time (min) | INA | |
| Ready/Stowed Missiles | 4/0, 3/0 POLK set | |
| FIRE CONTROL | ||
| FCS Name | 9S415/9S415M/9S415M1 guidance panel | |
| Guidance | MCLOS (9S415/-M panel), SACLOS | |
| Command Link | Wire | |
| Beacon Type | Incandescent infrared bulb (SACLOS) | |
| Tracker Type | N/A for MCLOS, flare tracker for SACLOS | |
| Susceptible To Countermeasures | EO jammers, smoke, counterfire | |
| Counter-countermeasures | Offset guidance panel, laser filters | |
| Rangefinder | INA | |
| Frequency | INA | |
| Counter-countermeasures | INA | |
| Sights w/Magnification | ||
| Gunner | ||
| Day | 9Sh16, 8x | |
| Field of View (°) | 22.5 | |
| Acquisition Range (m) | 4000 | |
| Night | Available | |
| Field of View (°) | N/A | |
| Acquisition Range (m) | N/A | |
| AMMUNITION | ||
| Antitank Guided Missiles | ||
| Name | AT-3, -3a, -3b/SAGGER | |
| Alternative Designations | Malyutka, Malyutka-M | |
| Missile Weight (kg) | 10.9 | |
| Warhead Type | Shaped Charge (HEAT) | |
| Armor Penetration (mm) | 400 | |
| Minimum/Maximum Range (m) | 500/3,000 | |
| Probability of Hit (%) | 70 against moving tanks | |
| Average Velocity (m/s) | 115 | |
| Time of Flight to Max Range (sec) | 26 | |
| Name | AT-3c/SAGGER | |
| Alternative Designations | Malyutka-P | |
| Missile Weight (kg) | 11.4 | |
| Warhead Type | Shaped Charge (HEAT) | |
| Armor Penetration (mm) | 520 | |
| Minimum/Maximum Range (m) | 500/3,000 | |
| Probability of Hit (%) | 90 (SACLOS) | |
| Average Velocity (m/s) | 115 | |
| Time of Flight to Max Range (sec) | 26 | |
| Name | Malyutka-2 | |
| Alternative Designations | Malyutka (Modernized) | |
| Missile Weight (kg) | 12.5 | |
| Warhead Type | Tandem Shaped Charge (HEAT) | |
| Armor Penetration (mm) | 800 | |
| Minimum/Maximum Range (m) | 500/3,00 | |
| Probability of Hit (%) | 90 (SACLOS) | |
| Average Velocity (m/s) | 130 | |
| Time of Flight to Max Range (sec) | 23 | |
| Other Missiles | Malyutka (Modernized) HE, AT-3c Imp, POLK | |
I have seen reports on Israel's military that make me think that when the ground forces, even grunts, complain about strategy or equipment, they get a lot more attention from the brass then even our military. Israel has an excellent military from privates to generals though and I'm praying for them.