The plenary game - run by Ian Drury - worked rather well. Even Ian’s rationale that a game which had taken three hours with 20 players would obviously only take 90 minutes with 40+ players seemed to stack up. Teams represented USA, USSR, Israel, Egypt, Syria and individuals represented UK, France, UN, Saudi Arabia, West Germany and Libya. An elite team of er, ‘volunteers’ formed the Game Control team. I was the air umpire, so was completely occupied with the rather busy skies over Golan and the Canal Zone. I have only the haziest idea what went on at a political level - and even that is based on a chat over breakfast with ‘Colonel Gadaffi’ - hardly the most reliable witness!
In the air, the EAF and IAF contested the skies over the canal and despite the Israelis generally having the upper hand, most of the Bar Lev Line was soon in Egyptian hands. Over Golan things started a bit later, the Syrians ignoring an UN-sponsored ceasefire which meant that the full weight of the IAF was headed their way!
Tim,
ReplyDeleteSo that was what was going on!
As the sole representative of the Palestinian people, I was seemingly kept out of the loop by my so-called 'Arab brothers' in Syrian and Egypt, with the former trying to avoid taking any action whatsoever, and the latter gaily using a brigade of my troops in action against the Israelis without bothering to inform me. And as for the so-called King of Jordan ...
In truth it was an excellent game, and the use of WhatsApp to feed news and disinformation to the players was a great use of modern technology that I can see being used again in other games.
All the best,
Bob
Quick note - succumbed to temptation, bought a Dinah, white wiuth red markings look as spectacular as I remembered...
ReplyDeleteTim: You were the master of the Sagger and Sam air interdiction cards - although the appearance of American ECM was a bit of a shocker to the Arabs; but the traditional "offer of a drink to the Umpire" established cordial relationships. Respect to Israeli Army General Paul Allen who took it stoically when his Air General said "You are all on your own mate" on the last turn when it kicked off in the Golan!
ReplyDeleteBob: As I will describe in detail in a future Nugget and blog post the whereabouts of the 1st Palestinian Infantry brigade is still a mystery to the Egyptian Generals. I have a conspiracy theory that when Ian Drury tries to claim his next 'Free Coast Coffee' the 1st Palestinian Infantry Brigade may well make a surprise appearance from his wallet!
Bob Cordery
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure there was much of a loop to be in!
Rob Young
ReplyDeleteI'll head on over to your blog for a look.
Geordie
ReplyDeleteBy the end of the game I had a pocket stuffed with SAM and Shilka cards. The skies over the canal were very busy - Golan strangely less so.