Egypt's T-62s 1973

 Shazli wrote that prior to the 1973 war Russia supplied Egypt with 200 T-62 tanks. With its 115mm gun, the T-62 was better armed than the T-55. Still Cairo's main tank, the T-55 had only a 100mm gun. T-62s represented a long overdue improvement. They promised to erode Israel's qualitative superiority. Sadat, however, was concerned about their possible effect on his regime. Fearing that a division of these tanks would be too powerful, and launch a coup, the government created two independent armored brigades. Both saw action early in the war. The infantry needed armor to back them up as soon as possible after the crossing. Therefore, the T-62s crossed the canal in the wake of the October 6 assault.
One of the T-62 equipped brigades, the 15th Armored, was attached to the 18th Infantry division at the northern end of the Second Army's bridgehead in Sinai. The other, the 25th Armored, was with the 7th Infantry farther south, in the Third Army sector. The 15th was the first to be committed to battle.
On October 8, when Egypt's 2nd infantry bested Israeli reserves, the 15th armored, near Kantara, did not fare as well. Elements of the brigade advanced and suffered losses. Four T-62s are said to have been destroyed in one engagement and probably more in another.
Adan's book, On the Banks of the Suez, mentions a little known engagement involving the 15th. On October 11 the Israelis saw a dust cloud approaching from the vicinity of the canal. T-62s of the 15th were advancing toward them. One of Adan's brigade commanders, Natke, positioned tanks to meet the Egyptians. The ensuing battle lasted only a few minutes. Fifteen T-62s were set ablaze and the rest retreated. The 15th lost, but still accomplished something. Its gunners killed an Israeli company commander and Mulla, a battalion commander.
Adan wrote that a few days later, on the 14th, the 15th attacked again. Sixty T-62s went into battle and 30 were lost. Rabinovich also claimed 30 tanks hit but provided a more detailed account. After nine T-62s were knocked out in an initial skirmish the 15th regrouped, and launched a second attack which cost it 21 tanks. As a later post will show, the figure of 30 T-62s destroyed, like other claims that day, is almost certainly exaggerated.
After the Israelis crossed the canal, the commander of the Second Army proposed that the 15th brigade be sent back west of the canal to bolster Egyptian defenses. Shazly liked this plan but Sadat and his cronies refused.
The other T-62 equipped brigade, the 25th Armored, is best known for its awful fate on October 17. In an attempt to sever the Israeli crossing point, it was ordered northward along the shore of the Bitter Lake. As Shazly foretold, the 25th fell into a trap and was slaughtered. Generally that is all that is known of the 25th. It did, however, see action prior to the 17th.
According to one version of events, the 25th participated in the premature offensive of October 13, in the Third Army sector. Fifteen of its tanks were knocked out. Therefore, with 75 left, it moved northward on the 17th and lost 65 of them. Ten survivors fled to Botzer.
Adan, again, includes an obscure account. According to him, before its denouement, the 25th participated in the ill-starred offensive of October 14. Around 0800 that day, Israeli tanks firing at long range knocked out five of its advancing tanks. Undaunted, the 25th resumed attacking around noon. It attempted a flanking maneuver south of the Gidi but was again repelled, losing 15 more T-62s.
In their works, Pollack and Nordeen wrote that on October 17, the Israelis hit 85 out of the 25th's 96 tanks. This doesn't appear credible. Adan said its losses were between 50 and 60 tanks. Determined to cross the canal as soon as possible, Adan's forces didn't recover or count the 25th's losses. Buoyed by the rout, and without precise figures, the Israelis exaggerated.
Nevertheless, there's no doubt the 25th had been neutralized. Its fate speaks volumes about Sadat's incompetence as a military commander. In one online forum an Egyptian wrote that "I wish I could go back in time to kick Sadat's butt and see his frigging face after the 25th got slaughtered..." Egypt's T-62s were formidable and should have contributed much to a victory. Had Shazly been heeded, the 15th and 25th might've stymied Israeli efforts west of the canal. Instead they fared poorly because of Sadat, who squandered them in futile attacks.


Reference:  The Crossing of the Suez by Shazly