An Israeli naval victory in which three Egyptian Osa-class missile boats were sunk using Gabriel missiles, demonstrating the effectiveness of the weapon system.
Key Facts
- Date
- 8–9 October 1973
- Duration
- Approximately 40 minutes
- Egyptian vessels sunk
- 3 Osa-class missile boats
- Israeli vessels lost
- 0
- Israeli force
- 6 Sa'ar-class missile boats
- Egyptian force
- 4 Osa-class missile boats
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Yom Kippur War, six Israeli Sa'ar-class missile boats were heading toward Port Said when four Egyptian Osa-class missile boats departed Alexandria to intercept them off the Nile Delta, between Baltim and Damietta.
The Egyptian Osas fired Styx missiles at the Israeli vessels but missed, then began withdrawing toward Alexandria. The Israelis gave chase and sank two Osa boats with Gabriel missiles within ten minutes, sinking a third twenty-five minutes later. The fourth Egyptian boat escaped to base.
Israel suffered no vessel losses while Egypt lost three of its four Osa-class missile boats engaged in the battle, affirming Israeli naval superiority in missile boat combat during the Yom Kippur War and validating the Gabriel missile as an effective naval weapon.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent