Battle of Marsa Talamat

Battle of Marsa Talamat
Part of the Yom Kippur War
An Israeli patrol boat in the Gulf of Eilat
Date October 7, 1973 Location Gulf of Suez Result Israeli victory
Belligerents
Israel	Egypt
Commanders and leaders
Zvi Shahak	Fouad Zikry
Strength
2 patrol boats	1 patrol boat
Casualties and losses
1 killed 7 wounded 2 patrol boats damaged	1 patrol boat sunk

The Battle of Marsa Talamat (Hebrew: קרב מרסה-תלמאת) was fought between the Israeli Navy and the Egyptian Navy commando forces on October 7, 1973, during the early stages of the Yom Kippur War. It took place in the small Egyptian naval anchorage of Marsa Talamat, in the central sector of the Gulf of Suez.

Two Israeli Dabur class patrol boats of the Squadron 915 were on a routine patrol mission when the Egyptian Army launched a surprise attack into Israeli occupied Sinai. When it became evident that a war had started, the Israeli boats were reassigned to the mission of destroying Egyptian commando boats in order to interrupt Egyptian commando operations in the Gulf of Suez. The Israeli boats located two Egyptian commando boats which were about to depart Marsa Talamat. The Israeli boats attacked, and continued their attack even when both Daburs accidentally ran aground. The Israeli boats managed to retreat after inflicting considerable damage on the Egyptian commandos. For their actions in the battle, three Israeli crewmen were later awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service.^[1][2] The battle was amongst several significant naval battles which dictated the course of the naval war.^[3]