Battle of Marsa Talamat The Battle of Marsa Talamat ( ) 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 boat s 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 . The battle was amongst several significant naval battles which dictated the course of the naval war . Prelude . On the morning of October 6 , a force of two Israeli Dabur Class Fast Patrol Boat s were anchored on buoys at Ras Sudar — then a small Israeli naval anchorage in the northern sector of the Gulf of Suez — part of a routine patrol mission in the Gulf . The Israeli boats , commanded by Navy Lt . Zvika Shahak , had left their base at Sharm al Sheikh a day before . According to Shahak , the intelligence briefing prior to the mission only included a general reference to Egyptian preparation for a possible war . At 14 : 10 , soon after the Egyptian Army launched its surprise attack ( code - named Operation Badr ) , the Daburs were ordered to leave the anchorage and to patrol along the coast towards the Israeli oil installations at Abu - Rodeis . Once at sea , the Daburs were able to observe significant traffic of Egyptian helicopters headed towards Sinai . At 15 : 22 the Daburs were ordered to open fire at any Egyptian helicopters or boats , but were unable to engage any of them . The Israeli boats continued their patrol with no special events until 22 : 00 when they were ordered to turn south , towards Ras Zafranah , a naval anchorage used by the Egyptian Navy . Their mission was to seek , engage and destroy any enemy boats they could find . The boats arrived at Ras Zafranah anchorage , and found it empty . By that time The Daburs lost communications with their home - base at Sharm , which — as they later learned — had been attacked by Egyptian Raduga KSR - 2 cruise missiles . Even though he was not ordered to do so , Shahak decided to inspect Marsa Talamat , an anchorage further south from Ras Zafranah . Battle . The two Israeli Daburs arrived at Marsa Talamat after 01 : 00 AM on the night of October 6 – 7 . Shahak maneuvered his vessel into the anchorage , while ordering the other to stay outside for cover . Upon entry , Shahak discovered a Bertram class patrol boat and two Zodiac s filled with Egyptian Naval Commandos in their battle gear and about to depart . The Dabur opened fire first and the Zodiacs sunk immediately . The Dabur then maneuvered to attack the Bertram , and while doing so ran aground about 20 meters ( about 65 feet ) from the coastline . Both engines stopped . As it ran aground , the Dabur came under heavy gun , rocket and light - arm fire , including from 14 . 5mm Costal Guns . Shahak had his men returning fire and at the same time called the second Dabur for support . As the second boat entered the anchorage , it too ran aground . The boats remained aground for over two hours under heavy enemy fire , before they were able to extricate themselves . During the fight the Bertram was severely damaged but did not sink . The Israelis were only able to sink it by firing a 25 mm Flare gun , which ignited the Bertram , causing it to explode and eventually sink . Once back afloat , the Israeli boats retreated and made their way to Abu - Zaneima where they were met — at 04 : 22 — by an Israeli Air Force Helicopter which evacuated the wounded . Altogether , 1 Israeli crewman was killed and 7 wounded . The Egyptians lost the Bertram and the two Zodiacs , all loaded with naval commandos about to depart on a mission . Aftermath and significance . According to Rabinovich the outcome of the Marsa Talamat battle " derailed " the Egyptian " master plan " for southern Sinai . Apparently , the Egyptian forces which were destroyed at Marsa Talamat were intended to reinforce and resupply forces which landed in Sinai the day before . Almog mentions the battle as one of several which enabled Israel to maintain control of the Gulf of Suez throughout the war . According to Almog : " The Israeli Navy ' s combat initiatives , combined with the support of ground and air forces , gave Israel full control over the Gulf of Suez and led eventually to the following far - reaching results : Following the battle , three Israeli crewmen were awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service : Zvi Shahak , who commanded the operation ; 2nd Lt . Ami Segev , an officer on Shahak ' s Dabur who kept fighting even after being severely wounded ; and Staff - Sergeant Shalom Nachmani , Shahak ' s Dabur chief mechanic . Able to patch the boat ' s damaged engines and restart them , Nachmani was in fact the one responsible for the boat ' s recovery after it ran aground . A fourth member of the crew , 2nd Lt . Nimrod Erez , who had fired the flare gun at the Bertram , was awarded the Chief Of Staff Citation .