Canon Germany to RDF tank transfer

[raketenjagdpanzer]

As I recall, there was a mention in Kelly's Heroes that the total cash value of the gold was $16 million. If someone were able to find the price of gold circa 1944, we could get a reasonable figure as to the actual weight of gold they heisted.

Gold was about $34/oz in 1944.

The total haul would have been something on the order of 14-15 tons.

Four CCKWs could have gotten all of it out (4000lb on-road carrying capacity). I'd want a spare truck along just to be sure.

[Matt Wiser]

We had a CENTCOM recruiting officer find us-how he did that I have no idea-and the GM didn't tell us, but he said "Want to hang onto your vehicles and equipment We need fighting men and women like you in the Middle East. Find a ship or two to carry your vehicles and I'll handle the rest. And do that he did. Remember, Leg, the Israelis are our allies in Iran. And if Suez is closed, those troops from Europe who also arrive in the Middle East as replacements for CENTCOM have to get there somehow. Landing in Israel and moving overland beats going around Africa...

He likely got in touch with either the CENTCOM liasion detachment at IDF HQ, or the Defense Attache at the Embassy, and that was that. Still, we paid the crews of the two LSTs, and paid IMI for the armor refurbishment.

[Webstral]

Operating under the auspices of CENTCOM changes the entire context of the arrangement.

[Matt Wiser]

Still, the guys from IMI were glad to get paid: four boxes of gold bars was enough. And they did a good job on the overhauls. No way those vehicles would be restored to factory-fresh condition, but the job was good enough. Now, getting from Israel to Iran was more of an adventure! The drive across Jordan-with assistance from the Jordanian Army, was easy enough, but once we crossed the border into Iraq....we had to fight our way from As Samawah all the way down Highway 8 past An Nasiriya to the outskirts of Basra. Some Iraqi Army and RGFC, but most of the opposition were technicals of one sort or another. As if a Toyota four-by-four with a DShK or a KPV is going to harm a tank...

[Legbreaker]

Oh I have no doubt the GM and players had fun and whatever happened worked well enough in that game, it's just that I have a different viewpoint. Even though the Israelis are allies, 5 tanks, a couple of Bradleys and M113s plus all the rest is a tempting prize. Add in the truckload of gold and, well, "accidents" along the road happen....
If it could be set up so that CENTCOM was kept unaware of what really happened, I'm sure the Israelis would act. It wouldn't be the first time Mossad have prescribed little lead pills for people in order to ensure their silence.

[Matt Wiser]

This was probably the first time that the crews of hijacked ships-and yes, we did hijack them-were paid for their services at the end of the voyage. And I'll bet the crews decided to stay in Israel, it beats going back to Germany....

Keep in mind that we used some of the gold in Poland. Purchasing ammo and other supplies from some of the Krakow entrepeneurs was expensive, given that we were buying small-arms ammo in bulk, and were on the prowl for both 120-mm and 125-mm tank rounds. That HEMITT cargo truck was loaded.

[Webstral]

Oh I have no doubt the GM and players had fun and whatever happened worked well enough in that game, it's just that I have a different viewpoint. Even though the Israelis are allies, 5 tanks, a couple of Bradleys and M113s plus all the rest is a tempting prize. Add in the truckload of gold and, well, "accidents" along the road happen....
If it could be set up so that CENTCOM was kept unaware of what really happened, I'm sure the Israelis would act. It wouldn't be the first time Mossad have prescribed little lead pills for people in order to ensure their silence.

Before the CENTCOM part of the equation was mentioned, I'd have said this was a certainty. Enter CENTCOM, and it comes down to personality and hutzpah. If the PCs are going to fight a battle the Israelis want to have fought and which Israeli troops already are fighting, a conservative or cautious type might see going with the program as being in everyone's best interests. A more devil-may-care type might run the risk that somehow CENTCOM would get word of foul play.