Background 17 December 1996
"If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more."
Henry V, Shakespeare
Date
17 December 1996 (D +8).
Location
British I Corps operational area.
Weather
Temperature: 37 F / 2.8 C
Humidity: 93%
Wind: 5 mph / 8 kmh E
Wind chill: 32.9 F / 0.5 C
Precipitation: 0
Conditions: Mostly cloudy.
Events
Operation Eclipse slows as the strain on British logistics becomes evident. Throughout the length of the line of communication, engineers struggle to repair bridges and clear roadways. RAF and RCAF aircraft control low level strikes in the Soviet rear area. Intelligence reports indicate that the Warsaw Pact is moving forward reserve units from the Byelorussian SSR and the Ukrainian SSR.