766th Independent Infantry Regiment (North Korea)

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766th Independent Infantry Regiment
Oh Jin Woo

The 766th Independent Infantry Regiment (Korean: 제766독립보병련대) was an elite light infantry unit of North Korea's Korean People's Army (KPA) that existed briefly during the Korean War. It was headquartered in Hoeryong, North Korea, and was also known as the 766th Unit (Korean: 766부대). Trained extensively in amphibious warfare and unconventional warfare, the 766th Regiment was considered a commando unit. The regiment was trained to conduct assaults by sea and then to lead other North Korean units on offensive operations, to infiltrate behind enemy lines, and to disrupt enemy supplies and communications.

Activated in 1949, the regiment trained for more than a year before the outbreak of the war on June 25, 1950. On that day, half of the regiment led North Korean forces against South Korean troops by land and sea, pushing them back after several days of fighting. Over the next six weeks, the regiment advanced slowly down the

Battle of Pusan Perimeter as part of a push to force United Nations
(UN) troops out of Korea.

The regiment saw its final action at the

12th Division
.

Organization

Upon creation, the 766th Unit was designed to vary in size, consisting of a number of smaller units capable of acting alone.

sunk while attacking Pusan harbor by the Republic of Korea Navy.[4][5] For the remainder of its existence the regiment was whittled down by losses until it numbered no more than 1,500 men and could not muster more than three battalions.[6]

History

Origins

During the planning for the invasion of South Korea in the years before the war, the North Korean leadership began to create large numbers of commando and special forces units to send south. These units subverted South Korean authority before and during the war with terror campaigns, sabotage and inducing rebellions in ROK military units. Hundreds of commandos were sent to South Korea in this fashion, and by the end of the war up to 3,000 of them had been trained and armed.[7] During this time, North Korean leadership also ordered the creation of large conventional units to act as advance forces for the actual invasion. The 766th Unit was formed in April 1949 at the Third Military Academy in Hoeryong, North Korea. The academy was specially designed to train commandos, and the 766th was originally designed to supervise North Korean light infantry ranger units.[1] Over the next year, the 766th Unit received extensive training in unconventional warfare and amphibious warfare.[7] During this time, the unit was expanded in size to 3,000 men in six battalions.[2]

Prior to the beginning of the war in June 1950, the 766th completed training and was moved to the front at

8th Division's 6,866 by a ratio of 2.1 to 1.[2] The combination of the frontal attack and the landings were expected to crush the ROK division and prevent reinforcements from moving in to support it.[12]

The regiment was split into three groups for the attack. Three battalions acted as

spearheads for the 5th Division on land while two more battalions conducted the landings in Imwonjin.[13] This 2,500 man force reassembled and then led the North Korean units south.[4] In the meantime, the 3rd Battalion, 766th Regiment was detached and sent on a mission to infiltrate Pusan.[13] Paired with additional support, it formed the 600-man 588th Unit.[14] 588th Unit was tasked with raiding Pusan harbor, destroying vital facilities to make it impossible for UN forces to land troops there.[15] However, the troop transport carrying the 588th Unit was discovered and sunk by United Nations ships outside Pusan harbor the morning of June 25, destroying the 3rd Battalion.[5]

Landing at Imwonjin

Main articles: Korean War and Operation Pokpung

Around 04:00 on June 25, NK 5th Division attacked ROK 10th Regiment's forward positions.

T'aebaek Mountains and the other advanced north toward Samcheok. The ROK 8th Division, under attack from the front and rear, requested reinforcements but the general North Korean offensive along the 38th parallel[17]
meant there were none.

The ROK 21st Regiment, 8th Division's southernmost unit, moved to counter the amphibious attack. The regiment's 1st Battalion moved from Bukp'yong into the Okgye area; it, with local police and militia forces, ambushed forward elements of the 766th, and drove back the 766th Regiment's northern advance.

ROK 6th Division also retreated.[20] The 766th Regiment had established a bridgehead and disrupted communications in the initial attack.[21]

Advance

A map of a perimeter on the southeastern tip of a land mass
Tactical map of the Pusan Perimeter in August 1950 showing the North Korean advance

With the ROK army in retreat, the 766th Regiment, 549th Unit, and KPA's 5th Divisions all advanced steadily south along the eastern roads without encountering much resistance.

Cheongsong in order to block communications between Daegu and Busan, where United States Army forces were landing in an attempt to support the collapsing ROK Army.[3]

The ROK 23rd Regiment of the

Yongdok.[23]

Over the next week, the 766th Regiment and the KPA's 5th Division continued in slow advance south as it met increasing South Korean resistance.

12th Division.[27] Progress halted as UN aerial and naval bombardment made movement more difficult. At the same time, the North Korean units' supply lines were stretched thin and began to break down, forcing them to conscript South Korean civilians to carry supplies.[28]

Resistance

Main article:
Battle of Pusan Perimeter

On July 17, the KPA's 5th Division entered Yongdok, taking the city without much resistance before fierce UN air attacks caused the division heavy losses. Still, it was able to surround the ROK 3rd Division in the city. By now, the 5th Division and the 766th Regiment had been reduced to a combined strength of 7,500 men to the ROK 3rd Divisions' 6,469.[29][30] The 766th massed its force again to assist the 5th Division in surrounding and besieging the ROK 3rd Division, which was trapped in the city.[31] The 3rd Division, in the meantime, was ordered to remain in the city to delay the North Koreans as long as possible. It was eventually evacuated by sea after delaying North Korean forces for a considerable time.[32] The rugged terrain of the mountains prevented the North Korean forces from conducting the enveloping maneuvers they had used so effectively against other troops, and their advantages in numbers and equipment had been negated in the fight.[33]

By July 28, the division was still embroiled in this fight and the 766th bypassed it and moved toward Chinbo on the left flank of the city.

ROK Capital Division prevented the 766th Regiment from infiltrating further into the mountains.[35] ROK cavalry and civilian police then began isolated counteroffensives against the 766th.[36] These forces included special counter-guerrilla units targeting the 766th and countering its tactics.[37] South Korean troops halted the advance of the North Koreans again around the end of the month thanks to increased reinforcements and support closer to the Pusan Perimeter logistics network.[36]

On August 5, the KPA's 12th Division pushed back the ROK Capital Division in the Ch'ongsong-

envelop UN troops and push them back to Pusan.[39] The 766th was not reinforced; North Korean planners intended it to move unseen around the UN lines while the majority of the UN and North Korean troops were locked in fighting around Taegu and the Naktong Bulge.[30]

By this time, however, North Korean logistics had been stretched to their limit, and resupply became increasingly difficult.[40] By the beginning of August, the North Korean units operating in the area were getting little to no food and ammunition supply, instead relying on captured UN weapons and foraging for what they could find. They were also exhausted from over a month of advancing, though morale remained high among the 766th troops.[41] The 766th Regiment specialized in raiding UN supply lines, and effectively mounted small disruptive attacks against UN targets to equip themselves.[42]

Disbandment

Main article: Battle of P'ohang-dong

At dawn on August 11, one 300-man battalion

small-arms fire until noon. At that point, North Korean armored vehicles moved in to reinforce the 766th troops and drove the South Koreans out of the village.[44]

Lines of troops marching along a road
South Korean troops move to reinforce the front lines of the Pusan Perimeter

The village was strategically important because it was one of the few direct routes through the mountains and into the

Lieutenant General Walton Walker immediately ordered naval and air bombardment of the village. He also ordered ROK and US forces to secure regions around the village to prevent the further advance of the North Korean troops.[44] Within a few hours, the village was being blasted by artillery forcing the Regiment's advance force to pull back.[43] The 766th's forces congregated and fought in the hills around the village.[40] They joined elements of the KPA's 5th Division, and did not enter P'ohang until night.[43]

UN forces responded to the threat with overwhelming numbers. A large force of South Korean troops, designated Task Force P'ohang, was massed and sent into P'ohang-dong to engage the 766th Regiment and the 5th Division.[46] ROK troops attacked toward An'gang-ni to the east, forcing the KPA's 12th Division into a full retreat. Threatened with encirclement, the KPA's 5th Division and 766th Regiment were ordered into full retreat on August 17. By this time, the 766th had been reduced to 1,500 men, half its original strength.[6]

Exhausted and out of supplies, the 766th Regiment moved to Pihak-san, a mountain 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Kigye, to join the shattered KPA's 12th Division. The 12th Division was reduced to 1,500 men in the fighting, and 2,000 army replacements and South Korean conscripts were brought to replenish the division. The 766th Regiment was also ordered to merge its remaining troops into the depleted KPA's 12th Division. Upon the completion of the merger with the 12th Division on August 19, 1950, the 766th Regiment ceased to exist. It had trained for close to 14 months prior to the war but fought for less than two.[6][47]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Millett 2000, p. 49
  2. ^ a b c Millett 2000, p. 147
  3. ^ a b Millett 2000, p. 336
  4. ^ a b Rottman 2001, p. 167
  5. ^ a b Rottman 2001, p. 171
  6. ^ a b c Appleman 1998, p. 332
  7. ^ a b Millett 2000, p. 52
  8. ^ Appleman 1998, p. 27
  9. ^ Millett 2000, p. 118
  10. ^ Millett 2000, p. 125
  11. ^ Millett 2000, p. 124
  12. ^ Millett 2000, p. 209
  13. ^ a b Appleman 1998, p. 28
  14. ^ a b Millett 2010, p. 91
  15. ^ Millett 2010, p. 92
  16. ^ a b Alexander 2003, p. 52
  17. ^ Millett 2000, p. 210
  18. ^ Millett 2000, p. 212
  19. ^ Millett 2000, p. 213
  20. ^ Millett 2000, p. 218
  21. ^ Millett 2000, p. 411
  22. ^ a b Appleman 1998, p. 105
  23. ^ a b Alexander 2003, p. 74
  24. ^ Millett 2000, p. 275
  25. ^ a b Appleman 1998, p. 106
  26. ^ Millett 2000, p. 340
  27. ^ Millett 2000, p. 392
  28. ^ Millett 2000, p. 396
  29. ^ Millett 2000, p. 439
  30. ^ a b Alexander 2003, p. 109
  31. ^ a b Appleman 1998, p. 255
  32. ^ Millett 2010, p. 199
  33. ^ a b Alexander 2003, p. 116
  34. ^ a b Millett 2000, p. 400
  35. ^ Millett 2000, p. 401
  36. ^ a b Millett 2010, p. 200
  37. ^ Millett 2010, p. 194
  38. ^ Millett 2000, p. 493
  39. ^ Alexander 2003, p. 108
  40. ^ a b c Alexander 2003, p. 135
  41. ^ Appleman 1998, p. 333
  42. ^ Millett 2010, p. 164
  43. ^ a b c Appleman 1998, p. 327
  44. ^ a b Millett 2000, p. 497
  45. ^ Appleman 1998, p. 320
  46. ^ Appleman 1998, p. 331
  47. ^ Rottman 2001, p. 166

References

  • ISBN 978-0-7818-1019-7
  • Appleman, Roy E. (1998), South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu: United States Army in the Korean War,
    ISBN 978-0-16-001918-0, archived from the original
    on 2013-11-02, retrieved 2010-12-22
  • Millett, Allan R. (2000), The Korean War, Volume 1,
    ISBN 978-0-8032-7794-6
  • Millett, Allan R. (2010), The War for Korea, 1950–1951: They Came from the North,
    ISBN 978-0-7006-1709-8
  • Rottman, Gordon (2001), Korean War Order of Battle: United States, United Nations, and Communist Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, 1950–1953,
    ISBN 978-0-275-97835-8

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