Battle of Chongju (1950)

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Coordinates: 39°39′N 125°20′E / 39.650°N 125.333°E / 39.650; 125.333
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Battle of Chongju (1950)
Part of the
Chongju
, North Korea
Result United Nations victory
Belligerents

 United Nations

 North KoreaCommanders and leaders
Charles Green †
North Korea UnknownUnits involved

27th Brit Com Bde

North Korea 17th Tank BdeStrength ~200 men ~500–600 menCasualties and losses 9 killed
30 wounded 162 killed
10 captured
11 tanks
2 self-propelled guns

The Battle of Chongju (

M4 Sherman tanks
and aircraft in support. Despite heavy resistance the KPA were forced to withdraw and the Australians captured their objectives after three hours of fighting.

That evening the KPA were strongly reinforced, attacking the Australian southern flank manned by D Company 3 RAR, and partially penetrating their perimeter. After two hours of fighting the assault was repulsed, and the KPA subsequently launched a furious assault against A Company 3 RAR on the northern position, which also failed amid heavy losses. The following day the Australians advanced to the high ground overlooking Chongju, killing and capturing a number of KPA in skirmishes. That afternoon the town itself was cleared by the remaining elements of the

Charles Green
, who was wounded in the stomach by artillery fire after the battle and died two days later.

Background

Military situation

Main articles:
Military history of Australia during the Korean War

The

brigade in July, and would later dispatch a second brigade as the crisis worsened.[4] The Canadians also agreed to provide an infantry brigade, although the first battalion would not arrive until December 1950.[5] A total of 21 UN member states eventually contributed forces.[6]

Colour photograph of an airfield. Three single-seat piston-engined propeller aircraft sit in the foreground, as a number of personnel work on the machines which are finished in natural metal with blue, white and red roundels. In the middle distance are a number of makeshift corrogated-iron buildings, while to their rear are several others of more solid construction. In the background rise a number of tree covered mountains.
P-51 Mustang fighters from No. 77 Squadron RAAF at Iwakuni, 1950.

Australia was one of the first nations to commit units to the fighting, playing a small but sometimes significant part in the UN forces, which was initially led by

Second World War, Green took over from Walsh due to the latter's perceived inexperience.[8]

On 23 September 1950, 3 RAR embarked for Korea, concentrating at Pusan on 28 September. There it joined the British

M4 Sherman tanks from 89th Tank Battalion and a company from the 72nd Combat Engineer Battalion.[11]

Prelude

Opposing forces

A map showing a Peninsula with US forces moving from the south to the north
Map of the UN advance toward the Yalu River, 1950.

By the time 3 RAR arrived in the theatre, the KPA had been broken and were in rapid retreat, with MacArthur's forces conducting a successful

Hwangju to the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. Although the KPA had suffered heavily in the preceding weeks, they continued to resist strongly, while a lack of accurate maps and the narrowness of the roads made rapid movement difficult for the advancing UN forces. During this time 3 RAR had a platoon of American M4 Sherman tanks attached and a battery of field guns in direct support.[13]

The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade subsequently moved 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Kumchon, with the Argylls

US Joint Chiefs of Staff and risking Chinese intervention in support of North Korea.[19]

On the afternoon of 25 October a platoon from 3 RAR was fired on by two companies of KPA as they crossed the

T-34 tank then attacked the forward Australian companies at Kujin early the following morning, resulting in Australian losses of eight killed and 22 wounded. However, the KPA suffered heavy casualties including over 100 killed and 350 captured, and the Australians subsequently succeeded in defending the bridgehead after the KPA withdrew.[18] Intelligence indicated that the British and Australians were facing the KPA 17th Tank Brigade, equipped with 20 tanks, which was preparing a last line of defence at Chongju, 70 kilometres (43 mi) away. Although the KPA had suffered heavy casualties during the previous fighting on the Taeryong River, Coad was now forced to adopt more cautious tactics, advancing in shorter bounds and clearing high points en route.[20][Note 1] On 27 October the Middlesex continued the advance and was involved in a sharp fight in the hills west of the river near the village of Yongsong-ni.[21] With the war considered all but over the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade continued to pursue the KPA towards Chongju over the next three days, however the advance increasingly encountered strong resistance from KPA infantry dug-in with tanks and self-propelled guns in support, as they approached the Yalu River on the Manchurian border.[19]

Battle

Fighting around Chongju, 29 October 1950

3 RAR took over as lead battalion of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade on 29 October, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from Chongju. At 10:00 a

3-inch mortars from Support Company 3 RAR began to fall on the KPA positions.[25]

At 14:30, D Company launched an assault against the ridge south of the road, with two platoons of Sherman tanks in support from D Company, US 89th Tank Battalion. One tank platoon led the attack followed by the other carrying infantry from 10 Platoon D Company. Under the command of Lieutenant David Mannett, 10 Platoon made a right flanking assault along the road, while 11 and 12 Platoons attacked the ridge frontally across the paddy fields.

enfilade and to provide fire support to the assault. Thus, despite strong opposition, the remainder of D Company gained the high ground by 16:30.[18] With the earlier airstrikes having been ineffective, D Company had been opposed by a number of T-34 tanks and SU-76 self-propelled guns, however the bulk of these were destroyed by the Shermans during the assault.[27] Another tank had been knocked out by well-directed fire at point-blank range from a Bren light machine gun by Private John Stafford, which caused the armoured vehicle's auxiliary fuel tanks to ignite, resulting in its ammunition exploding.[28] Stafford was subsequently awarded the US Silver Star for his bravery.[29][30]

Two lines of evenly spaced soldiers wearing slouch hats advancing across a ridgeline
A Company 3 RAR moving in to assault Chongju.

A Company attacked the ridgeline to the north of the road to Chonju just prior to dusk, this time without the support of the Sherman tanks.[27] The Australians again came under heavy fire from the KPA, however they quickly overcame the defenders and the ridge was secured by 17:30.[18] During the fighting for the northern position, three KPA T-34 tanks dug-in on the ridgeline had been destroyed by the Australians at short range with M20 3.5-inch bazookas, which now proved to be effective anti-armour weapons despite difficulties experienced in their use at Kujin several days before.[28] During the day's fighting, a total of 11 T-34 tanks and two SU-76 self-propelled guns had been destroyed by the Australian infantry and American tanks, contrary to the reports of their destruction by USAF airstrikes earlier in the day.[23] Expecting a counter-attack, Green then ordered B Company forward to occupy positions along the road in between the positions held by D and A Companies, while Battalion headquarters moved in behind B Company, with C Company held in reserve at the rear with Support Company. After conducting a limited resupply of the forward companies, the Australians hastily began to dig in.[31]

The KPA subsequently brought up substantial reinforcements, and soon after dark they moved against D Company on the southern flank.[31] Preparatory fire by artillery, mortars and machine-guns began at 19:00, following which a battalion-sized ground assault was launched.[32] The weight of the counter-attack fell on 10 Platoon D Company, with Mannett holding his platoon's fire until the KPA were only 10 metres (33 ft) away before engaging, killing 32 men. Mannett was later awarded the Military Cross for his leadership during the initial assault and the subsequent defence of the ridgeline.[26][33] Regardless, the KPA succeeded in overrunning parts of the Australian position before they were finally repulsed following counter-attacks by 11 and 12 Platoons during two hours of fierce fighting.[22] A number of KPA also succeeded in penetrating the perimeter, and they moved behind D Company from where they fired on the 3 RAR headquarters. Contact was subsequently lost with D Company and was not regained until the KPA were forced to withdraw by Headquarters Company, under Captain Ben O'Dowd, which then cleared the depth positions.[32] At 21:30 the focus of the KPA counter-attack shifted to the northern flank, launching a heavy assault against A Company. This effort also failed however, being repulsed as Chitts called-in indirect fire from the Support Company mortars and American howitzers to within 10 metres (33 ft) of the forward Australian positions.[34] The KPA finally withdrew at 22:15, though a SU-76 self-propelled gun continued to fire sporadically into the Australian positions until 23:00.[31]

Clearance of the town, 30 October 1950

The following morning the Australians remained in position, and at daybreak they found more than 150 KPA dead within the 3 RAR defensive position.[31] Coad subsequently brought the Middlesex forward to secure his northern flank, while 3 RAR moved forward to the Talchon River, taking up positions in the hills overlooking Chongju by 11:00. During the advance the Australians had clashed with a number of KPA stragglers, killing 12 and capturing 10 in skirmishes. It became clear that organised resistance had ceased however, with the successful Australian assault and the subsequent defence of its objectives the day before breaking the KPA locally.[35] In the north the Middlesex pushed forward to the riverbank, while in the afternoon the Argylls forded the river with two platoons of Shermans. Meanwhile, aerial reconnaissance reported the presence of KPA tanks to the west of Chongju.[35] Regardless, that afternoon the Argylls encountered no further opposition as they entered and cleared the ruined and burning town, securing it by 17:00.[36] The brigade then moved into divisional reserve for the US 24th Infantry Division, with Church ordering the US 21st Infantry Regiment to take its place in the lead in order to give the British and Australian infantry a much needed respite.[34] The tanks and infantry of the 21st Infantry Regiment subsequently moved through the brigade.[35]

The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade adopted tight security that evening due to the threat of KPA infiltration.

Anju, however he succumbed to his wounds and died two days later on 1 November.[39] Forty other men who had been in the vicinity when the shell landed were unhurt. A popular and respected commanding officer, Green's loss was keenly felt by the Australians.[34] Meanwhile, Coad received congratulations from Gay for the brigade's victory at Chongju after marching 50 kilometres (31 mi) in twelve hours.[40]

Aftermath

Casualties

A long orderly line of heavily laden soldiers marching in pairs away from the camera down a road across an open expanse
Chinese forces cross the Yalu River.

The fighting around Chongju was the heaviest undertaken by the Australians since entering the war.

Taechon and Kusong, before advancing to within 40 kilometres (25 mi) of the Manchurian border.[42]

Subsequent operations

During the last weeks of October the Chinese had moved 18 divisions of the

Bruce Ferguson, subsequently assumed command.[46] Suffering significant casualties, the PVA offensive was halted the next day due to logistics difficulties.[47]

Notes

Footnotes

  1. ^ Among the KPA dead was the commanding officer of the Reconnaissance Unit of the 17th Tank Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Kim In-sik, who was carrying a number of marked maps and documents. See O'Neill 1985, p. 44.
  2. Pusan, along with 281 other Australian casualties. See Barter 1996
    , pp. 313–314.

Citations

  1. ^ MacDonald 1986, p. 30.
  2. ^ Dennis et al 2008, pp. 300–302.
  3. ^ MacDonald 1986, p. 39.
  4. ^ MacDonald 1986, pp. 39–40.
  5. ^ Johnston 2003, p. 55.
  6. ^ O'Neill 1985, p. 706.
  7. ^ a b Dennis et al 2008, p. 302.
  8. ^ O'Dowd 2000, p. 3.
  9. ^ a b Breen 1992, p. 8.
  10. ^ Horner 2008, p. 57.
  11. ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 239.
  12. ^ Horner 2008, p. 58.
  13. ^ Horner 2008, pp. 58–61.
  14. ^ Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 257.
  15. ^ Gallaway 1999, p. 67.
  16. ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 248.
  17. ^ Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 258.
  18. ^ a b c d e Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 259.
  19. ^ a b c Horner 2008, p. 62.
  20. ^ O'Neill 1985, pp. 44–46.
  21. ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, pp. 256–257.
  22. ^ a b c Odgers 2009, p. 48.
  23. ^ a b O'Dowd 2000, p. 14.
  24. ^ Gallaway 1999, pp. 91–92.
  25. ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 258.
  26. ^ a b O'Neill 1985, p. 48.
  27. ^ a b Gallaway 1999, p. 92.
  28. ^ a b O'Neill 1985, p. 49.
  29. ^ "Chongju – 29 October 1950". Out in the Cold: Australia's Involvement in the Korean War. Australian War Memorial. 2009. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  30. ^ "No. 39265". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 June 1951. p. 3411.
  31. ^ a b c d e Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 260.
  32. ^ a b Gallaway 1999, p. 94.
  33. ^ "No. 39205". The London Gazette. 17 April 1951. p. 2186.
  34. ^ a b c d Horner 2008, p. 63.
  35. ^ a b c Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 260.
  36. ^ Bartlett 1960, p. 35.
  37. ^ a b Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 261.
  38. ^ Gallaway 1999, pp. 96–97.
  39. ^ Barter 1996, pp. 313–314
  40. ^ O'Neill 1985, p. 51.
  41. ^ Horner 1990, pp. 438–439.
  42. ^ O'Neill 1985, p. 50.
  43. ^ O'Neill 1985, pp. 55–56.
  44. ^ Chinese Military Science Academy 2000, p. 90.
  45. ^ Fehrenbach 2000, p. 196.
  46. ^ Breen 1992, p. 9.
  47. ^ Roe 2000, p. 176.

References

Further reading

External links

39°39′N 125°20′E / 39.650°N 125.333°E / 39.650; 125.333

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