Battle of Yongyu
Battle of Yongyu | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of Korean War | |||||||
US artillery airdrop near Sukchon, North Korea, October 1950 | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
North Korea | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Frank S. Bowen Basil A. Coad Charles H. Green | Unknown | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
| 239th Regiment | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
~3,000 men | ~2,500 men | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
49 killed |
1,075 killed 1,200+ captured |
The Battle of Yongyu (영유永柔 전투), also known as the Battle of the Apple Orchard or the Battle of Yongju by the Australians who fought in it, took place between 21 and 22 October 1950 during the
On 20 October, the US 187th Airborne
The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade had departed from Pyongyang at noon on 21 October, headed north on the Sukchon highway, tasked with reaching the
C Company, 3 RAR, came under fire from a KPA 239th Regiment rearguard force entrenched in a hillside apple orchard north of Yongyu and aggressively counterattacked off the line of march into the orchard, routing the KPA from the high ground. The KPA 239th Regiment, now on open ground between 3 RAR and 187 ABN, was forced to withdraw westwards with heavy casualties. 3 RAR then relieved the American paratroopers in their defensive positions. By midday, after three hours of fighting, the battle was mostly over. Many KPA soldiers who had been unable to escape hid or feigned death until captured or killed. With the linkup completed, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade relieved 187 RCT at Sukchon and passed through for the continuation of its drive to the Chongchon River. The Australians had distinguished themselves in their first major battle in the Korean War, and the battalion was later praised for its performance.
Background
On 26 July, the Australian government announced that it would commit the under-strength and poorly equipped
On 23 September, 3 RAR embarked for Korea, arriving at
Prelude
Opposing forces
By the time
The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade moved 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Kumchon, with the Argylls
The previous day,
Only the KPA 239th Regiment remained, having been ordered to delay the UNC forces as they attempted to follow up. With a strength of 2,500 men, the regiment occupied positions on the high ground astride the road and rail lines east of Yongyu, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of the US drop zone at Sukchon.[12]
Battle
KPA 239th Regiment is encircled, 21 October 1950
The most important action growing out of the 187 RCT airdrop occurred in the 3/187 ABN sector, about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of Sukchon in the vicinity of Op'a-ri and Yongyu. At 02:30 on 21 October, K Company repulsed an attack on its Sukchon–Pyongyang highway roadblock by an estimated company-sized KPA force that attempted to break through to the north.[21] At 09:00, the 3/187 ABN command post (CP) advanced two combat teams from the roadblock position in a reconnaissance-in-force to clear the Sukchon–Yongyu road towards Pyongyang and establish contact with the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade that was leading the 24th Infantry Division northwards from Pyongyang.[22] I Company was assigned to clear the rail line and K Company was given the mission of clearing the highway. I Company reached Op'a-ri at 13:00, where it was attacked by an estimated battalion-strength KPA force equipped with heavy mortars and automatic antiaircraft guns. After a two-and-a-half-hour firefight, I Company, with two rifle platoons overrun by the KPA and 90 men missing, was forced to withdraw west of the rail line to Hill 281. Failing to exploit the advantage, the KPA withdrew to defensive positions on the high ground around Op'a-ri.[22] Meanwhile, K Company, receiving harassing fire during its advance along the highway, proceeded to a point about 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) north of Yongyu, where it encountered a KPA force of about three companies. After a heavy firefight, the Americans forced the KPA to withdraw to defensive positions on the high ground to the south and east of the town. K Company continued into Yongyu, taking up defensive positions in the town and on Hill 163 to the north of the town.[22]
I and K Companies now occupied defensive positions roughly opposite each other—at Op'a-ri (Hill 281) overlooking the rail line and at Yongyu (Hill 163) overlooking the highway—yet these positions were now almost 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) apart and unable to mutually support each other. The distance separating the highway and the railway which ran north either side of Yongyu was greater at that point than anywhere else between Sukchon and Pyongyang. Extending on a southwest–northeast axis, and cutting across both the highway and rail line at Yongyu and Op'a-ri, is a line of high hills offering the best defensible ground between Pyongyang and the Chongchon River.[23] Here, the KPA 239th Regiment had taken up defensive positions, deploying a battalion in each locality. The last organised KPA unit to leave Pyongyang, its mission was to fight a delaying action against the expected UNC advance from Pyongyang. Now, as a result of the unexpected US airborne operation, it was encircled and found itself attacked from two separate points in its rear.[23] The KPA 239th Regiment, by this time convinced that both routes to the north had been blocked by the US airborne forces, would attempt one last push to regain contact with the other KPA forces that had infiltrated northwards.[24]
British and Australians advance to Yongyu, 21–22 October 1950
In the days prior, the US
Now the vanguard of the Eighth Army, the British and Australians crossed the Taedong River using a sandbag bridge at Pyongyang at noon on 21 October, moving north on the main highway to Sukchon with the task of reaching the Chongchon River.[26] Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel George Nielson, 1 ASHR pushed up the road until fired upon by KPA forces in the hills to the south of the town, with snipers engaging the column as it turned west out of the river valley around 16:00.[15][27] Encountering only light resistance from a small KPA force of approximately 75 men which was then scattered by tank fire, the Argylls successfully cleared the foothills by last light on 21 October.[10] Approaching Yongyu, Coad decided to halt for the night.[26] The Argylls sent a patrol into the town, establishing initial contact with 3/187 ABN, marrying up with K Company which was established in a number of houses on the northern edge of Yongyu and on Hill 163 immediately above their position. A strong KPA force was believed to be nearby, with at least 300 men thought to remain in the town.[28]
KPA 239th Regiment breakout, 22 October 1950
At 00:15, the KPA 239th Regiment attempted a breakout to the north, launching multiple attacks against K Company, 187 ABN, at Yongyu. During the first attack, K Company's positions in the town and at its roadblock on the northern outskirts of town were assaulted by a large KPA force estimated at two battalions.[23] Nearby, the British and Australians could hear the sounds of heavy fighting between the Americans and KPA 1.6 to 3.2 kilometres (1 to 2 mi) to the north.[12] Half an hour later, a small KPA force attacked A Company, 1 ASHR, with grenades, killing two men and wounding two more before being repulsed, having suffered one killed and one wounded.[29] Following two more KPA attacks, the Americans abandoned the roadblock after running out of ammunition and withdrew to 3/187 ABN's main defensive position 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) to the north.[30] Detecting the withdrawal, the KPA attacked again at 04:00, leaving a small blocking force to hold the remnants of K Company in place in Yongyu, and concentrated the majority of its forces on the road to Sukchon. To the south, the British and Australians began to fear that the Americans had been overrun.[31] A short time after the KPA 239th Regiment's main body passed through, the remaining elements withdrew from Yongyu and moved to join the main body. The KPA 239th Regiment moved north along the road, arriving at a point 910 metres (1,000 yd) south of the 3/187 ABN CP at around 05:00. The KPA stopped to reform, not realizing that 3/187 ABN's Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) and L Company, 187 ABN were dug in along the road.[23]
At 05:45, the KPA 239th Regiment started moving north again and ran blindly into 3/187 ABN's HHC and L Company's perimeter elements. They were immediately engaged with heavy losses, not only by direct fire from the HHC but also by enfilading fire from L Company.[23] Stunned by the volume and severity of the fire, it took the KPA 239th Regiment about an hour to reorganize and deliver an attack. A group of about 300–350 KPA engaged L Company and attempted to flank and envelop its positions. Another group of about 450 KPA engaged the HHC.[23] The KPA fire became exceedingly accurate as the firefight progressed. Hard-pressed, the 3/187 ABN CP radioed the 187 RCT CP at Sukchon describing the situation and requesting reinforcement.[12][32] 187 RCT's request for armoured reinforcement was received by the 24th Infantry Division's headquarters in Pyongyang.[32] Yet, with the US division still well to the rear, the Sherman tanks of the US 89th Tank Battalion encamped with the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade on the Pyongyang-Sukchon road just south of Yongyu was the closest formation, and they were ordered forward to assist 3/187 ABN.[12][33]
By dawn, the North Koreans and Americans had fought each other to a standstill after heavy fighting overnight and the previous day; the KPA 239th Regiment was almost exhausted, yet, in danger of being destroyed, it prepared for a final attempt to break out.[30]
Fighting in the apple orchard, 22 October 1950
Overnight, Brigadier Coad had directed Lieutenant Colonel Green's 3 RAR to take the lead when the brigade moved out the following morning and Green decided to send Captain Archer P. Denness' C Company through Yongyu to advance as rapidly as possible to effect the relief of 3/187 ABN to the north.[30]
At first light on 22 October, A and C Company, 1 ASHR, advanced into Yongyu to clear the town of any remaining KPA before the Australians passed through.[25] Elsewhere, 1 MR took up defensive positions to the north of Yongyu.[15] The Argylls moved through the town, using high-explosive and white phosphorus hand grenades to flush out the KPA, setting fire to many of the buildings.[31] As planned, at 07:00, 3 RAR was ordered to move through Yongyu towards Sukchon to link up with 187 RCT and close the gap between the two forces.[12] C Company, 3 RAR, passed through the burning town mounted on the Sherman tanks of D Company, US 89th Tank Battalion, and headed north on the Yongyu–Sukchon road.[26]
At 09:00, the Australian column was stopped by small arms and light mortar fire from a hillside apple orchard about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) north of Yongyu.[31][12] Lieutenant Colonel Green, traveling with the 3 RAR headquarters group, proceeded forward to Captain Denness' location. C Company had driven into the rearguard of the KPA 239th Regiment as it was forming up for a final assault on 3/187 ABN.[30] The strong KPA force of approximately 1,000 men allowed C Company, 3 RAR and the battalion's tactical headquarters group to pass before engaging them.[10] Denness did not have a lot of information; there had been no contact with the Americans who were believed to be located nearby. The KPA-held apple orchard lay between the advancing Australians and the US paratroopers, blocking any relief attempt.[25] Brigadier Coad's order citing the urgent need to link up with the Americans dictated Green's decision. Rather than preparing a deliberate attack and potentially allowing the KPA time to organise their defences, Green chose to force his leading company through at once in order to seize the initiative and continue the pursuit.[34][35] An encounter battle developed as 3 RAR carried out an aggressive quick attack from the road, with US tanks in support.[11]
Preparing for the assault, Lieutenant Colonel Green informed brigade headquarters of his plans and was advised that 3/187 ABN was believed to be about 1,500 metres (1,600 yd) further north; however, as the exact location of the Americans was unclear, the indirect fire available to support the attack would be limited.[36] The US tanks were also initially under orders not to fire for fear of hitting their own men.[26] With mortars and artillery unavailable, the Australians proceeded to attack regardless, with the tanks carrying C Company turning east towards the KPA positions in the apple orchard.[36] At 09:30, Captain Denness dismounted 7 and 8 Platoons and aggressively counterattacked off the line of march into the apple orchard, while 9 Platoon, commanded by Lieutenant David Butler, was left near the road to protect the Australian flank.[10] Supported by the Sherman tanks' cannons and coaxial machine guns, the Australians charged the KPA positions with bayonets, Bren guns, Owen guns, Lee–Enfields, and hand grenades.[31][36] In the face of this determined attack, many of the KPA left their pits in an attempt to move to safety, only to suffer heavy casualties after exposing themselves to the fire of the two assaulting platoons, the flanking platoon and the US tanks in support.[37] The speed and ferocity of the attack surprised the defenders, and the Australians quickly overran the KPA outposts despite the lack of indirect fire.[30] The KPA, many of whom were recently trained conscripts, were then forced to withdraw for the loss of only four Australians wounded.[31][38] For his leadership in coordinating the assault, Denness was later awarded the Military Cross, while Private Charles McMurray received the Military Medal for bravery.[37][39]
More than 70 KPA were killed in the initial attack, while a further eight or nine were killed as the Australians cleared the position, setting fire to the KPA dug-outs and forcing the remaining defenders to flee.[40] As the KPA broke, Lieutenant Colonel Green pushed A and B Company onto the higher ground to the right of C Company with the intention of clearing the ridge overlooking the highway, while D Company moved forward on the left of the road towards 9 Platoon.[31][41] Meanwhile, the battalion tactical headquarters, which had followed closely behind C Company as they assaulted, came under attack in the apple orchard east of the road and was forced to fight off a group of KPA, with the regimental police and the battalion signallers fighting back-to-back to defend themselves. Withstanding the attack, the Australians eventually killed 34 KPA for the loss of three men wounded.[37] Despite becoming personally involved in the heavy fighting, Green continued to skilfully control the battle throughout.[40] D Company was ordered to clear the KPA threatening battalion headquarters, as well as sending a platoon forward to establish contact with the Americans. Running low on ammunition, 3/187 ABN had been in contact throughout the morning and continued to suffer casualties. However, having been forced off the high ground, the KPA were now caught between the advancing Australians and the US paratroopers to the north.[25]
"I saw a marvellous sight. An Australian platoon lined up in a paddy field and walked through it as though they were driving snipe. The soldiers, when they saw a pile of straw, kicked it and out would bolt a North Korean. Up with the rifle and down with a North Korean and the Australians thoroughly enjoyed it! They did that the whole day, and they were absolutely in their element." |
— Brigadier Basil Aubrey Coad[42] |
Unable to move north, the KPA attempted to escape across the open rice fields to the west, through the gap between the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade and 3/187 ABN.
Aftermath
Casualties
Despite the uncertain situation and the lack of indirect support, Lieutenant Colonel Green's tactical handling of the Australian battalion had been bold, and his decision to move quickly through Yongyu and to attack off the line of march proved decisive.[46] Preoccupied with fighting the Americans to their north, the KPA were unprepared for the Australians to attack from the rear.[42] Caught between the US paratroopers and the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade, the KPA 239th Regiment was practically destroyed.[26] KPA casualties in the apple orchard were 150 killed, 239 wounded and 200 captured, while Australian casualties numbered just seven men wounded.[30] Including those engaged by the Argylls, total KPA losses during the fighting with the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade exceeded 200 killed and 500 captured.[36][47][Note 2] The survivors fled westwards.[26] In their first major battle in Korea, the Australians had distinguished themselves, and the battalion was later praised for its performance.[43] The action became known as the "Battle of the Apple Orchard", while the Royal Australian Regiment was later granted the battle honour "Yongju".[11][48] Boosting their confidence, the success prepared the Australians for the battles which they were to face in the months that followed.[42] Meanwhile, 3/187 ABN reported killing 805 KPA and capturing 681 in the fighting around Yongyu.[26] Altogether, US casualties during the Sukchon-Sunchon operation were 48 killed in action and 80 wounded and a further one killed and 56 injured in the jump.[49][Note 3]
The Middlesex Battalion was ordered to push on to Sukchon, and after successfully relieving the Americans in place by nightfall, the battalion occupied a defensive position 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) north.
Subsequent operations
On the afternoon of 25 October, a platoon from 3 RAR was fired on by two companies of KPA as they crossed the Taeryong River to conduct a reconnaissance of the west bank, and although they were forced to withdraw, the Australians took 10 prisoners with them.[43] Acting as the forward elements of the brigade, that evening Lieutenant Colonel Green sent two companies across the river to establish defensive positions and they broke up a frontal assault on their positions with mortars while the KPA were in the process of forming up. Sixty KPA supported by a 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 succeeded in defending the bridgehead after the KPA withdrew.[50] Intelligence indicated that the British and Australians were facing the KPA 17th Tank Brigade, which was preparing a last line of defence at Chongju, 70 kilometres (43 mi) away.[52] With the war considered all but over, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade continued to pursue the KPA towards Chongju; however, the advance increasingly encountered strong resistance as they approached the Manchurian border.[43]
Notes
Footnotes
- 70th Tank Battalion would advance from Pyongyang to link up with 2/187 ABN at Sunchon the day after the jump. See Flanagan 1997, pp. 157–158.
- ^ The US official history lists KPA casualties during fighting with the British and Australians as including 270 killed and 200 captured, see Appleman 1998, p. 660.
- ^ During the operation, 187 RCT had faced an estimated 8,000 KPA troops. KPA losses were estimated at 2,764 killed and 3,818 captured, see Flanagan 1997, p. 167.
Citations
- ^ Dennis et al 2008, p. 302.
- ^ O'Dowd 2000, p. 3.
- ^ a b Breen 1992, p. 8.
- ^ Horner 2008, p. 57.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 239.
- ^ Horner 2008, p. 58.
- ^ Gugeler 1987, p. 39.
- ^ Horner 2008, pp. 58–61.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 2001, pp. 256–257.
- ^ a b c d e f Horner 2008, p. 61.
- ^ a b c Kuring 2004, p. 231.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 257.
- ^ Gallaway 1999, p. 67.
- ^ a b c Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 248.
- ^ a b c Odgers 2009, p. 44.
- ^ Pittman 1984, p. 1.
- ^ Appleman 1998, p. 655.
- ^ Leary 2005, p. 8.
- ^ a b Appleman 1998, p. 658.
- ^ Varhola 2000, p. 104.
- ^ Pittman 1984, p. 64.
- ^ a b c Flanagan 1997, p. 163.
- ^ a b c d e f g Appleman 1998, p. 659
- ^ Pittman 1984, p. 65.
- ^ a b c d e Bartlett 1960, p. 30.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Appleman 1998, p. 660.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 249.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 258.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, pp. 250–251.
- ^ a b c d e f Butler 2002, p. 59.
- ^ a b c d e f Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 251.
- ^ a b Gallaway 1999, p. 74.
- ^ O'Dowd 2000, p. 10.
- ^ Butler 2002, pp. 59–60.
- ^ O'Dowd 2000, p. 12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 258.
- ^ a b c d e O'Neill 1985, p. 37.
- ^ Kuring 2004, p. 232.
- ^ "No. 39205". The London Gazette. 17 April 1951. p. 2186.
- ^ a b Bartlett 1960, p. 31.
- ^ Gallaway 1999, pp. 75–76.
- ^ a b c "Yongju/The Apple Orchard – 22 October 1950". Australian War Memorial. 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Horner 2008, p. 62.
- ^ O'Neill 1985, p. 38.
- ^ "No. 39265". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 June 1951. p. 3411.
- ^ Butler 2002, p. 60.
- ^ a b Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 252.
- ^ Rodger 2003, p. 373.
- ^ Flanagan 1997, p. 167.
- ^ a b Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 259.
- ^ "The United Nations Counteroffensive to the Yalu: Australian engagements: Pakchon, Yongju, Chongju, 'Broken Bridge'". Australia's Involvement in the Korean War. Department of Veterans' Affairs. 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
- ^ O'Neill 1985, p. 44.
References
- Appleman, Roy E. (1998) [1961]. South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu: United States Army in the Korean War: June – November 1950. Washington, D.C.: ISBN 978-0-16-001918-0. Archived from the originalon 7 February 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- Bartlett, Norman, ed. (1960). With the Australians in Korea (Third ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 488462542.
- Breen, Bob (1992). The Battle of Kapyong: 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, Korea 23–24 April 1951. Georges Heights, New South Wales: Headquarters Training Command. ISBN 0-642-18222-1.
- Butler, David (2002). "The Youngest CO: Charles Green". The Fight Leaders: Australian Battlefield Leadership: Green, Hassett and Ferguson 3 RAR – Korea. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military Historical Publications. pp. 39–71. ISBN 1-876439-56-4.
- Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (Second ed.). St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-634-7.
- Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin; Bou, Jean (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-551784-2.
- ISBN 0-11-630953-9.
- Flanagan, E.M. (1997). The Rakkasans: The Combat History of the 187th Airborne Infantry. Novato, California: Presidio. ISBN 0-89141-604-8.
- Gallaway, Jack (1999). The Last Call of the Bugle: The Long Road to Kapyong (Second ed.). St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press. ISBN 0-7022-3106-1.
- Gugeler, Russell A. (1987). Army Historical Series: Combat Actions in Korea (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, U.S. Army. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ISBN 978-1-74175-374-5.
- Kuring, Ian (2004). Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military Historical Publications. ISBN 1-876439-99-8.
- ISBN 978-1-4102-2043-1.
- ISBN 978-1-74110-807-1.
- O'Dowd, Ben (2000). In Valiant Company: Diggers in Battle – Korea, 1950–51. St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press. ISBN 0-7022-3146-0.
- ISBN 0-642-04330-2.
- Pittman, MAJ Phill; et al. (1984). Combat Studies Institute Battlebook 4-C: The Battle of Sukchon-Sunchon (PDF). US Army Command and General Staff College. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- Rodger, Alexander (2003). Battle Honours of the British Empire and Commonwealth Land Forces 1662–1991. Ramsbury, Wiltshire: The Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-637-5.
- Varhola, Michael J. (2000). Fire and Ice: The Korean War, 1950–1953. Mason City, Iowa: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-1-882810-44-4.
Further reading
- Chinese Military Science Academy (2000). History of War to Resist America and Aid Korea (抗美援朝战争史) (in Chinese). Vol. II. Beijing: Chinese Military Science Academy Publishing House. ISBN 7-80137-390-1.
- ISBN 1-57488-259-7.
- Forbes, Cameron (2010). The Korean War: Australia in the Giants' Playground. Sydney, New South Wales: Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-405040-01-3.
- Johnston, William (2003). A War of Patrols: Canadian Army Operations in Korea. Vancouver, British Columbia: UBC Press. ISBN 0-7748-1008-4.
- MacDonald, Callum A. (1986). Korea: The War Before Vietnam. New York: Free Press. ISBN 0-02-919621-3.
- Pears, Maurie (2007). Battlefield Korea: The Korean Battle Honours of the Royal Australian Regiment, 1950–1953. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 9780980379600.
External links
39°18′17.9″N 125°35′59″E / 39.304972°N 125.59972°E