Existing comment:
In June 1950, North Korean troops poured over the border into the south virtually unopposed. In three days, Seoul, the South Korean capital, fell and the defenders retreated to a small enclave around Pusan where, supported from the sea, American and Korean troops regrouped. Then, in September, Gen. Douglas MacArthur again used his unchallenged command of the sea and made a daring amphibious landing at Inchon, cutting the North Korean supply lines and forcing them into a precipitous retreat.
The Korean War
The Korean War:
In 1910, Japan annexed Korea and dominated the peninsula. Following World War II, the country was divided into a Soviet-dominated northern half and an American-dominated south. However, early in 1950, several American politicians indicated that the US had no strategic interest in the country; an open invitation for the Soviet Union to expand its influence in the Far East.
On the morning of 25 June 1950, North Korean troops launched a full-scale attack on South Korea. Seoul fell in three days and South Korean troops fell back to Pusan.
The United Nations authorized sending troops to the defense of South Korea, with the American forces playing a leading role.
Pusan -- August 1950:
As North Korean troops advanced southward and the defenders slowly retreated toward the port town of Pusan, American and British aircraft carriers attacked enemy targets. At the same time, American troops stationed in Japan were rushed to Korea to help hold the line. By the end of August 1950, a stable defensive perimeter about Pusan was established and General MacArthur planned to take the offensive.
Operation Chromite: The Landings at Inchon -- September 1950:
In a daring move, General MacArthur sought to cut the extended North Korean supply lines by landing at the western port harbor of Inchon, then retaking Seoul and nearby Kimpo Airport.
By midnight 15 September, Inchon was in American hands, a victory gained at the cost of 22 men killed and 174 wounded. Within days, Kimpo was secured, the Marines were closing in on Seoul, and North Korean troops [were] racing away from Pusan.
A long narrow channel, 23-foot tidal range, fast current, and shoal water made an amphibious landing at Inchon risky.
James H Doyle (1897-1981) USNA 1920:
Doyle acquired skill in coordinating amphibious operations during World War II, when he helped oversee the Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands campaigns, and served principal amphibious planner on Adm Ernest J. King's staff.
At the outbreak of the Korea War, Rear Admiral Doyle was the amphibious group commander in the Far East. He is regarded as one of the men chiefly responsible for preventing the defeat of United Nations forces in Korea because of his skill as commander of the successful amphibious landing at Inchon.
The Landings at Wonsan -- October 1950:
As the Marines and the US Eighth Army closed in, North Koreans fled back across the 38th parallel. Despite warnings that an invasion of North Korea would result in Communist China's intervention, MacArthur decided to make another amphibious landing at Wonsan harbor in a drive for the Yalu River, the border between Korea and China. He did not believe the Chinese would carry out their threat to attack if United Nations troops approached the river. He was wrong.
Evacuating Hungham -- November-December 1950:
MacArthur's forces began advancing on 25 November, and the Chinese immediately inflicted heavy losses. An onslaught at Chosin Reservoir forced the Americans to retreat.
Despite the sub-zero weather, elements of the 1st Marine Division managed to make their way to Hungnam, on Korea's eastern coast. By Christmas Eve, 109,000 soldiers, 68,000 civilians, and 18,000 vehicles had been evacuated to Pusan.
Winter weather also complicated operations for the Navy units. Ice and snow had to be removed from carrier decks and aircraft before launching aircraft.
The 38th Parallel:
Ultimately, the Korean War stalemated along the 38th parallel, the original division between North and South Korea. Truce talks began on 10 July 1951, but negotiations leading toward a formal truce and terms for the return of prisoners continued for more than two years.
The Korean War did garner positive results for the US Navy. The wide scope of its activities off the Korean coast provided an irrefutable argument against those who said that navies were obsolete.
USS Missouri:
USS Missouri was the first American battleship to reach Korean waters. She provided diversionary fire on Samchok during the landings at Inchon and helped prepare the way for the breakout from the Pusan perimeter. The battleship later provided defensive fire as United Nations troops withdrew from Hungnam.
C. Turner Joy (1895-1956) USNA 1916:
Having commanded first a cruiser and then a cruiser division in the Pacific Theater of World War II, Joy was destined to play a significant role in Korea. At the outbreak of the war, Vice Admiral Joy commanded all United States naval forces in the Far East. Much of the success of the Inchon landings was due to his skill and acumen as a commander.
He was also instrumental in ending the war. From July 1951 through May 1952, Joy served as senior United Nations delegate to the peace negotiations with North Korea. ... |