Existing comment:
The First American Tanks To Fight in Korea:
On 4 July 1950, the first American tanks arrived in Pusan. The entire armored might of the 24th Infantry Division's 78th Heavy Tank Battalion initially consisted of A Company's fourteen M24 Chaffee light tanks. When the division left Japan, it possessed no heavy tanks due to a shortage of these vehicles and a desire to protect Japanese roads from damage. However, additional M24s soon followed A Company, throughout July, possessed the only American tanks in action. Unfortunately, these tanks proved to be in a poor state of repair. Between their first engagement on 10 July and 16 August, A Company lost all of its tanks, half due to enemy fire and half due to mechanical failures. |