Existing comment:
Wearing Down the North Korean 105th Armored Brigade:
The North Korean 105th Armored Brigade's T-34/85 tanks dominated the battlefield during the summer and early fall of 1950. They usually advanced boldly, knowing that the American and ROK troops could not stop them. They overran infantry positions, command posts, and artillery. However, continuous combat operations resulted in a steady rise in tank losses and maintenance work. American and South Korean soldiers mounted regular delaying actions and relied on close air support. The delivery of the new M20 3.5-inch rocket launcher, commonly called the 3.5-inch bazooka, finally provided the rifleman a means to destroy tanks. Meanwhile, the arrival of growing numbers of American tanks made possible more aggressive actions against North Korean armor. Nevertheless, the North Koreans planned a final offensive intended to eliminate the Pusan Perimeter. Between 31 August and 12 September, the North Koreans sought to breach UN lines, but after bitter fighting and heavy casualties, the offensive ended. As a result, much of North Korea's armor had been destroyed. Faced with more powerful American tanks and UN air attacks, the surviving North Korean vehicles were forced to move only at night and avoid prolonged encounters with American armor. |