U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 2 (of 5): The Inchon-Seoul OperationMontross, Lynn
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 2 (of 5): The Inchon-Seoul Operation
Montross, Lynn
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
The meticulous planning left nothing to chance, even with the
assumption that a foothold would be successfully established by
darkness. During the night of D-day, the cruisers would expend an
additional 250 shells on interdictory missions, and the destroyers
were authorized to fire a total of 300 5-inch rounds on call from the
infantry. To help thwart any possible enemy ambitions at dawn of D-plus
1, the cruisers would be prepared to unload 300 shells for interdiction
and call fires, while the destroyers stood poised with the same number
of high-explosive missiles plus 300 illuminating shells.
Other details of the elaborate plan dealt with the coordination of
naval gunfire, air, artillery, mortars, and rockets. At certain times,
for example, Marine and Navy gunners could fire only below a maximum
trajectory of 1100 feet, so that planes, whose minimum altitude was set
at 1500 feet, could pass safely over Inchon during strikes on adjacent
areas. During those periods when close support Corsairs were scheduled
to descend on beachhead targets, all other heavy weapons would fire
completely clear of broad circles defining strike areas for the air
missions.
More tables and instructions in the formidable appendixes of Admiral
Doyle’s operation order assigned shore fire control parties their ships
and radio frequencies, ships their battery missions and ammunition
allowances, and a host of other tasks and responsibilities.
_Air Support for Inchon_
Air support, of course, was closely related to naval gunfire planning.
After the arrival of CG 1st MAW and his staff at Tokyo on 3 September,
part of the group proceeded at once to Itami Air Force Base while
General Harris and selected staff members remained at Tokyo for
planning conferences.
Air support planning for Inchon was based on the decision that the sky
over the objective area was to be divided between the organic air units
of JTF-7 and X Corps.
JTF-7 counted on its fast carrier task force, TF-77, to gain air
supremacy and furnish deep support and interdiction strikes. Close
support for the landing was to be provided by the two squadrons of
TG-90.5, on board the CVEs _Sicily_ and _Badoeng Strait_, which had
been the main air components of MAG-33 in support of the 1st Marine
Provisional Brigade. In addition, the Attack Force commander could also
call upon the aircraft of TF-77 for close support.
Organic air support for X Corps was to be the mission of the Tactical
Air Control set up under the operational control of the corps
commander and the direct command of General Cushman. The inspiration
for this organization came from Marine officers on the staff of X
Corps. Their suggestions were accepted by General Almond, who used his
authority as FECOM chief of staff to put the idea into effect.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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