U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 3 (of 5): The Chosin Reservoir CampaignMontross, Lynn
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 3 (of 5): The Chosin Reservoir Campaign
Montross, Lynn
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
Following CinCUNC’s meeting in the capitol building on the 29th,
General Almond called a conference of division commanders and staff
members at his X Corps Headquarters in Ascom City, near Inchon.
MacArthur’s strategy was outlined to the assembled officers, so that
planning could commence on the division level. Almond set 15 October
as D-Day for the Wonsan landing. He based this target date on the
assumption that Eighth Army would pass through and relieve X Corps on 3
October, the date on which the necessary shipping was to begin arriving
at Inchon.[28]
[28] 1stMarDiv _Special Action Report for the
Wonsan-Hamhung-Chosin Reservoir Operation, 8 Oct-15 Dec
50_ (hereafter 1stMarDiv _SAR_), 10.
On 29 September, the 1st Marine Division was still committed tactically
above Seoul, two regiments blocking and one attacking. If the first
vessels began arriving at Inchon on 3 October, the assault shipping
would not be completely assembled until the 8th, according to the JSPOG
estimate. Four days would be required to get to the objective, leaving
two days, instead of the planned six, for outloading the landing
force. Neither Major General Oliver P. Smith, Commanding General (CG)
1stMarDiv, nor his staff regarded this as a realistic schedule.[29]
[29] 1stMarDiv _SAR_, 10 and MajGen Oliver P. Smith, _Notes
on the Operations of the 1st Marine Division during the
First Nine Months of the Korean War, 1950–51_ (MS),
(hereafter Smith, _Notes_), 370–371.
[Illustration: AREA OF OPERATIONS
1st Marine Division
October-December 1950
MAP-2
]
The Marine officers came away from the conference without knowledge
of the types and numbers of ships that would be made available to the
division. And since they had no maps of the objective area and no
intelligence data whatever, it was manifestly impossible to lay firm
plans along either administrative or tactical lines.[30]
[30] _Ibid._
Vice Admiral Joy, Commander Naval Forces Far East (ComNavFE), issued
his instructions on 1 October in connection with the forthcoming
operations. To Vice Admiral Arthur D. Struble’s Joint Task Force
7 (JTF-7), which had carried out the Inchon attack, he gave these
missions:
1. To maintain a naval blockade of Korea’s East coast south of
Chongjin.
2. To furnish naval gunfire and air support to Eighth Army as
directed.
3. To conduct pre-D-Day naval operations for the Wonsan landing as
required.
4. To load and transport X Corps to Wonsan, providing cover and
support en route.
5. To seize by amphibious assault, occupy, and defend a beachhead
in the Wonsan area on D-Day.
6. To provide naval gunfire, air, and initial logistical support
to X Corps at Wonsan until relieved.[31]
[31] ComNavFE _OpnPlan 113-50_. Copy at OCMH.
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