U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 4 (of 5): The East-Central FrontMontross, Lynn
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 4 (of 5): The East-Central Front
Montross, Lynn
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
Captured documents indicated that enemy forces in unknown numbers had
already infiltrated through gaps in the eastern sectors of the Eighth
Army’s Line D. Guerrilla activity was reported as far west as Tanyang,
on the MSR of IX Corps, and as far south as Taejon, threatening the
supply line of I Corps. Train ambushes occurred on 13 January in the
Namchang area and to the south of Wonju. Other attacks took place on
the rail line about 60 miles north of Taegu. In expectation of further
attempts, trains were provided with a sandbagged car, pushed ahead of
the engine, to absorb the shock of landmine explosions. Another car was
occupied by guards who had the duty of dealing with direct guerrilla
attacks.[50]
[50] EUSAK _Cmd Rpt_, Jan 51.
The tactical problem of the Marines was quite simple--on paper. About
1,600 square miles, most of them standing on end in mountainous
terrain, were included in the new zone of operations. The experience
of World War II had demonstrated how effective guerrilla warfare could
be as an adjunct to large-scale military operations. Officers of the
1st Marine Division had no illusions about their mission, therefore,
when they received unconfirmed reports of NKPA guerrilla infiltrations
behind the EUSAK lines toward Andong.
All uncertainty vanished on 18 January, shortly after the issuing of
OpnO 3-51, when a patrol of the 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, flushed out
an undetermined number of North Korean troops east of Andong. They took
to their heels so earnestly that the Marines barely managed to catch
three of them after a long chase.
The prisoners identified their unit as the 27th Infantry of the NKPA
10th Infantry Division. The other two regiments, the 25th and 29th,
were also in the general area. All three were supported more in theory
than fact by artillery, mortar, medical, and engineer units organic
to the division. In reality, however, the estimated total of 6,000
troops consisted largely of infantry, A few mortars, according to the
prisoners, were the largest weapons.
Following the Inchon-Seoul operation, the remnants of the badly
mauled NKPA 10th Infantry Division had straggled back across the
38th Parallel to the Hwachon area. There they were reorganized by the
Chinese for guerrilla operations and placed under the command of NKPA
Major General Lee Ban Nam.[51]
[51] 1stMarDiv Periodic Intelligence Report (_PIR_) 87–94,
17–22 Jan 51.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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