U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 5 (of 5): Operations in West KoreaUnited States. Marine Corps
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 5 (of 5): Operations in West Korea
United States. Marine Corps
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
This was particularly true of his 60 and 82mm mortars, which are
easily displaced forward and shifted to alternate positions.
These light mortars were difficult to locate by our observers
mainly because of the small size and limited development of
their positions, and the fact that they are moved frequently. A
large number of enemy mortars were fired from bunkers deep in
the ground with only a narrow aperture at the top through which
to fire. There were some instances, during the Battle of Bunker
Hill, when the enemy brought his 60mm mortars out from cover on
the forward slope and set them up in the open near the crest of
the ridge. After delivering several rounds, the mortars would
then displace quickly back to a covered position. During August,
mortar fire averaged between 50 and 60 percent of the total
incoming received by the 1st Marine Division.[201]
[201] 1stMarDiv ComdD, Aug 52, p. 2.
Further information about the Chinese was also derived at this time,
although not always directly associated with the battle. Deserters
picked up in the left sectors of the 1st and 5th Marines on 12 and
13 August and papers taken from enemy dead on the 13th confirmed
earlier-reported dispositions of Chinese units. One prisoner, from
the artillery regiment of the 118th Division, the unit facing the
major part of the 1st Marines line, indicated that another artillery
regiment had been assigned to support his division. If true, this extra
unit would account for both the increased Chinese fires in the Bunker
area and the additional artillery emplacements that photo planes had
spotted in the 118th Division sector. Infantry units of this division,
the Marines observed, introduced no new techniques or equipment during
the battle. Prior intelligence had provided the 1st Marines with
typical enemy ground attack tactics. Neither the Chinese envelopment
of Siberia, Stromboli, and Bunker nor the diversion against Hill 48A
before the main attack on Hill 122 represented a departure from normal
CCF practice.
Nor was the earlier Marine diversion new, but unlike the Chinese
attempt, the 1st Marines tactic was successful. Just before the
maneuver, the division pulled off another strategem, described by
General Selden in a letter to General Shepherd:
I worked a ruse that morning which proved to be very profitable.
Throughout the Eighth Army front, it had been routine to put on
a strike, this to be followed by smoke, then a good artillery
barrage, with troops following for the assault. This was done
with the exception that there were no troops. The enemy,
thinking that there were troops, opened up with everything. The
only damage inflicted was on their own forces.... While they
were firing on their own troops, we again opened fire with our
artillery, just to help the situation along.[202]
[202] MajGen John T. Selden ltr to Gen Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.,
dtd 14 Aug 52.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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