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
Within the Marine division sector to the north of Seoul lay the
junction of two major rivers, the Imjin and the Han, and a portion of
the broad fertile valley fed by the latter. Flowing into the division
area from the east, the Imjin River snaked its way southwestward to the
rear of JAMESTOWN. At the northeastern tip of the Kimpo Peninsula, the
Imjin joined the Han. The latter there changed its course from south to
west, flowed past Kimpo and neighboring Kanghwa-do Island, and emptied
eventually into the Yellow Sea. At the far western end of the division
sector the Yom River formed a natural boundary, separating Kanghwa and
Kimpo, as it ran into the Han River and south to the Yellow Sea. To
the east, the Sachon River streamed into the Imjin, while the Kongnung
emptied into the Han where the MLR crossed from the mainland to Kimpo.
In addition, two north-south oriented rivers flanked enemy positions
opposite the Marines and emptied into major rivers in the Marine
sector. Northwest of Kimpo, the Yesong River ran south to the Han; far
to the northeast, just beyond the March 1952 division right boundary,
the Samichon River flowed into the Imjin.
Although the rivers in the Marine division were navigable, they were
little used for supply or transportation. The railroads, too, were
considered secondary ways, for there was but one line, which ran north
out of Seoul to Munsan-ni and then continued towards Kaesong. Below the
division railhead, located at Munsan-ni, a spur cut off to Ascom City.
Roads, the chief means of surface transport, were numerous but lacked
sufficient width and durability for supporting heavy military traffic.
Within the sector occupied by the Marines, the main route generally
paralleled the railroad. Most of the existing roads south of JAMESTOWN
eventually found their way to the logistic center at Munsan-ni.
Immediately across the Imjin, the road net was more dense but not of
any better construction.
From the logistical point of view, the Imjin River was a critical
factor. Spanning it and connecting the division forward and rear
support areas in March 1952 were only three bridges, which were
vulnerable to river flooding conditions and possible enemy attack.
Besides intersecting the Marine sector, the Imjin formed a barrier to
the rear of much of the division MLR, thereby increasing the difficulty
of normal defense and resupply operations.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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