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
Shortly before the end of the month, the 5th Marines made another
major assault. As in the earlier CLAMBAKE, this raid was again in
two-reinforced-platoon size and made during the early daylight hours
of 25 February. This time the objective was a single height, Hill 15
(Detroit), two miles east of the CLAMBAKE objective. Lieutenant Colonel
Oscar F. Peatross’[347] 2/5, manning the extreme right sector of the
division, gave the assignment to Company F, then under Captain Harold
D. Kurth, Jr. Planning for Operation CHARLIE, a standard-type kill,
capture, and destroy raid, was carried out in much the same detailed
manner as the earlier 1/5 raid.
[347] Lieutenant Colonel Peatross had succeeded Lieutenant
Colonel McLaughlin as battalion CO on 11 Sep 52.
CHARLIE differed somewhat in concept in that the 2/5 operational plan
attempted to gain surprise by launching the attack during the BMNT[348]
period as well as in use of smoke to screen enemy observation.
Supporting arms preparatory fires had been carefully plotted, including
the precision destruction aerial bombing that had proved so effective
in the CLAMBAKE assault. In actual execution of CHARLIE, however, bad
weather prevented the use of almost all the planned pre-D-Day and D-Day
air strikes. Upon reaching the Detroit objective area assault Marines
“found the majority of enemy installations were relatively undamaged,
even though subjected to heavy bombardment by other supporting
arms.”[349] Artillery preparatory fires had been employed successfully
to isolate the battle area and howitzer and tank missions supported the
raid.[350]
[348] Beginning morning nautical twilight is that period
before sunrise or after sunset (BENT, or beginning
evening nautical twilight) when visibility is limited to
approximately 300 yards.
[349] 5thMar ComdD, Feb 53, App. VI, dtd 28 Feb 53, p. 5.
[350] In nearly three hours of firing, the 11th Marines and
its reinforcing and attached units, including the 1st
Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, expended 11,881 rounds.
Indicative of the meticulous planning that preceded an
operation such as CHARLIE is the 11th Marines report of
this raid, 11thMar ComdD, Feb 53.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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