Home > Battle of Chosin Reservoir
Battle after: Battle of Inchon
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| Battle of Chosin Reservoir
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| Conflict | Korean War
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| Date | November 26 - December 13, 1950
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| Place | Chosin reservoir , Korea
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| Result | Chinese pyrrhic victory
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| Combatants
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| United Nations forces; including United States, United Kingdom
| People's Republic of China
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| Commanders
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Oliver Smith
| ?
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| Strength
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| 25,000
| 120,000
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| Casualties
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| 718 dead, 192 missing, 3,508 wounded, 7,500 cold related injuries
| 25,000 killed, 12,500 wounded, 30,000 frost-bite casualties
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The Battle of Chosin Reservoir was a battle in the Korean War. It occurred shortly after Chinese entry into the conflict. Large numbers of Chinese soldiers swept across the Yalu river, encircling the UN troops at the Chosin Resevoir. What followed was a brutal battle in freezing weather. Ultimately, it resulted in a pyrrhic victory for the Chinese, as they incurred very heavy losses resisting the fighting withdrawal of the US Marines.
1 Overview
By mid-October, 1950, the Korean war looked like it was nearly over. Most of North Korea had been captured by the American-led UN forces. However, on October 19, 1950, China entered the war and huge numbers of Chinese soldiers poured across the border into Korea. The UN troops at Chosin, mainly the US 1st Marine Division , the US 7th Infantry Division, and 41 Independent Commando Royal MarinesThe Royal Marines are the United Kingdom's amphibious forces and a core component of their Rapid Reaction Force. They are lightly equipped, able to operate independently in all terrains, and highly trained as a commando force. History The first unit of En were soon surrounded by units of the Ninth Army Group of the People's Liberation ArmyAlternate meaning: Shining Path The People's Liberation Army (PLA; Traditional Chinese: , Simplified Chinese: , pinyin: Renmin Jiefang Jun), including strategic nuclear forces, an army, navy and air force, serves as the military of the People's Republic o (or Chinese Communist Forces, abbreviated CCF). Starting on November 26, 1950, the United Nations troops began a fighting retreat South, towards Hungnam .
2 Battle
Around 20,000 UN troops, with advanced weaponry and airpower, clashed with 200,000 poorly equipped but well organized Chinese soldiers. In extremely fierce fighting that lasted until December 11December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 20 days remaining. Events 1205 John Grey, Bishop of Norwich, elected Archbishop of Canterbury 1792 King Louis XVI of France goes on trial for treason 1816, there were 15,000 UN casualties (7,500 to cold related injuries) and possibly 40,000 Chinese casualties as the UN forces were badly mauled in their withdrawal to Hungnam.
Following the retreat of the 7th Infantry, during which the division abandoned its equipment, the First Marine Division, along with units of the British Royal Marines and the South Korean Marines, recovered the Army's equipment, turned around, and made an aggressive assault to break out of the reservoir. When asked if the Marines were, like the Army, retreating, Lieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. A Lieutenant General ranks immediately below a General and above a Major General. In the US Army, US Marine Corps and US Air Force a Lieutenant General is a three-star general. In the British A O.P. Smith, the commander of the First Marine Division, explained that their fighting withdrawal through Chinese lines did not constitute a retreat. General Smith's explanation was abbreviated into the famous misquote, "Retreat, hell! We're attacking in a different direction!" (recalling the famous quote from Marine Captain Lloyd Williams at Belleau Wood, "Retreat, hell! We just got here!")
In their withdrawal, the Marines, who enjoyed total air supremacy, were able to destroy or effectively disable all seven Chinese divisions that were holding them into the reservoir.
