Battle of Ongjin

Battle of Ongjin Peninsula
Part of the Korean War Operation Pokpung (North Korea) Operation Western Region (South Korea)
Tactical map of the Battle of Ongjin
Date 25–26 June 1950 Location Ongjin Result North Korean victory Successful South Korean withdrawal
Belligerents
North Korea	South Korea
Commanders and leaders
Choe Hyun Kim Hu-jin	Paik In-yup
Strength
3rd Guard Brigade 1st Infantry Regiment	17th Infantry Regiment
Casualties and losses
South Korean claim:[1] 581 dead 5 SU-76Ms 5 armored vehicles	113 dead[1] 371 wounded[1] 64 missing[1]

The Battle of Ongjin Peninsula (옹진반도 전투) was a part of the Operation Pokpung (North Korea) and the Operation Western Region (South Korea) that marked the beginning of the Korean War. On 25 June 1950, the Korean People's Army Ground Force (KPAGF) 3rd Guard Brigade reinforced with the 1st Infantry Regiment of the 6th Infantry Division launched a surprise attack on the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) 17th Infantry Regiment at Ongjin. The battle ended on 26 June with North Korean victory.^[2][3]

Prelude

Ongjin Peninsula is located at the westernmost of the 38th parallel. It is surrounded by the sea, and its only land route is through North Korean territory. Port of Bupo located at the southernmost of the peninsula was the only major supply line for the ROKA. The distance from Bupo to Incheon is 90 km by sea, and it took 9 hours for a ferry to make one-way travel. Therefore, Bupo must be secured at all costs for the ROKA to perform safe evacuation.^[4]

There are strategic mountains at the center of the peninsula that can observe the entire peninsula and use for military encampments.^[4] Prior to the battle, the two opposing forces already had three clashes near these mountains in 1949.^[3]

North Korea

Between 10–23 June 1950, the Korean People's Army (KPA) in the western region completed its deployment for full-scale war under the disguise of military training. The KPAGF 3rd Guard Brigade repositioned its 7 battalions near Ongjin Peninsula and Yeonbaek (now Yonan) district. Meanwhile, the 1st Infantry Regiment and a Security Battalion located in Sariwon were separated from the 6th Infantry Division and moved to Chwiya to reinforce the 3rd Brigade. Its mission was to capture entire Ongjin Peninsula and Yonan Peninsula while the higher command, the I Corp, is headed for Seoul.^[5]

To achieve the goal, the 3rd Guard Brigade originally planned a full out parallel attack with 7 battalions and a regiment, and keeping the 7th Infantry Battalion as a reserve unit. However, brigadier general Choe Hyun, the commander of the 3rd Brigade, adjusted the plan right before the war instead of operating each unit independently as the manpower on the frontline may get too thin. The 1st Infantry Regiment was assigned to advance to Kangryong and split the ROKA 17th Infantry Regiment in half.^[5]

The total number of deployed troops to Ongjin and Yonan was 8,000, and they were armed with 4 M-30 howitzers, 5 SU-76M self-propelled guns, 32 M1927 guns, 45 M-42 anti-tank guns, ninety-five 82-PM-41 mortars, sixteen 120-PM-43 mortars, and 8 armored vehicles.^[6]

Korean People's Army Ground Force

• 3rd Guard Brigade - Brigadier General Choe Hyun
  • (Ongjin Peninsula direction) - participants of the Battle of Ongjin Peninsula
    • 2th Infantry Battalion (at north of Ongjin)
    • 4th Infantry Battalion (at north of Ongjin)
    • 5th Infantry Battalion (at northwest of Ongjin)
    • 6th Infantry Battalion (at northwest of Ongjin)
    • 7th Infantry Battalion (reserve)
    • 1st Infantry Regiment - Colonel Kim Hu-jin (at northeast of Ongjin)
  • (Yonan Peninsula direction)
    • 1st Infantry Battalion (at north of Paechon)
    • 3rd Infantry Battalion (at north of Yonan)
    • (1) Security Battalion (at north of Ch'ongdan)

South Korea

The ROKA 17th Infantry Regiment was tasked to defend a 45 km long border, which exceeded its capability by far—a division was normally tasked to cover 10 km. In addition, many higher mountains were located above the 38th parallel, thus created huge geological disadvantage to the regiment to set up defense line. Understanding the situation, the regiment commander Colonel Paik In-yup mobilized civilians for fortifying bases on mountains below the 38th parallel, which were the only and the last major resistance line. In return, the military provided medical and public assistances to public. 5 civilians were killed by North Korean fire during the construction. The colonel also created a paramilitary force by combining several youth clubs to protect their hometowns.^[7]

The ROKA Headquarters had three defensive plans. The first was to hold the 38th parallel if the fights are small-scale. The second was to hold the main resistance line until reinforcement arrives, if the battle is limited to the region. Lastly, if North Korea launches a full-scale war, then the regiment would retreat to Incheon from the Port of Bupo while forcing the KPA to bleed as much as possible. The regiment and civilians conducted evacuation training for the plan 1 and 2, but not the plan 3. The military prioritized families of military and civil servants, then civilians until ships capacity allows.^[7]

Colonel Paik also ordered to adjust battalion positions to focus on the sector defended by the 3rd Infantry Battalion, which includes the road connecting Chwiya and Kangryong, to prevent the KPA from splitting the regiment. Moreover, the colonel requested for additional troops as recent North Korean activity made the regiment to judge existence of an additional KPA unit in the area.^[7]

Since 20 June, many KPA vehicles and high-ranking officers have been sighted on the frontline. On the night of 22 June, a line of vehicles was identified moving from Haeju to Chwiya with the headlights off. Despite all these reports, the Army Headquarters lifted the special alert order, which was issued at the end of May, on 24:00 23 June, and allowed soldiers to take vacations or go out from the bases. Colonel Paik disobeyed the order because it was total nonsense. On the next day, five United Nations servicemen visited the regiment and complained that the regiment was "creating tensions" and told "no reason for special alert" and then went back to Seoul. As a result, Paik had to inevitably lift the emergency measures, except for the frontline troops, which ultimately weakened the defense line.^[7]

The 3rd Infantry Battalion guarded the regiment's right from the coast to Mt Noktal, and the 1st Infantry Battalion was protecting the left from Mt Noktal to Mt Turak. The 2nd Infantry Battalion acted as a reserve unit, mostly doing basic and tactical training near the regimental command at Ongjin Mine located north of Ongjin.^[7]

The total troop strength in Ongjin Peninsula was 3,600, and they were armed with 12 M3 howitzers, 6 M1 anti-tank guns, 12 M1 mortars, 18 M2 mortars, 60 M9A1 rocket launchers, and 25 machine guns.^[7]

Republic of Korea Army

• 17th Infantry Regiment - Colonel Paik In-yup
  • 1st Infantry Battalion - Major Kim Hee-tae (left defense line)
  • 2nd Infantry Battalion - Major Song Ho-rim (reserve)
  • 3rd Infantry Battalion - Major Oh Ik-kyung (right defense line)
  • 7th Artillery Battalion - Major Park Yeon-ho

Battle

At 04:00 on 25 June a red flare was shot in the air, and KPA forces began shelling ROK defenses for 30 minutes. After the artillery attack, a battalion-sized KPA force thrust into the ROK 1st Battalion. Two companies of the battalion fought hand-to-hand but were forced to retreat because of KPA reinforcement.^[3]

With the destruction of communications, 1st Battalion commander Major Kim learned of the situation from retreating forces. He sent a reserve company forward, but this effort failed. Major Kim was later killed by KPA artillery.^[3] Meantime, the KPA 14th Regiment continued shelling on the ROK 3rd Battalion until 05:30. However, ROK forces were not allowed to return artillery fire until hours later because the U.S. advisors had full control over the battalion's 105mm artillery.^[3]

When KPA forces attacked the ROK defenses with tanks and armored vehicles, ROK forces employed M18 recoilless rifle in defense. These failed to destroy any tanks. The ROK 3rd Battalion then retreated and set up new defensive lines at Chimasan and Seokgyeri, which left Kangryong and Yangwon vulnerable to KPA attack. Nevertheless, Colonel Paik ordered the 2nd Battalion to aid the 1st Battalion to maintain defense line on the left.^[3]

The 2nd Battalion ambushed and annihilated a KPA battalion then recovered the left of the line in a counterattack. The battalion then received orders to retreat, but refused and maintained the defensive line until the battalion learned the regiment had withdrawn to Kangryong. The battalion commander Major Song led both the 1st and 2nd Battalions to Buldangsan. When the troops arrived at Buldangsan, the KPA forces had already taken over Yangwon and Kangryong. Major Song abandoned plans to move to Port Bupho. Instead, he moved his forces to Sagot and retreated from there.^[3]

After retreating from Kangryong, the 3rd Battalion made its final defensive line, and engineers blasted bridges to halt KPA tanks. However, the DPRK forces did not chase down the ROK troops. Later it was learned that the KPA 14th Regiment transferred the operation to the 3rd Guards Brigade after taking over Kangryong and moved to a different area to join larger battles.^[3]

LST-801 came to Port Bupho at 23:30, and most of the 3rd Battalion boarded. Heavy equipment and supplies except one M101 howitzer were either destroyed or thrown into the sea.^[3] Colonel Paik ordered LST-801 to set sail. He remained with the 7th Artillery Battalion, where he worked with its commander, Major Park, and other officers till the last round was fired. They successfully fled the zone in a small wooden boat.^[3]

Aftermath

About 90% of the South Korean forces and equipment in Ongjin Peninsula was evacuated to the mainland. The 17th Infantry Regiment moved to Daejeon and recovered all losses. The regiment returned to the front line at Osan and participated in later battles including the Battle of Inchon.^[3]

References

External links

• "옹진지구 전투"

41°45′57″N 129°48′58″E / 41.7658°N 129.816°E / 41.7658; 129.816

This page was last edited on 16 November 2023, at 20:07