Battle of the Punchbowl: Difference between revisions
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From 4-10 September the 1st Marine Division and 1st KMC consolidated their positions on Yoke Ridge, established the Hays Line and built up ammunition and supplies for the second phase of the attack on the Kanmubong Ridge.<ref name= "Montandon88-9">Montandon, p.88-9</ref> The Kanmubong Ridge was located immediately north of Yoke Ridge and it was considered essential to seize it on order to defend the Hays Line and to allow X Corps to attack the KPA main line of resistance which was believed to be located approximately 3km north of it.<ref name= "Montandon99">Montandon, p.99</ref> The KPA used the lull in fighting to reinforce their positions on Hill 673 ({{Coord|38|20|52.8|N|128|11|39.48|E}}) opposite Hill 602.<ref name= "Montandon90">Montandon, p.90</ref> The interim period saw active patrolling by both sides and US/ROK losses were 30 killed, 186 wounded and two missing, while the KPA had lost 68 captured and an estimated 276 killed.<ref name= "Montandon95">Montandon, p.95</ref> |
From 4-10 September the 1st Marine Division and 1st KMC consolidated their positions on Yoke Ridge, established the Hays Line and built up ammunition and supplies for the second phase of the attack on the Kanmubong Ridge.<ref name= "Montandon88-9">Montandon, p.88-9</ref> The Kanmubong Ridge was located immediately north of Yoke Ridge and it was considered essential to seize it on order to defend the Hays Line and to allow X Corps to attack the KPA main line of resistance which was believed to be located approximately 3km north of it.<ref name= "Montandon99">Montandon, p.99</ref> The KPA used the lull in fighting to reinforce their positions on Hill 673 ({{Coord|38|20|52.8|N|128|11|39.48|E}}) opposite Hill 602.<ref name= "Montandon90">Montandon, p.90</ref> The interim period saw active patrolling by both sides and US/ROK losses were 30 killed, 186 wounded and two missing, while the KPA had lost 68 captured and an estimated 276 killed.<ref name= "Montandon95">Montandon, p.95</ref> |
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The 7th Marines received orders to launch an attack at 03:00 on 11 September from the Hays Line through a narrow valley, across a tributary of the Soyang River and then uphill towards Hills 680 ({{Coord|38|21|00|N|128|10|51.6|E}}) and 673 with Hill 749 ({{Coord|38|21|43.2|N|128|11|39.48|E}}) as a further objective. Supporting the 7th Marines would be the [[1st Tank Battalion]] with artillery support from the [[11th Marine Regiment (United States)|11th Marines]].<ref name= "Montandon96-7">Montandon, p.96-7</ref> 3/7 Marines was tasked with capturing Hill 680 and despite extensive preparatory artillery fire, their proceeded slowly with the KPA defenders able to providing interlocking fire from their bunkers, by the end of the day 3/7 Marines were forced to dig in some {{convert|300|ft}} south of the summit.<ref name= "Montandon101-110">Montandon, p.101-110</ref>. [[1st Battalion 7th Marines]] (1/7 Marines) were tasked with capturing Hill 673, but faced with strong opposition from the well-protected KPA bunkers were forced to stop short of their objective.<ref name= "Montandon110-2">Montandon, p.110-112</ref> |
The 7th Marines received orders to launch an attack at 03:00 on 11 September from the Hays Line through a narrow valley, across a tributary of the Soyang River and then uphill towards Hills 680 ({{Coord|38|21|00|N|128|10|51.6|E}}) and 673 with Hill 749 ({{Coord|38|21|43.2|N|128|11|39.48|E}}) as a further objective. Supporting the 7th Marines would be the [[1st Tank Battalion]] with artillery support from the [[11th Marine Regiment (United States)|11th Marines]].<ref name= "Montandon96-7">Montandon, p.96-7</ref> 3/7 Marines was tasked with capturing Hill 680 and despite extensive preparatory artillery fire, their proceeded slowly with the KPA defenders able to providing interlocking fire from their bunkers, by the end of the day 3/7 Marines were forced to dig in some {{convert|300|ft}} south of the summit.<ref name= "Montandon101-110">Montandon, p.101-110</ref>. [[1st Battalion 7th Marines]] (1/7 Marines) were tasked with capturing Hill 673, but faced with strong opposition from the well-protected KPA bunkers were forced to stop short of their objective.<ref name= "Montandon110-2">Montandon, p.110-112</ref> US/ROK losses for the day were 11 killed and 68wounded while the KPA lost 25 killed and 6 captured.<ref name= "Montandon112">Montandon, p.112</ref> |
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On the night of 11/12 September [[2nd Battalion 7th Marines]] (2/7 Marines) moved to the rear of Hill 673 cutting off the KPA on the hill, by 14:00 Hill 673 had been secured for the loss of 16 killed and 35 wounded, while the KPA had lost 30 killed and 3 captured and an estimated 185 killed.<ref name= "Montandon113-6">Montandon, p.113-116</ref> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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Revision as of 10:19, 15 July 2013
| Battle of the Punchbowl | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Korean War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 North Korea | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Matthew Ridgway James Van Fleet Gerald C. Thomas Kim Dae Shik |
Kim Il-Sung | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 30,000 | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
69 killed 575 wounded |
2799 killed (body count) U.S. estimation: 2374 killed 4707 wounded | ||||||
The Battle of the Punchbowl, was one of the last battles of the movement phase of the Korean War. Following the breakdown of armistice negotiations in August 1951, the United Nations Command decided to launch a limited offensive in the late summer/early autumn to shorten and straighten sections of their lines, acquire better defensive terrain, and deny the enemy key vantage points from which they could observe and target UN positions. The Battle of Bloody Ridge took place west of the Punchbowl from August-September 1951 and this was followed by the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge northwest of the Punchbowl from September-October 1951. At the end of the UN offensive in October 1951, UN Forces controlled the line of hills north of the Punchbowl.
Prelude
The second impulse of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) Fifth Phase Offensive was stopped by 20 May 1951 and UN forces counterattacked forcing the PVA back to Line Kansas along the southern edge of the Punchbowl by 20 June 1951.[1] The first armistice negotiations began at Kaesong on 10 July 1951. The armistice negotiations broke down in August 1951 and the UN Command decided to launch a limited offensive to shorten and straighten sections of their lines, acquire better defensive terrain, and deny the enemy key vantage points from which they could observe and target UN positions and coerce the Chinese and North Koreans back to the negotiating table.
In late August three regiments of the 1st Marine Division were given orders to move from their reserve areas around Inje County to support the UN offensive[2] and distract PVA and Korean People's Army (KPA) reinforcements from the Battle of Bloody Ridge.[3] The 1st Marine Division was ordered to attack Yoke Ridge (38°19′26.4″N 128°10′12″E / 38.324000°N 128.17000°E) and advance to a new defensive line to be called the Hays Line marked by the southern edge of the Soyang River to the north of the Punchbowl.[2] On 30 August, in preparation for the attack a battalion of 1st Korean Marine Corps Regiment (1st KMC) occuppied Hill 793 (38°17′24″N 128°10′12″E / 38.29000°N 128.17000°E) on the eastern edge of the Punchbowl between Line Kansas and Yoke Ridge.[4]
Battle
Phase 1: Yoke Ridge
At 06:00 on 31 August the 7th Marines and two Battalions of the 1st KMC launched the assault with an attack from Hill 793 up the eastern edge of the Punchbowl towards Yoke Ridge in the west and Tonpyong in the east.[5] By late morning despite heavy rain and enemy minefields, the assault units had reached Yoke Ridge and were engaging the KPA defenders.[6] By the end of the first day the US/ROK force occuppied the southeastern end of Yoke Ridge and had suffered 3 killed and 57 wounded (mostly by landmines) while the KPA had lost 129 killed, a further 218 estimated killed, 233 estimated wounded and 14 captured.[7]
On 1 September the 1st KMC moved west along Yoke Ridge while the 7th Marines moved north, both assault groups clearing out KPA bunkers with grenades and flame-throwers. The KPA launched several small-scale counterattacks against the advancing Marines but these were broken up by small-arms and mortar fire, artillery and several airstrikes. The US/ROK forces consolidated their positions in the evening under KPA mortar and artillery fire.[8] On the night of 1/2 September, the KPA launch a night attack on the 1st KMC on Hill 924 driving them out of the position that they had secured earlier that day.[9] US/ROK losses for the day were 21 killed, 84 wounded, while the KPA had lost 72 killed, a further 218 estimated killed and 231 estimated wounded.[10]
On the morning of 2 September supported by heavy artillery fire, the 1st KMC recaptured Hill 924 and moved further west towards its next objective, Hill 1026 (38°19′28.92″N 128°08′20.4″E / 38.3247000°N 128.139000°E).[10] After beating back several small KPA attacks, 3rd Battalion 7th Marines advanced towards Hill 602 (38°20′16.8″N 128°10′51.6″E / 38.338000°N 128.181000°E) through heavily-wooded terrain and following preparatory artillery fire and airstrikes, seized the hill by 14:30.[11] The KPA launched several Company-sized counterattacks on Hill 602, all of which were beaten back.[12] US/ROK losses for the day were 75 killed, 349 wounded, while the KPA had lost 450 killed and 15 captured, a further 609 estimated killed and 345 estimated wounded.[13]
At 04:00 on 3 September the 1st KMC renewed their attack on Hill 1026, while 2nd Battalion 7th Marines assumed the defense of Hill 924.[14] As they advanced the 1st KMC encountered a large KPA force advancing towards Hill 924, the 1st KMC forced back the KPA and seized Hill 1026 by midday, beating back a KPA counterattack and advancing northwest to seize Hill 1055 (38°19′40.8″N 128°07′37.2″E / 38.328000°N 128.127000°E) and west to take Hill 930 (38°19′37.2″N 128°06′54″E / 38.327000°N 128.11500°E), thus securing all of Yoke Ridge. US/ROK losses for the day were 22 killed, 77 wounded, while the KPA had lost 10 captured, a further 294 estimated killed and 280 estimated wounded.[15] Meanwhile to the west of the Punchbowl, the ROK 35th Regiment, 5th Division advanced unopposed from Line Kansas to Hill 450 approximately 3.3km southwest of Hill 1026, while the US 2nd Infantry Division took Hill 1181 approximately 4km southwest of Hill 930 against light resistance.[16]
Phase 2: Kanmubong Ridge
From 4-10 September the 1st Marine Division and 1st KMC consolidated their positions on Yoke Ridge, established the Hays Line and built up ammunition and supplies for the second phase of the attack on the Kanmubong Ridge.[17] The Kanmubong Ridge was located immediately north of Yoke Ridge and it was considered essential to seize it on order to defend the Hays Line and to allow X Corps to attack the KPA main line of resistance which was believed to be located approximately 3km north of it.[18] The KPA used the lull in fighting to reinforce their positions on Hill 673 (38°20′52.8″N 128°11′39.48″E / 38.348000°N 128.1943000°E) opposite Hill 602.[19] The interim period saw active patrolling by both sides and US/ROK losses were 30 killed, 186 wounded and two missing, while the KPA had lost 68 captured and an estimated 276 killed.[20]
The 7th Marines received orders to launch an attack at 03:00 on 11 September from the Hays Line through a narrow valley, across a tributary of the Soyang River and then uphill towards Hills 680 (38°21′00″N 128°10′51.6″E / 38.35000°N 128.181000°E) and 673 with Hill 749 (38°21′43.2″N 128°11′39.48″E / 38.362000°N 128.1943000°E) as a further objective. Supporting the 7th Marines would be the 1st Tank Battalion with artillery support from the 11th Marines.[21] 3/7 Marines was tasked with capturing Hill 680 and despite extensive preparatory artillery fire, their proceeded slowly with the KPA defenders able to providing interlocking fire from their bunkers, by the end of the day 3/7 Marines were forced to dig in some 300 feet (91 m) south of the summit.[22]. 1st Battalion 7th Marines (1/7 Marines) were tasked with capturing Hill 673, but faced with strong opposition from the well-protected KPA bunkers were forced to stop short of their objective.[23] US/ROK losses for the day were 11 killed and 68wounded while the KPA lost 25 killed and 6 captured.[24]
On the night of 11/12 September 2nd Battalion 7th Marines (2/7 Marines) moved to the rear of Hill 673 cutting off the KPA on the hill, by 14:00 Hill 673 had been secured for the loss of 16 killed and 35 wounded, while the KPA had lost 30 killed and 3 captured and an estimated 185 killed.[25]
Notes
- ^ Montandon, p.33
- ^ a b Montandon, p.44
- ^ Montandon, p.46
- ^ Montandon, p.61
- ^ Montandon, p.59
- ^ Montandon, p.62-5
- ^ Montandon, p.66
- ^ Montandon, p.67-72
- ^ Montandon, p.76
- ^ a b Montandon, p.77
- ^ Montandon, p.78-81
- ^ Montandon, p.82
- ^ Montandon, p.83
- ^ Montandon, p.84
- ^ Montandon, p.85
- ^ Montandon, p.86
- ^ Montandon, p.88-9
- ^ Montandon, p.99
- ^ Montandon, p.90
- ^ Montandon, p.95
- ^ Montandon, p.96-7
- ^ Montandon, p.101-110
- ^ Montandon, p.110-112
- ^ Montandon, p.112
- ^ Montandon, p.113-116
References
- Montandon, Joshua W. (2007), Battle for the Punchbowl: The U. S. First Marine Division's 1951 Fall Offensive of the Korean War