MH-20: The Korean War

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MH-20 The Korean War
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Korean War-Overview

• North Korea invaded the South 0430 25 June 1950
• Advanced rapidly down SK Peninsulagt Pusan
• NK showed Maneuver warfare was alive well
• At least for the first year of the war
• North Koreas invasion caught US unprepared
• SECDEF Johnson had gutted military readiness
• He had cut all but Air Forces strategic budget
• US resolve was watched closely by entire world
• Failure of the US to act would discourage allies
  encourage foes (to threaten Europe)
• Gen MacArthur would turn things around
• Established Pusan Perimeter Inchon Landing
• But Truman, tempted fate by expanding US/UN
  war aims to unify Korea under So. Korea
• Result US threat to Yalu prompted China to act
• MacArthurs attempt to expand war prompted Truman
  to replace him with General Ridgeway
• Ridgeways counter-offensive pushed NK back
• Armistice talks drew War out for 2 more years
• NTL direct military nuclear escalation avoided

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Military Strategy serving Political Goals

• Military strategy then became aligned
  w/political negotiations
• Small limited engagements made
  for small advantage
• Used as bargaining chips for truce
  talks at Panmunjom
• As result Korean Wars strategic
  aim limited gt
• Attain political goals primarily
  at bargaining table
• Instead of tactical or operational
  advances on the Battle Field
• Military strategy tactics limited
  to serve political goals only
• This different approach was a major
  change from that of WWII
• The reason had much to do with the state of US
  military readiness following WWII

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Post-WWII Demobilization Military Readiness

• US Readiness to deal with limited conflict
  quickly
• US post-War focus in Pacific
• Occupation duty in Japan
• Unit training combat cohesion virtually
  nonexistent
• Combat readiness woefully inadequate
• Political diplomatic status of Korea given
  lower status
• Korea was outside US stated defense perimeter in
  Pacific
• US focus in Pacific Japan (for Asia)
• US 1st priority globally?
• Meanwhile NK (Kim Il Sung) establish well
  trained Army
• 135K capable trained Army
• Prepared for invasion (eventual) unification of
  Korea
• Soviets concurred with North Koreas invasion
  plan
• Also both surprised by US reaction response
• Misled by Dean Rusks ill advised public policy
  statement on Asia
• Both US South Korea totally unprepared for NK
  invasion

Germany
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North Korean Invasion (25 June 1950)

• North Korea crosses 38th parallel and invades on
  broad front
• 3rd 4th NK Divisions attack South
  Korean west coast
• Operational tactical Objectives
• Take Seoul rout South Korean Army gt push them
  to the south
• 2nd/7th Divisions drive south Yoju
  Wonju to East
• 5th Division attacks to take Samchok
• Second echelon regiments follow initial invasion
  forces
• Prepare for deep penetration through lead
  elements
• Objective South Korean rear areas
• Result ringing tactical success
• Quickly rout ROK defenders

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U.S. Response

• US ROK forces fall back in disarray
• Outgunned by North Korea
• Attempt to delay NK advance
• US political response
• Surprise, embarrassment, anger, resolve
• Truman determined US (w/UN) will defend South
  Korea
• Problem? (with what when how soon?)
• UN designates US as executive agent
• Who does Truman assign as his commander?

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Mission Operational Strategy

• CINCUNCs mission?
• Halt North Koreas advance eject its forces
  from South Korea
• What is CINCUNCs Operational Strategy for this
  mission?
• Slow NK advance to provide time
• (time for what?)
• Re-enforcement from Japan to build up on Pusan
  Peninsula
• Then counterattack on NKs rear flanks

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Concept of Operations Execution

• Operational Concept
• Delay NKs advance at
  Suwon-Taijon Axis How- with what?
• Task Force ?___________
• (1/2 Battalion!) to defend line
• Make stand 5km North of Osan
• Against tanks? Level of (over) confidence?
• Execution
• 5 July NK attacks w/2nd wave follow-on frontal
  attacks
• high casualties all around
• TF Smith forced to withdraw
  (surrounded flee many MIAs)
• Later TF Smiths sacrifice became symbol of what?
• Initial ?______ ___________
• Lack of adequate support ?___________

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Establishing Pusan Perimeter

• NK forces advances while US ROK forces resist
• Sacrifice of TF Smith buys time to organize delay
• LTG Walkers 8th Army
• 24th, then 25th Divisions delay
  NK advance
• Fighting withdrawal to form perimeter around
  Pusan
• Pusan becomes vital port for re-enforcements
  re-supply
• Rushed in a race against time

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Inchon Landing

• MacArthurs high risk Inchon invasion w/10th
  Corps
• USMC 1st Division w/untrained 7th division in
  reserve
• Attitude of JCS, Navy amphibious experts
  Landing force Commander?
• Difficulties surrounding attempted landing?
• Timing of 30 foot ?_____ ______
• Wolmi-do island also posed potential threat to
  invading forces flank

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Inchon Landing Execution

• For the most part- as planned
• Benefit of high risk operations
• Strategic tactical surprise
• NK caught totally by surprise now out gunned
  cut off
• Offer stiff resistance but soon forced to
  retreat back to 38th ll

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Inchon Landing Results

• Results Total success-
• NK LOCs completely cut off
• Strategic situation completely reversed
• Strategic initiative now shifts to US

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Changing War Aims

• Initial War Aims?
• Eject NK from South Korea
• Force them back over
• When changed how? 38th parallel
• Following Inchon radically changed strategic
  situation
• NSC councils advice to Truman
• DOD (JCS MacArthur) position advice?
• ?___ ___ _____!
• Mission Creep?
• Expanded aim unify Korean Peninsula under South
  Korea
• Strategy Drive north attack destroy NK Army

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The China Card

• Chinas response unheeded warnings
  intelligence
• CICUNC intelligence (J-2) breakdown
• Selective perception
• Discounts Korean recon team reports of Chinese
  build-up
• Chinese volunteers at the Yalu
• MacArthurs assurances to Truman at Wake
• Chinese wont attack
• When Chinese attack gt whos surprised
  now?

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Strategic Situation Reversed

• Nov50- Jan51 strategic situation reversed
  (again)
• Americans SK forces fall back in retreat (8th
  Army in West )
• 10th Corps (1st USMC 7th in East (retreat
  Chosin Reservoir)
• Only US CAS allow 8th Army 10th corps to barely
  escape
• Col Chesty Puller, USMC, would lead with
  distinction

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Chosin Reservoir- The Retreat
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US Global Strategic Priorities

• MacArthurs reaction desired response?
• Expand and ?___________ the Wargt bomb
  ?___________
• US (Truman/JCS) strategic priorities
• Europe!
• View NK invasion as diversion sanctioned by USSR
• Confine conflict to Korean Peninsula (at least
  Asia)
• Truman determined not to allow war to spread or
  escalate
• (Avoid spread to China especially Europe
• As Operational situation in Korea grows grim
• Truman hints potential A-bomb use
• NATO (Britain) allies become seriously concerned
• British PM Attlee visits Truman to gain
  assurances
• Questions US direction of the War

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War Aims Strategy Adjustments

• Result War aims strategy changed again
• PM Attlee Truman reach compromise agreement
• Europe first! gt Asia (Korea) distant second
• Adjusted aims grand strategy
• Both confirm commitment to fight along side South
  Korea
• 1. Operational Aim establish strong defense line
  hold it
• 2. Negotiate settlement from position of strength
• 3. Finally throughout conflict keep the war
  limited
• Both in intensity and geographic region
• Impact on MacArthurs desired Operational
  Strategy?
• Macs operational objectives in direct conflict
  w/this compromise
• And therefore with US (Truman) UN political
  strategic aims
• Truman ordered Mac to change his Op strategy to
  what?

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Strategic Defense

• From Strategic Offense to
  Strategic Defense
• Korean unification shelved
• Political negotiated settlement now pursued
• MacArthurs reaction response
• Goes head to head with the Commander in Chief
• (Not recommended)
• Undermines Presidents political aims for
  (MacArthurs) military objectives
• Criticized Trumans defensive strategy in
  letter to GOP Congressman
• There is no substitute for victory
• He would soon be relieved and sent back home-
  into retirement

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Ridgeway Operation Killer

• LTG Ridgeway takes 8th Army following Walkers
  death
• Reinvigorates troops
• Waits for opportunity to strike
• Seizes opening launches counter-attack
• Pushes NK back digs in to await another opening
• Launches several follow-on operations
• Pushes North Korean back over 38th parallel
• Meanwhile Truman seeks to take advantage of
  Ridgeways success
• Plans speech to offer negotiated
  settlement w/China
• Mac had undermined presidential
  prerogative paid the price
• Command changed result
• Ridgeway replaced Mac Gen Van Fleet takes 8th

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Mobile Warfare Ends

• Chinese NK counterattacks April 1951
• Drive X-corps 2 ROK Corps south of 38th
  Parallel
• Van Fleet seizes opportunity counterattacks in
  West into right flank of advancing enemy
• 8th Army attacks along entire line
• Chinese surprised withdraws into NK north of
  38th Parallel
• Mobile warfare ends (May51) at established front
  Battle line

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End Game Negotiations Stalemate

• Truman-Attlee agreement precluded conventional
  victory
• Implicit war aim cease-fire in place
• June 1951 Negotiations start
• Bog down for awhile over protocol issues
• July 1951 Agenda finally set
• Fix demarcation line (DMZ)
• Set terms for Truce supervision
• Protocols for POW return
• Recommendations to warring parties
• UN Forces attempt to take tactical advantage
• Establish strong defensive position
• Capture key terrain point gt
• Objective establish strong negotiating position
• Then gt conduct active defense hold gains

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Communist Response

• Communist take advantage of UNs proposed 30 day
  deadline
• Dig in establish strong in-depth defense line
• Creates stalemate gt static warfare (WW1)
• Ensured static situation for rest of war
• Therefore Chinese NK outmaneuvered US
  politically
• Result ground action mobility deteriorates
• NTL Air Naval interdiction continues to apply
  pressure on NK

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Small Units Actions

• Both sides compete for small incremental gains in
  difficult terrain
• Purpose gain small advantage at bargaining table
• 1951-52 Series of night actions patrol level
  firefights at fwd outposts
• Pork Chop Hill, T-Bone Hill, White House, etc

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Operation Erie

• Operation Erie gt
• Violent Chinese assault on fwd US position
• Typical example of tactics serving politics
• (And troops paying the price as bargaining chips
  for political ends)

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Obstacles to Truce POWs

• Truce talks at Panmunjom
• Most all issues settled except?
• ?____________ disposition (issue?)
• UN insists ?_________________ should decide where
  
  to go following truce
• China NK position?
• Forced ?_________________
• Results of Red Cross poll remain in SK
• China NK reactiongt incredulous (many former
  captured SKs)
• Koje-do incident involving hardcore NK (inhibit
  defectors)
• China NK exploit as propaganda against UN
  (embarrassed)

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Ikes Election Its Impact

• Ike concurred with Trumans strategic aim
• Agreed to negotiated settlement in principle
• But with incentives to Chinese (?)
• Strategic bombing of NK ?__________ authorized
• JCS directed to plan for mobile plans
• Widen war geographically (into China)
  
  in intensity
• Signals his intent to use A-Bomb (B-29 Bombers
  deployed)
• Stalins death changes focus
  strategic priorities
  for Soviets
• ALCON decide it is time to settle
• Concentrate on next USSR leadership

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Assessing Limited War

• Review of Policy, Doctrine, Strategy
• Kennans Long Telegram Truman Doctrine
• Containment Policy associated strategy
• Marshall Plan, NATO, NSC-68
• Korean War costs
• Casualties
• Chinese NK estimated
  combined
  causalities1.5-2M
• 1 million civilian deaths
• UN 88K KIA (23,300 US) 300K SK
• DMZ remains tense potential battle ground- even
  today
• NK raids agent infiltrations continued
  throughout
• Terrorism, sabotage, abduction, WMD development
• War by Proxy
• Korean War intensified conflict between
  superpowers
• Potential to escalate to Nuclear level conflict
  at hand
• Threat of spreading to other theaters gt Europe

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Rising Defense Spending

• High costs for military unpreparedness
• NSC-68 validated by North Koreas invasion
• US caught by surprise unprepared gt decided
  never again
• DOD Budget dramatically increased
• Permanent US standing armed forces established
• Largest in US history
• (No more Task Force Smiths type trip wires)
• Combat Ready Force trained ready to deploy
• No mobilization time required
• European forward deployment ( to South Korea)
• Peacetime Draft until after Vietnam
• Military scientific industrial complex expanded
  nurtured
• National global economic impact ( for defense
  contracts)

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End Result

• Korean War became a model for future wars
• Established major precedence
• Limited War (w/o A-Bomb) now considered possible
• Conflict of limited scope violence for limited
  aims
• Communist exploitation of limited war
• Stressed a Political vice
  military
  strategy
• Delay propaganda used
  very
  effectively
• Win at bargaining table
  
  what cant be won in combat
• Political aims of limited war must be a
  calculated priority
• When confronting future conflicts- especially in
  Asia

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Back-up Slides
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Korean War (1950-1953)

• North Korea invaded the South 0430 25 June 1953
• As they advanced rapidly down Korean Peninsula gt
• Demonstrated Maneuver warfare was alive well
• At least for the first year of the war
• Both sides maneuvered back forth for 1st year
  gt
• then entrenched stalemate like WW1 re-emerged
• Overview of the course of the war in a
  nutshell

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Strategic Overview of Key Events
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Korean War

• From a US perspective, the Soviets engaged the US
  indirectly through NK China