Battle of Kumyangjang-ni

Battle of Kumyangjang-ni
Part of the Operation Thunderbolt in the Korean War

A map from Operation Thunderbolt after the Battle of Kumyangjang-ni.
Date25–27 January 1951
Location
Yongin, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Result United Nations victory
Belligerents
 China
Commanders and leaders
Turkey Tahsin Yazıcı
Turkey Major Kuranel
Turkey Cpt. Turban San
Turkey Cpt. Olhon
Turkey Major Bilgin[1]
United States Matthew Ridgway[2]
United States Artillery officer Barth[3]		 China Peng Dehuai
Units involved
Turkey Turkish Brigade
United States IX Corps
Casualties and losses
Turkish sources:
12 killed
31 wounded[4][5]		 Turkish sources:
474 killed
23 captured[4][5]
US sources:
154 killed[3]

The Battle of Kumyangjang-ni was a battle fought on January 25 to 27, 1951, at Geumyangjang-ri (present-day Geumyangjang-dong) by the 150th Division of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) and the Turkish Brigade of the United Nations Army. The conflict is also referred to as the Battle of Geumyangjang-ri and Hill 151 as of it initiation upon Hill 151.[1]

Background

The Turkish Brigade, mobilized to Korea as a reservation force primarily commanded by the United Nations, initiated combat against the PVA forces in skirmishes referred to as the Battle of Kunu-ri due to the destruction of the II Corps at Wawon on 28 November 1950.[6]

Operation Thunderbolt

The United Nations Army initiated an offensive between January 25 and February 20, 1951, with Operation "Thunderbolt".[7][8][9] In accordance to the order received on January 6, 1951 on offensive reconnaissance (Armed Recon.), the 2nd Battalion of the Turkish Brigade was requested to annex Geumyangjan-ri and the Hill 151 around Geumyangjang-ri occupied by the PVA forces.[10] The Turkish Brigade moves northeastward toward Kumyangjang-ni.[11]

Battle

After remaining within reserve for 20 days in Cheonan on January 6, 1951, the Turkish Brigade units mobilized from Cheonan on January 24 and established an attack to annex a partition of the defensive mobilizations of the PVA forces. They engaged in conflict with the 447th and 448th Regiments of the 150th Division of the PVA forces defending the vicinity.[12] Initially, the Chinese infantries had received the advantage as of to their hilltop defensive mobilization, however were unable to maintain their superiority in weaponry. While the Chinese had low hand grenade supply, the Turkish Brigade possessed more. One of the reasons for this was the support of the US with weapons and ammunition. Furthermore, with CAS opportunities and frequent tank offensives from the US troops,[13] the Turkish infantries made rapid progress.

During the initial stages of the battle, the Chinese, already in position, established an effective barrage. However, the Turkish 1st Battalion, previously positioned, advanced toward the Chinese positions unseen and occupied them by utilizing hand grenades. As the Chinese struggled to recuperate the positions in this area, the Turkish 2nd Battalion annexed Hill 151, utilizing a bayonet charge.[14] The regimental assault group easily annexed the town of Geumyangjang-ri on January 27, 1951.[7][15]

Aftermath

This victory both moralized the infantries and aided in the hopes of success in opposition with the Chinese. While the authority of the Eighth Army had already coordinated plans for retreat and even evacuation, this victory provided him with the opportunity to order and coordinate an offensive.[16][5] Turkish infantries suffered 12 deaths and 31 wounded. Chinese infantries would suffer 474 deaths and 23 prisoners.[4][5] However, historian Clay Blair reports that US investigations only about 154 Chinese fatalities on the hill, most of them killed by artillery offensives under Barth's authority preceding the Turkish offensive.[3] Following the victory at Kumyangjang-ni, the Turkish Brigade was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation and an accompanying certificate by a decision of the U.S. Congress. The citation was affixed to the 241st Regiment's standard on June 21, 1951, during a grand ceremony held for the occasion. Medals and badges were also awarded to those who participated in these battles. Personnel serving alongside the Turkish Brigade, including American liaison officers, Company A of the U.S. 79th Tank Battalion, Company D of the 89th Light Tank Battalion, and the 3rd Platoon of Battery A, 25th Anti-Aircraft Battalion, were also honored with this award. Furthermore, the President of South Korea awarded the Presidential Unit Citation to the Turkish Brigade in recognition of the battles fought between January 25 and 27, 1951.[12][4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Fanning, Anne Katherine (August 1993). "Turkish Military in the Korean War" (PDF). pp. 82–83. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Denizli 2010, p. 215.
  3. 1 2 3 Blair 1987, p. 657.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Fanning, Anne Katherine (August 1993). "Turkish Military in the Korean War" (PDF). p. 83. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Victory of Kumyangjang-ni (TSK)". Turkish Armed Forces official website. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2010. (in Turkish)
  6. ↑ "Türkiye's Participation in the Korean War and Its Importance (TSK)". Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010. (in Turkish)
  7. 1 2 Villahermosa 2011, p. 82.
  8. ↑ Stokesbury 1990, p. 121.
  9. ↑ "Operation Thunderbolt map". U.S. Army Center of Military history. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  10. ↑ Hou 2017, p. 57.
  11. ↑ Hannings 2008, p. 637.
  12. 1 2 Saral, Ismail Tosun (2019). Düşünce ve Tarih (in Turkish). pp. 24–29.
  13. ↑ Blair 1987, p. 656.
  14. ↑ Blair 1987, pp. 656–657.
  15. ↑ Mossman 1990, pp. 243–244.
  16. ↑ Dora 1963, pp. 211–212.

Bibliography

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