Operation Commando (1951)
Encyclopedia
Operation Commando was an offensive undertaken by UN forces during the Korean War
between 2–5 October 1951. The U.S. I Corps (including four U.S. Divisions, the 1st Commonwealth Division
and the 1st South Korean Division
) seized the Jamestown Line
, destroying elements of the 42nd
, 47th, 64th and 65th Chinese Armies
. This prevented the Communist forces from interdicting the U.N. supply lines near Seoul
.
The attack began on 3 October 1951 from the Wyoming Line, which had been extended during Operation Minden
, and ended on 15 October, with a few hills south of the line still in Communist hands. The seizing of these hills required a follow-up operation—Operation Polecharge
. As a result of this 6 miles (9.7 km) advance, the badly-mauled U.S. 1st Cavalry Division
was withdrawn to Japan for refitting.
The operation was the last action in the war of manoeuvre, which had lasted sixteen months. It was replaced by a static war, characterised by fixed defences, trench lines, bunkers, patrols, wiring parties and minefields reminiscent of the Western Front
in 1915–17. Australian involvement in this operation is known by historians as the Battle of Maryang San.
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
between 2–5 October 1951. The U.S. I Corps (including four U.S. Divisions, the 1st Commonwealth Division
1st Commonwealth Division
The 1st Commonwealth Division was the name given, after July 1951, to Commonwealth land forces in the Korean War. The division was a multinational unit that was part of British Commonwealth Forces Korea, and whilst British and Canadian Army units formed the bulk of the division, Australian...
and the 1st South Korean Division
1st Infantry Division (South Korea)
The 1st Infantry Division is a military formation of the Republic of Korea Army's I Corps. The division was established on 12 May 1945 under the command of Colonel Suk-won Kim. It is based around three infantry regiments:The division was the first units of the ROK Army to be attacked by the North...
) seized the Jamestown Line
Jamestown Line
The Jamestown Line was a series of defensive positions occupied by United Nations forces in the Korean War. Following the end of the 1951 Chinese Spring Offensive the war largely became one of attrition and trench warfare, fought along static defensive lines reminiscent of the First World War...
, destroying elements of the 42nd
42nd Army (People's Republic of China)
The 42nd Army is a group army - a roughly corps-sized military formation - of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, active since the late 1940s.-History:...
, 47th, 64th and 65th Chinese Armies
65th Army (People's Republic of China)
The 65th Group Army is a military formation of China's People's Liberation Army and one of three active group armies belonging to the Beijing Military Region. It is based in Zhangjiakou, Hebei and is composed of the 193rd Division, an artillery division, an armored brigade, two motorized infantry...
. This prevented the Communist forces from interdicting the U.N. supply lines near Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
The attack began on 3 October 1951 from the Wyoming Line, which had been extended during Operation Minden
Operation Minden
Operation Minden was an offensive undertaken by United Nations forces during the Korean War between 8–12 September 1951, as part of a general advance to extend the Wyoming Line...
, and ended on 15 October, with a few hills south of the line still in Communist hands. The seizing of these hills required a follow-up operation—Operation Polecharge
Operation Polecharge
Operation Polecharge was an offensive undertaken by United Nations forces during the Korean War between 15–19 October 1951, following on from the successful Operation Commando which established the Jamestown Line.-Background:...
. As a result of this 6 miles (9.7 km) advance, the badly-mauled U.S. 1st Cavalry Division
U.S. 1st Cavalry Division
The 1st Cavalry Division is one of the most famous and most decorated combat divisions of the United States Army.Presently, in its digitalized, modular, rapidly deployable 4 combat brigade configuration, it is the most powerful heavy armored division in the United States Army, with a spacious base...
was withdrawn to Japan for refitting.
The operation was the last action in the war of manoeuvre, which had lasted sixteen months. It was replaced by a static war, characterised by fixed defences, trench lines, bunkers, patrols, wiring parties and minefields reminiscent of the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
in 1915–17. Australian involvement in this operation is known by historians as the Battle of Maryang San.