Operation Minden
Encyclopedia
Operation Minden was an offensive undertaken by United Nations
(UN) forces during the Korean War
between 8–12 September 1951, as part of a general advance to extend the Wyoming Line. Operation Minden was the precursor to the much larger Operation Commando
, which established the Jamestown Line
.
. The Wyoming Line served as an outpost line, and was an extension of the Kansas Line. The Wyoming Line ran roughly in an northeasterly arc from Hwachon Reservoir to the west of Chorwon
. However, the curvature of the Imjin River, north of the small town of Choksong, meant that there was a salient extending southwards into the line.
As part of an overall strategy to seize territory in order to strengthen his army's defensive position General
James Van Fleet
, the commander of UN forces in Korea, ordered the removal of this salient in a operation codenamed "Minden". The operation would primarily involve three elements of the 1st British Commonwealth Division, commanded by General
James Cassels; the 28th British Commonwealth Brigade, the 29th British Commonwealth Brigade and the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade
.
as well as 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
, crossed the Imjin River and established a bridgehead on 8 September. Corresponding moves were made by flanking South Korean and United States units.
The initial movement of the 28th Brigade was met with little resistance, with the exception of some minor skirmishing on the Australian front, during which three prisoners were captured. With the bridgehead secure, two bridges were quickly erected by I Corps engineers, with one bridge situated at the river crossing of the northerly road from Choksong.
The 29th Infantry Brigade and the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade moved out of the bridgehead on 11 September. The 29th advanced to the northwest, while the Canadians moved off to the north. The 28th Brigade remained in reserve, guarding the newly constructed bridge. Like the 8 September crossing of the Imjin River, the movement of the 29th Brigade met with little resistance, although there were light casualties (12 killed) due to artillery fire. The Canadians completed their movements with no casualties. The operation concluded on 12 September, with the front line now running across the arc of the Imjin River, and firmly established nearly five kilometres north of the river.
, mounted offensive operations in order to seize some hills held by the Chinese, during which three Canadian soldiers were killed and ten wounded. The new front line was now much closer to the Chinese outposts than previously, necessitating regular patrols. Around 1,500 civilians also had to be evacuated from the area.
The successful implementation of Operation Minden led to the more large scale Operation Commando
, which involved a substantial part of I Corps. Operation Commando was launched in October 1951 and resulted in the establishment of the Jamestown Line
.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN) forces during the Korean War
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 8–12 September 1951, as part of a general advance to extend the Wyoming Line. Operation Minden was the precursor to the much larger Operation Commando
Operation Commando
Operation Commando was an offensive undertaken by UN forces during the Korean War between 2–5 October 1951. The U.S. I Corps 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...
, which established 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...
.
Background
By the autumn of 1951, I Corps were positioned along the Wyoming Line, which was north of the 38th Parallel38th parallel north
The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean...
. The Wyoming Line served as an outpost line, and was an extension of the Kansas Line. The Wyoming Line ran roughly in an northeasterly arc from Hwachon Reservoir to the west of Chorwon
Chorwon
Chorwon is a kun, or county, in Kangwon province, North Korea. Portions of it were once a single county together with the county of the same name in South Korea; other portions were added from neighboring counties in the 1956 reorganization of local governments...
. However, the curvature of the Imjin River, north of the small town of Choksong, meant that there was a salient extending southwards into the line.
As part of an overall strategy to seize territory in order to strengthen his army's defensive position General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
James Van Fleet
James Van Fleet
James Alward Van Fleet was a U.S. Army officer during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Van Fleet was a native of New Jersey, who was raised in Florida and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy. He served as a regimental, divisional and corps commander during World War II and as...
, the commander of UN forces in Korea, ordered the removal of this salient in a operation codenamed "Minden". The operation would primarily involve three elements of the 1st British Commonwealth Division, commanded by General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
James Cassels; the 28th British Commonwealth Brigade, the 29th British Commonwealth Brigade and the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade
25th Canadian Infantry Brigade
The 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade was Canada's primary combat-formation intending to be sent as part of the British Commonwealth Forces Korea. Originally composed of three infantry battalions and two armoured squadrons, several individual units rotated through the brigade...
.
Operation Minden
The 28th British Commonwealth Brigade, including the 1st Battalions of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and King's Own Scottish BorderersKing's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
as well as 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment is a parachute infantry battalion of the Australian Army, based in Sydney. 3 RAR was initially formed in 1945 as the 67th Battalion and has seen active service in Japan, Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq...
, crossed the Imjin River and established a bridgehead on 8 September. Corresponding moves were made by flanking South Korean and United States units.
The initial movement of the 28th Brigade was met with little resistance, with the exception of some minor skirmishing on the Australian front, during which three prisoners were captured. With the bridgehead secure, two bridges were quickly erected by I Corps engineers, with one bridge situated at the river crossing of the northerly road from Choksong.
The 29th Infantry Brigade and the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade moved out of the bridgehead on 11 September. The 29th advanced to the northwest, while the Canadians moved off to the north. The 28th Brigade remained in reserve, guarding the newly constructed bridge. Like the 8 September crossing of the Imjin River, the movement of the 29th Brigade met with little resistance, although there were light casualties (12 killed) due to artillery fire. The Canadians completed their movements with no casualties. The operation concluded on 12 September, with the front line now running across the arc of the Imjin River, and firmly established nearly five kilometres north of the river.
Aftermath
There was some further adjustment of the line which was not completed until 14 September. As part of this adjustment, B Company, of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22e RegimentRoyal 22e Régiment
The Royal 22nd Regiment is an infantry regiment and the most famous francophone organization of the Canadian Forces. The regiment comprises three Regular Force battalions, two Primary Reserve battalions, and a band, making it the largest regiment in the Canadian Army...
, mounted offensive operations in order to seize some hills held by the Chinese, during which three Canadian soldiers were killed and ten wounded. The new front line was now much closer to the Chinese outposts than previously, necessitating regular patrols. Around 1,500 civilians also had to be evacuated from the area.
The successful implementation of Operation Minden led to the more large scale Operation Commando
Operation Commando
Operation Commando was an offensive undertaken by UN forces during the Korean War between 2–5 October 1951. The U.S. I Corps 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...
, which involved a substantial part of I Corps. Operation Commando was launched in October 1951 and resulted in the establishment of 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...
.
Sources
- Barclay, C.N. (1954) The Story of British Commonwealth Land Forces in Korea, 1950–1953. Gale & Polden Limited.
- McGibbon, Ian (1996) New Zealand and the Korean War. Volume II: Combat Operations. Oxford University Press.
- McGuire, F. R. (Ed.) (1956) Canada's Army in Korea: The United Nations Operations, 1950–53, and their aftermath. Queen's Printer (Canada).
- Yu Man-kap (Ed.) (1973) History of United Nations Forces in the Korean War (Vol. II). Ministry of National Defense (Republic of Korea).