Operation Thunderbolt, also known as the Defensive Battle of the Han River Southern Bank , was a US offensive 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...

. It represented the first offensive under the new commanding officer of the 8th US Army, General Matthew Ridgway

Matthew Ridgway

Matthew Bunker Ridgway was a United States Army General. He held several major commands and was most famous for resurrecting the United Nations war effort during the Korean War. Several historians have credited Ridgway for turning around the war in favor of the UN side...

. It followed a period of defensive stagnation after the Chinese Third Phase Campaign

Third Battle of Seoul

The Third Battle of Seoul, also known as the Chinese New Year's Offensive, the January–Fourth Retreat or the Third Phase Campaign Western SectorThe Eastern Sector is the First and Second Battle of Wonju. , was a battle of the Korean War, which took place from December 31, 1950 to January 7, 1951...

 had forced UN forces south of Seoul.

Operation

Thunderbolt was preceded by Operation Wolfhound, a reconnaissance in force by the 27th Infantry Regiment

27th Infantry Regiment (United States)

The 27th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the Wolfhounds, is a unit of the United States Army established in 1901, that served in the Philippine-American War, in the Siberian Intervention after World War I, and as part of the 25th Infantry Division during World War II, the Korean War, and later the...

  'Wolfhounds' that began on 15 January 1951. At this time the Chinese forces in the central sector were still in possession of Wonju

First and Second Battles of Wonju

The First and Second Battles of Wonju , also known as the Wonju Campaign or the Third Phase Campaign Eastern SectorThe Western Sector is the Third Battle of Seoul. , was a series of engagements between North Korean and United Nations forces during the Korean War. The battle took place from...

 and a full assault could not be made until this sector was under US control. Thunderbolt itself began on the 25 January, when troops of I and IX Corps advanced from the western sector of the front northwards towards 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...

. This attack was heavily supported by artillery and air support, in accordance with Ridgway's policy of attrition

Attrition warfare

Attrition warfare is a military strategy in which a belligerent side attempts to win a war by wearing down its enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and matériel....

 by superior firepower against a numerically superior foe. By 9th February, the offensive had reached the Han river

Han River

Han River may refer to:*Han River , flowing through Seoul, South Korea*Han River , in central China*Han River , in southeastern China...

 with the rest of the Chinese defenders retreating to the north of Han River by the end of February.

Impact and aftermath

X Corps, once again part of the 8th Army, held the central sector and moved forwards as Operation Roundup

Operation Roundup (1951)

Operation Roundup was an attack launched on 5 February 1951, during the Korean War.The attack was launched by the United States X Corps toward Hongch'on and P'yonch'ang....

on 5th February. Responding to the UN advances, Chinese forces under Peng Dehuai

Peng Dehuai

Peng Dehuai was a prominent military leader of the Communist Party of China, and China's Defence Minister from 1954 to 1959. Peng was an important commander during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese civil war and was also the commander-in-chief of People's Volunteer Army in the Korean War...

 then counter-attacked as the Fourth Phase Campaign, achieving initial successes at the Battle of Hoengsong. But they were soon held off at the Battle of Chipyong-ni

Battle of Chipyong-ni

The Battle of Chipyong-ni , also known as the Battle of Dipingli , was a decisive battle of the Korean War, and it took place from 13–15 February 1951 between members of the 23rd Infantry Regiment and various units of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army . It took place in the village of...

 and the Third Battle of Wonju. The concentration of firepower and reliance on close air support

Close air support

In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...

 in the face of large numbers of light infantry

Light infantry

Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...

 employed here would later become an influence on US doctrine during Vietnam

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...

.

Thunderbolt was followed almost immediately by the second UN counter-offensive, Operation Killer

Operation Killer

Operation Killer was the start of the second major counter offensive launched by United Nations forces against the People's Volunteer Army and the North Korean Army during the Korean War between 20 February and 6 March 1951...

.