Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 29: The Battle of Chosin Reservoir (Approximate Course of Events)

(The Battle of Chosin Reservoir will officially begin in just a few chapters. Those interested can get a general idea of ​​what's to come; this book will focus on key references.)
(Note: This is a long post. You can skip it if you don't want to read it. There will be a new update of the main plot at 10 PM tonight. Don't worry, it won't be a filler post.)
总：志愿军九兵团于1950年11月7日入朝，27军跨过鸭绿江后第1天夜里冻伤减员就达700人。

On November 13, in Zhongjiang Town, the 11rd Battalion of the 237th Regiment of the 79th Division of the 27th Army held a meeting for officers above the company level, which was then bombed by American aircraft.

More than 20 people were burned to death by incendiary bombs, and all 14 battalion and company officers present were killed in action.

These were also the first casualties of the Ninth Army Corps to enter Korea.

At the time, intelligence from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army indicated that the U.S. military had only two regiments and one forward command post in the Chosin Reservoir area.

Therefore, the 9th Army Group deployed the 27th Army to attack two US regiments, while the 20th Army was responsible for cutting off the US military's communication and attacking the US forward command post.

The 26th Army serves as the corps' general reserve force on the Sino-North Korean border.

The original plan was to launch an attack simultaneously with the western front on the night of November 25th.

However, due to heavy snowfall, the troops faced difficulties in their advance. In addition, bombing by American aircraft destroyed almost all of their vehicles, and logistical support could not keep up.

During the subsequent march, the artillery of the 26th Army was also completely destroyed.

This is also an important reason why the 26th Army suffered a tragic defeat in subsequent battles.

Finally, the start of the battle was postponed to the evening of the 27th.

而到了11月26日，美军的实际兵力是：在新兴里是美7师31团前进指挥所、31团三营、一个炮兵营，一个自行高炮连。

In the northwest of Xinxingli, at Neidongzhi, are the 2nd Battalion of the 32nd Regiment and the heavy mortar company of the 31st Regiment.

Houpu, south of Xinxingli, housed the headquarters of the 31st Regiment, a tank detachment, an engineer company, and a contingent of South Korean troops. The total number of personnel was over 4000.

Hagaru-ri was the forward command post of the 1st Marine Division, the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment, part of the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the 11th Artillery Regiment, two engineer battalions, and a tank detachment.

In addition, there are logistics units, joint logistics and communications units of the Navy, Air Force and Army, and a portion of the South Korean military, totaling more than 3900 people.

At Liutanli were the 7th Marine Regiment, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 5th Marine Regiment, three battalions of the 11th Artillery Regiment, and some South Korean troops. The total number was more than 8600.

The other units of the 1st Marine Division were positioned along the line from Fusheng-ri, Gutu-ri to Jinheung-ri south of Changjin Lake.

By this point, the number of US troops in the Chosin Reservoir area had doubled compared to the Ninth Army Group's estimate.

In addition, there is the 7th Regiment of the 3rd Division of the United States in Shecangli, southwest of Changjin Lake, and the 7th Division of the United States and the 3rd Division of the South Korean Army in the east of Changjin Lake.

There are also seven US Navy aircraft carriers and US Far East Air Force providing air support on the sea.

Inaccurate battlefield intelligence, a lack of understanding of the US military's firepower and mobility advantages, and insufficient preparation for extreme cold weather.

The indelible pain of the Ninth Army Corps was already destined before the battle even began.

February 11:
During the day, the US forces launched an attack in Liutanli, but were met with strong resistance from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. The US forces advanced less than 1.3 kilometers.

However, this alerted the U.S. 1st Army Division, which immediately set up a circular defensive perimeter in Liutanli.

That evening, the 9th Army Corps launched a full-scale offensive.

27军79师、20军89师267团猛攻柳潭里，激战一夜占领柳潭里部分高地。

However, the main force of the US Army 1st Division was stationed here. The next day, the US Army launched a counterattack with the support of aircraft, tanks and artillery, and lost many positions.

For the next few days, the two armies engaged in a back-and-forth struggle.

The 80th Division occupied the high ground separating Xinxingli and Neidongzhi, as well as the high ground surrounding Xinxingli.

The 242nd Regiment of the 81st Division occupied Hill 1221, which separated Xinxingli and Houpu.

27军94师281团在鸭绿江边的惠山方向与美7师一部对峙，另2个团在柳潭里做预备队。

81师241团、243团在新兴里以东的赴战湖方向监视美7师和韩3师部队。

The 175th Regiment of the 59th Division of the 20th Army attacked Hill 1419 between Liutanli and Hagaru-ri, but failed.

When they launched another attack at dawn the next day, they were met with napalm bombs dropped by US air force, resulting in heavy casualties.

The 177th Regiment occupied Dead Eagle Ridge and Seohyong Ridge between Liutanli and Hagaru-ri, but failed to attack Deokdong Pass.

De Dong Shan, located next to Dead Eagle Ridge, is the main peak here. The mountain is high and the road is dangerous. It also receives continuous support from the 105mm howitzer group in Hagaru-ri, so it has never been conquered.

It later became a strong support point for the US military withdrawal from Liutanli.

The 178th and 179th Regiments of the 60th Division occupied the high ground on both sides of the highway from Koto-ri to Hagaru-ri, while the 180th Regiment advanced to Hwangcho-ryong, south of Koto-ri.

The 265th and 266th Regiments of the 89th Division advanced to Shecangli.

The 58th Division originally planned to attack Hagaru-ri, but due to a map error, they were unable to cross the mountains and had to detour 70 kilometers, thus failing to launch the attack on time.

This mistake allowed the U.S. forces at Hagaru-ri to construct a 6-kilometer-long defensive perimeter for an entire day on the 28th, resulting in irreparable consequences for the 9th Army Corps.

February 11:
At dawn, the U.S. troops in Liutanli began their attack on Dead Eagle Ridge, while a part of the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment in Hagaruli attacked Xixingli, leaving the 59th Division under attack from two sides.

On the same day, US forces in Houpo attacked Hill 1221, but were blocked by the 242nd Regiment of the 81st Division. The US forces failed to break through and were forced to retreat, and the accompanying South Korean troops were scattered.

Brigadier General House, deputy commander of the U.S. 7th Division, escaped back to Hagaru-ri alone in a tank under the pretext of coordinating reinforcements.

In the evening, the 80th Division launched a fierce attack on Neidongzhi and Xinxingli. At dawn the next day, the US troops in Neidongzhi withdrew to Xinxingli.

During the retreat, Colonel McClain, commander of the 31st Regiment of the 7th Division, was wounded and captured. He died from his injuries four days later.

The 31st Regiment-level combat team was taken over by Fei Si, the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion of the 32nd Regiment.

In the direction of Hagaru-ri, the 58th Division launched an attack, concentrating all of its artillery, including 18 82mm mortars and 54 60mm mortars, with 90 and 120 rounds of ammunition respectively, and opened fire.

Good heavens, this is worlds apart from the firepower of a US Army regiment.

美一个团装备5辆坦克、12门107迫、24门75无后坐力炮、30门81迫及89毫米火箭筒若干，备弹无数。

During the battle, it was also equipped with an artillery battalion of 18 105mm howitzers. That night, the US forces at Hagaru-ri fired more than 8000 shells.

That night, the 172nd Regiment occupied Dongshan and the nearby high ground. The 173rd Regiment briefly broke through the airport defense line, but ultimately could not widen the gap due to insufficient firepower.

During the continued offensive, the troops suffered heavy casualties and withdrew from the battle at dawn the following day.

That same night, the main force of the 89th Division of the 20th Army clashed with the 7th Regiment of the US 3rd Division in Shecangli.

February 11:
During the day, the US forces launched a fierce attack on Hill 1701 in Dongshan at Hagaru-ri, and Yang Gengsi was killed on the nearby Xiaogaoling Hill.

Later that night, the U.S. military bombarded the Dongshan positions with artillery and night fighters, preventing the 58th Division from assembling for an attack.

In the direction of Koto-ri, a task force consisting of the 41st Commando Unit of the British Royal Marines, two infantry companies and two tank platoons of the US 1st Infantry Division, and other firepower units was sent north to support Hagaru-ri.

被60师178团、179团围追堵截，最终300多人、17辆坦克突入下碣隅里，300多人伤亡，剩余237人于30日上午8时向179团投降。

February 11:
During the day, U.S. forces continued their fierce attack on Hill 1701 in Dongsan at Hagaru-ri.

In the evening, the 58th Division organized its remaining forces to attack Hagaru-ri from the Dongshan position, but ultimately failed to break through due to the limited number of attack points and lack of follow-up troops.

After that, the 58th Division fought repeatedly with the enemy on Dongshan Heights until the night of December 5th, when the blood of the 58th Division was shed to death there.

同日晚，27军集中80师238、239、240团，81师241团4个团以及全军所有火炮围攻新兴里。

February 12:
The US troops at Liutanli broke out completely and attacked Dead Eagle Ridge.

The 79th Division of the 27th Army occupied the high ground on the west side of the northern section of the highway, while the 94th Division occupied the high ground on the east side of the northern section of the highway.

However, the 79th Division was already exhausted, and the 94th Division had lost thousands of men after being frozen in the snow for several days, and was instead blocked by the US rearguard.

Unable to reach their designated positions on time, the 79th Division was unable to hold out against the retreating US troops.

In the afternoon, the 27th Army stormed Xinxingli and captured the regimental flag of the "Polar Bear Regiment".

The US 7th Division decided to break out, but command was chaotic. After 4 p.m., the US troops in Pu withdrew back to Hagaru-ri, leaving the breaking-out US troops without anyone to meet them.

Lieutenant Colonel Faith was killed while directing the breakout, and the American troops scattered and fled across the ice.

至12月2日凌晨4点战斗结束，此役实际歼敌2000余人，1050人逃回下碣隅里，其中只有385人是全须全尾。

The entire 5th Company of the 242nd Regiment of the 81st Division froze to death on the blocking position, becoming the first "ice sculpture company".

The 31st Regimental Combat Team of the US 7th Infantry Division was annihilated. The 1st Marine Division was overrated. Although it had the nickname "Polar Bear Regiment", its actual combat strength was only at the level of an ordinary US Army and could not be compared with the US 1st Marine Division.

This is also why the Ninth Army Corps decided to target him first after adjusting its operations.

2. The defenses were weak, with troops stationed in three separate locations, which resulted in the division of the forces at the start of the battle. Although two of the forces were later combined into one, they did not form a circular defensive perimeter; the defensive line was distributed in a strip, which was subsequently breached by the 27th Army.

3. The command was chaotic. After the breakout was decided, the Houpu troops received orders to retreat in advance, resulting in the breakout troops not being able to meet them.

4. The fighting spirit was weak, the supreme commander fled the battlefield, and after the deaths of two battlefield commanders, the third commander abandoned command, more than a thousand people fled, and the remaining troops fought on their own.

On the Ninth Army Corps' side, poor battlefield reconnaissance and inaccurate intelligence meant that the principle of concentrating forces to annihilate the enemy was not effectively achieved from the outset of the campaign. The 79th Division launched a main attack on the main force of the US 1st Army Division, but failed to break through its defenses and encircle it.

The 58th Division, after a one-day delay, attacked the command and logistics base of the US 1st Army Division, but failed to capture it or hold it.

Due to hunger and cold at the time, the Ninth Army Corps was the strongest in combat on the first night, followed by the second night, and then its combat strength dropped a level.

Whether it is the combat troops, the infiltrating troops, or the reserve troops, their actual combat effectiveness has been greatly reduced.

They lacked awareness of the U.S. military's mechanized air-ground integrated combat capabilities, resulting in huge casualties in offensive operations.

The strategy of occupying the high ground on both sides of the highway to block the enemy actually failed to achieve the desired effect.

By this point, the combat casualties, deaths from freezing and frostbite among the various units of the Ninth Army Corps had become extremely severe.

They had almost run out of food and ammunition, and were practically incapable of carrying out offensive operations.

February 12:
The 79th Division of the 27th Army fought fiercely against the breaking-out US forces on the northern section of the Liutanli-Hagaru-ri highway, and the 59th Division of the 20th Army fought fiercely on the eastern section of the Liutanli-Hagaru-ri highway.

February 12:
After the Battle of Xinxingli, the 241st and 242nd Regiments of the 81st Division of the 27th Army crossed the Changjin Lake and occupied the high ground north of the eastern section of the highway.

However, the US forces broke through the Dead Eagle Ridge position, and a US company at Dedong Pass lost more than half of its soldiers, but still held the position for six nights and six days, capturing nearly a hundred Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers.

The 59th Division of the 20th Army withdrew from the battle, leaving only about 60 men in the 1st Battalion of the 177th Regiment. After receiving the order to retreat, they did not come down because their hands and feet were frozen and they could not even crawl. They were carried back until night.

The 2nd Battalion of the 177th Regiment held out until dusk before retreating. The entire 6th Company froze to death on the blocking position, becoming the second "ice sculpture company." Song Amao, who wrote his last poem, was a soldier from that company.

At 7 p.m., the advance troops of the U.S. military had arrived at Hagaru-ri.

At 22 p.m., the 243rd Regiment of the 81st Division finally arrived near Xixinli.

Whether it was a communication delay or a problem with reporting the battle situation, the Central Committee was still sending a telegram to the Ninth Army Corps late on the night of the 3rd.

The Central Committee ordered it to accelerate the deployment of the 26th Army, surround the US forces at Liutanli, and implement the strategy of besieging the stronghold and attacking reinforcements.

February 12:
The 243rd Regiment of the 81st Division repeatedly fought with the US military for the high ground near Xixinli.

Daylight ultimately belonged to the US military, who seized control of the area and withdrew all troops to Hagaru-ri. The US casualties at Yudam-ri totaled over 1500.

February 12:
U.S. troops at Hagaru-ri prepared to withdraw and began airlifting the wounded.

By the second day, thousands of wounded had been evacuated.

On that day, the 89th Division of the 20th Army fought a fierce battle with the 7th Regiment of the US 3rd Division from Shecangli to Xiatongli before withdrawing from the battle.

晚8:10，美军两架B-26轰炸机投下了6枚500磅炸弹轰炸下碣隅里。

The fuel was hit, and flames shot into the sky, illuminating the entire heavens. Both the American and Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops were stunned.

Late at night, the 76th and 77th Divisions of the 26th Army arrived at Hagaru-ri and took over the positions from the 58th Division.

The 88th Division was still lingering on its way, while the 78th Division was covering the flank of the entire army corps on the eastern front.

The 26th Army originally planned to launch an attack on the night of the 6th, but the US forces began their attack and retreat at dawn, forcing the 26th Army to hastily respond.

February 12:
At 4:30 a.m., the US advance team began its retreat, engaging in fierce fighting with the 76th Division. By the afternoon, they had broken through the enemy's defenses and left Hagaru-ri.

At 7:30 a.m., the US rearguard began their attack on the East Hill position, which was captured at 14:30 p.m.

The Chinese People's Volunteer Army organized a counterattack, but its command was incompetent. In broad daylight, it even organized troops to prepare for an attack on the ridge between two hills in front of Hill 1701.

They were immediately subjected to heavy bombing by US aircraft, resulting in heavy casualties.

U.S. ground troops took the opportunity to occupy the hilltops on both sides and used heavy firepower to block the unit's retreat route.

Unable to defend or retreat, the unit was subjected to a unilateral massacre by the US military and was forced to surrender, with 220 men ultimately captured.

Later that evening, the 26th Army launched another counterattack on the Dongshan position, but failed.

February 12:
At 2 a.m., the 26th Army launched another all-out attack on the Dongshan position and the retreating US forces, but still failed.

The Battle of Dongshan, which began on the evening of November 28, is also known as the Battle of Dongqiu in U.S. military history.

At 6:00 a.m., the rearguard of the US forces began to retreat, while the 76th and 77th Divisions continued to fight tenaciously.

Meanwhile, the US advance force arrived in Kotoli, and by 10:00 AM, the entire advance force had entered Kotoli.

At 8:00 a.m., the US rearguard engaged in fierce fighting with the 88th Division of the 26th Army, which had just arrived, and broke through the blockade at 3:00 p.m.

These two days and one night stunned the 26th Army, and its main force, the 76th Division, suffered losses of more than 6000 men, which can be said to have wiped out its combat troops.

At midnight that day, the entire 1st Army Division of the U.S. Army withdrew to Kotori, suffering more than 600 casualties during the entire withdrawal process.

Lieutenant Colonel Harris, son of U.S. Naval Air Force Commander General Harris, was killed while leading a team to cover the retreat of the U.S. 1st Army Division's supply convoy.

This man had ordered a company to withdraw from their position to protect his own battalion during the battle at Liutanli, but fate was clear and he could not escape it in the end.

February 12:
At 2 a.m., the U.S. military began its retreat as soon as it reached Gutuli and advanced toward Huangcaoling.

著名的三炸水门桥就发生在这里（12月1日，60师炸第一次，12月4日，60师炸第二次，12月6日58师172团炸第三次）。

North of Shuimen Bridge, blocking the way were the remnants of the 58th Division of the 20th Army, about 6 to 7 companies, each with less than 100 men, led and commanded by Hu Qianxiu, the division chief of staff, and Hao Liang, the political commissar of the 174th Regiment.

Unfortunately, the command post was discovered by American aircraft, and rockets struck the cave where the command post was hidden, killing all members.

The US forces that moved north from Jinheung-ri to support the attack on Hwangcho-ryong, south of the Sumun Bridge, were defended by the 60th Division, but the 178th and 179th Regiments had been decimated.

Although the 180th Regiment did not have many combat missions in the early stages, it suffered heavy casualties while lying on ice and drinking snow, making the entire battle extremely difficult.

February 12:
The water gate bridge was repaired for the third time, but all 50 soldiers of the 172nd Regiment of the 58th Division on the adjacent hilltop froze to death on the battlefield.

黄草岭1081高地，20军60师180团2连全部冻死在阵地上，此为第三个“冰雕连”。

Because it was first discovered by the US military, the story of the "Ice Sculpture Company" spread the most widely. Of the 666 men in the 1st Battalion to which the company belonged, only 16 were able to move independently by the time they withdrew from the battle.

On the same day, the 26th Army arrived at Gutuli, but could not stop the American retreat.

February 12:
The entire 1st U.S. Army Division retreated to Zhenxingli via the Shuimen Bridge and Huangcaoling.

With only a little over a hundred combat personnel remaining from the 58th and 60th Divisions of the 20th Army, they still relentlessly pursued the enemy.

February 12:
At 1 a.m., several dozen men from the 20th Army caught up with the rearguard of the U.S. 1st Army Division.

The American troops were already on edge, and the tank crews abandoned their tanks and fled in panic along with the infantry, resulting in the capture of 7 tanks by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

On the same day, the entire 1st U.S. Army Division entered Jinhsung-ri, and the U.S. forces on this route suffered more than 300 casualties.

The subsequent battle consisted of the US military retreating along the highway under the cover of aircraft and tanks, with the Chinese People's Volunteer Army pursuing them along the mountains on both sides of the highway, and no further major battles.

February 12:
More than 10 men from the U.S. 10th Corps began boarding ships at Hungnam Port.

February 12:
The U.S. 1st Army Division began boarding ships at Hsingnam Port.

The U.S. Navy's carrier-based aircraft and naval guns formed a dense fire network to thwart the attack attempts of the 27th and 26th Armies that were pursuing them.

December 24: The US military destroyed the remaining supplies and equipment by explosives and left North Korea forever.

Throughout the entire Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the U.S. military suffered 4418 combat casualties and 7313 casualties from frostbite, including more than 2500 deaths and missing persons.

The Ninth Army Corps' battle report stated that it annihilated more than 7000 enemy troops. One explanation is that the statistical methods differed. For example, the more than 1000 American troops who fled from Xinxingli were counted as enemy casualties by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

The US military has already recruited these people, so they don't count.

The second explanation is that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army ran out of food, so many prisoners were released.

Speaking of food, the 27th and 20th Armies were already running out of food while they were still on the march, but logistical transportation was extremely difficult.

Koreans distrusted the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, and large numbers of them crossed the Volunteer Army's defenses to flee to American camps.

A small number of North Koreans took advantage of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's lack of threats and obstruction to North Koreans to cross the Volunteer Army's defenses and report intelligence to the US military. There are also claims that this was done by South Korean soldiers who accompanied the Volunteer Army disguised as civilians.

Starting from Yudam-ri, large numbers of North Koreans followed the US military in their retreat. There were approximately several thousand North Koreans in the Changjin Lake area, and in the end, a total of more than 9 North Koreans left with the US military at Hungnam Port.

Meanwhile, the 26th Army, which was trailing behind, had no food to procure, and many of its soldiers starved to death.

The Ninth Army Corps suffered over 14,000 casualties in this battle, with over 30,000 dying from frostbite or freezing to death, including over 4000 who froze to death and over 7300 killed in action.

Despite numerous major oversights in the Ninth Army Group's operational preparations and tactical actions during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

However, the Ninth Army Corps overcame enormous difficulties and demonstrated extraordinary will and courage, forcing the U.S. 1st Infantry Division and the entire U.S. 10th Corps to withdraw from North Korea.

Strategically, this is undoubtedly a huge achievement.

(End of this chapter)