Operation Polecharge

Operation Polecharge Part of Korean War Date 15–19 October 1951 Location Result Decisive United Nations victory Belligerents  United Nations  United States  Belgium  People's Republic of China Units involved Fifth Cavalry Regiment Eighth Cavalry Regiment Belgian Battalion Casualties and losses ~2,900[1] ~16,000[1]

Operation Polecharge was an offensive undertaken by United Nations (UN) forces during the Korean War between 15–19 October 1951, following on from the successful Operation Commando which established the Jamestown Line.

Background

Operation Commando involved five UN divisions of I Corps, including the US 1st Cavalry Division, the US 3rd and 25th Infantry Divisions, the South Korean 1st Division, and the 1st Commonwealth Division. Operation Commando was intended to form a line of defense just north of the 38th parallel and ended on 15 October 1951, having successfully established the Jamestown Line. However, a few hills south of the line remained in Chinese hands and threatened supply lines to Seoul. Operation Polecharge was intended to seize control of these high positions.^[1]

Operation Polecharge

The Fifth Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division, together with a Belgian battalion attached to the 3rd Infantry Division, was tasked with the capture of Hills 346, 272 and 230.^[1] The Eighth Cavalry Regiment would provide support if required.^[2]

The operation began on 15 October with the seizure of Hill 346 by the Fifth Cavalry.^[3] On 18 October Hill 230 was captured after initial attacks, supported by the Eighth Cavalry, were strongly rebuffed.^[4] Hill 272 was also strongly defended by the Chinese but fell to UN forces on 19 October, marking the successful conclusion of Operation Polecharge.^[1]

During Operations Commando and Polecharge, the UN forces inflicted heavy losses on the Chinese forces, in order of 16,000 men, and forced the Chinese to retreat north to their next line of defence, Yokkok-chon.^[1] The 1st Cavalry Division had suffered 2,900 casualties, including losses incurred during Operation Commando, and was withdrawn to Japan the following month.^[5]

Aftermath

Operation Polecharge saw the Jamestown line secure as well as the elimination of the threat posed by the Chinese forces to the UN's supply lines to Seoul. The conclusion of Operations Commando and Polecharge also marked the beginning of the static phase of the Korean War as well as the resumption of armistice negotiations at Panmunjom.^[6]

See also

• Operation Commando

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Edwards 2009, p. 67.
2. ^ Korea Institute of Military History 2001, p. 219
3. ^ Edwards 2010, p.212.
4. ^ Edwards 2005, p. 250.
5. ^ Blair 1987, p. 949.
6. ^ Malkasian 2001, p. 53.

Sources

• Blair, Clay (1987) The Forgotten War: America in Korea 1950–1953. Times Books
• Edwards, Paul M. (2006) Korean War Alamanac. Facts on File.
• Edwards, Paul M. (2009) Combat Operations of the Korean War: Ground, Air, Sea, Special and Covert. McFarland.
• Edwards, Paul M. (2010) Historical Dictionary of the Korean War. Scarecrow Press.
• Korea Institute of Military History (2001) The Korean War (Vol. 3). Bison Books
• Malkasian, Carter (2001) The Korean War 1950–1953. Osprey Publishing