사용자:인천직전/부산 부근 전투

8월 공세

US Marines stand on a newly captured position overlooking the Naktong River, August 19

북한군 도하

8월 5일부터 6일 사이의 밤에, 800명의 3군단과 16여단의 북한군과 오항 유람선 부두의 강으로 건너왔다. 부곡리의 남쪽 5.6km와 영산의

At midnight on the night of August 5–6, 800 North Korean soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 16th Regiment, waded across the river at the Ohang ferry site, 3.5 마일 (5.6 km) south of Pugong-ni and west of Yongsan, carrying light weapons and supplies over their heads or on rafts. A second force attempted to cross the river further north but was hit with machine guns and artillery, falling back in confusion. At 02:00 the morning of August 6, the North Koreans began engaging the forces of 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry, but moved forward after a small fight, attempting to penetrate the lines to Yongsan. The North Korean infantry forced 3rd Battalion back, and the American battalion abandoned its command post to consolidate its positions. The North Korean attack caught the Americans, who were expecting an attack from further north, by surprise. Subsequently the North Koreans were able to capture a large amount of American equipment. The attack threatened to split the American lines and disrupt supply lines to the north.

The regimental headquarters ordered the 1st Battalion to counterattack the North Koreans. Once 1st Battalion arrived at the 3rd Battalion's former command post it was ambushed by North Korean soldiers on higher ground. Heavy casualties were incurred by C Company, the first unit of the battalion to reach the post. Over half of C Company became casualties in the fight. A and B Companies counterattacked the North Korean positions with tanks and armored vehicles, eventually rescuing the beleaguered C Company. At around 20:00, A Company made contact with L Company of 3rd Battalion, still in its positions on the river, radioing that the North Koreans had penetrated eastward north of the Yongsan-Naktong River road to an elevated position known as Cloverleaf Hill, but had not yet crossed south of the road to Obong-ni Ridge. The North Koreans had penetrated 3 마일 (4.8 km) east of the Naktong and halfway to Yongsan.

American counterattacks continued into the morning of August 7, but gains were slow, hampered by the hot weather and a lack of food and water. North Koreans were able to press forward and regain Cloverleaf Hill and Oblong-ni Ridge, critical terrain astride the main road in the bulge area. By 16:00 that day, the US 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, a newly arrived unit, was sent to the region. Church immediately ordered it to attack the bulge salient. The 9th Infantry's troops were fresh, well-equipped and well-rested. However, they were also inexperienced, many of their number being reservists. Despite a tenacious attack, the 9th Infantry was only able to regain part of Cloverleaf Hill before intense fighting stalled its movement.

In order to effect the destruction of the North Korean bridgehead, Church assembled a large force under the 9th Infantry Regiment. Dubbed Task Force Hill, this force comprised the 9th 19th and 34th Infantry Regiments as well as 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry, as well as supporting artillery and other attached units. It was assigned to drive the North Koreans from the east bank of the river on August 11. Commanding Task Force Hill was Colonel John G. Hill, the 9th Infantry Commander.

US Marines treat a casualty from the front line of the battle, August 17.

The NK 4th Division, in the meantime, had constructed underwater bridges of sandbags, logs and rocks, finishing the first one the day before. It moved trucks and heavy artillery across the river through this bridge, as well as additional infantry and a few tanks. By the morning of August 10 an estimated two North Korean regiments were now across the river and occupying fortified positions. Supplies continued to stream in through rafts. Task Force Hill mounted its attack, but was unable to make progress due to the newly established artillery. Its directive to attack quickly became one to dig in and hold its ground, and by nightfall the entire NK 4th Division was across the river. On August 10 some of these units began to move south, around the American lines and outflanked Task Force Hill. The next day, scattered elements of the North Korean forces attacked Yongsan. The North Korean forces repeatedly attacked US lines at night, when American soldiers were resting and had greater difficulty resisting.

북한군 패배

The 1st Marine Provisional Brigade, in conjunction with Task Force Hill, mounted a massive offensive on Cloverleaf Hill and Obong-ni on August 17. Supported by aircraft and artillery, the offensive kicked off at 0800 on August 17. US forces unleashed all they had at their disposal against the North Korean positions; artillery, mortars, airstrikes, and M26 Pershing tanks supported the infantry and Marines.

Marines carrying a wounded comrade in a stretcher in August 1950.

At first tenacious North Korean defense halted the Marines' push. The US artillery had to rake Cloverleaf Hill and force the North Koreans out of their positions before the Marines and Task Force Hill could proceed to Obong-ni, eventually overwhelming the North Koreans one hill at a time. They first destroyed resistance on the slope of Obong-ni with an airstrike and a barrage from US tanks, but heavy resistance caused large numbers of casualties for the Marine force, which had to withdraw after its first attack. The NK 18th Regiment, in charge of the hill, mounted a disastrous counterattack following this in hopes of pushing the Marines back. The division's tactics of cutting off supplies and relying on surprise, which had provided them so much success up to this point in the war, were lost in the face of massive US numerical superiority.

By nightfall on August 18, the North Korean 4th Division had been annihilated by the US forces; huge numbers of deserters had weakened its numbers during the fight, but by that time, Obong-ni and Cloverleaf Hill had been retaken by the US forces. Scattered groups of North Korean soldiers fled back across the Naktong, pursued by American planes and artillery fire. The next day, the remains of the 4th Division had withdrawn completely across the river. In their hasty retreat, they left a large number of artillery pieces and equipment behind which the Americans used.

동부 회랑 지대 (포항)

 이 부분의 본문은 포항 전투입니다.

The terrain along the South Korean front on the Eastern corridor made movement extremely difficult. A major road ran from Taegu 50 마일 (80 km) east, to P’ohang-dong on Korea's east coast. The only major north-south road intersecting this line moved south from Andong through Yongch'on, mid-way between Taegu and P'ohang-dong. The only other natural entry through the line was at the town of An'gang-ni, 12 마일 (19 km) west of P'ohang-dong, situated near a valley through the natural rugged terrain to the major rail hub of Kyongju, which was a staging post for moving supplies to Taegu. Walker chose not to heavily reinforce the area as he felt the terrain made meaningful attack impossible, preferring to respond to attack with reinforcements from the transportation routes and air cover from Yongil Airfield, which was south of P'ohang-dong.

South Korean units push North Korean forces northward after intense fighting, August 11–20.

3번의 대공세

In early August, three North Korean divisions mounted offensives against the three passes through the area, with the NK 8th Division attacking Yongch'on, NK 12th Division attacking P’ohang-dong and NK 5th Division, in conjunction with the 766th Independent Infantry Regiment, attacking An'gang-ni. The NK 8th Division's attack stalled almost immediately. The division drove for Yongch'on from Uiseong. However, the attack failed to reach the Taegu-P'ohang corridor after being surprised and outflanked by the ROK 8th Division. This fighting was so heavy that the NK 8th Division was forced to hold its ground for a week before trying to advance. Stalled again by South Korean resistance, it halted to wait for reinforcements. However the other two attacks were more successful, catching the UN forces by surprise.

East of the NK and ROK 8th Divisions, the NK 12th Division crossed the Naktong River at Andong, moving through the mountains in small groups to reach P'ohang-dong. The division was understrength and at least one of its artillery batteries had to send its guns back north because it had no ammunition for them. UN planners had not anticipated that the 12th Division would be able to cross the river effectively, and thus was unprepared when its forces infiltrated the region so heavily. In the meantime, the ROK 3rd Division was heavily engaged with the NK 5th Division along the coastal road to P'ohang-dong. The divisions' clashes centered around the town of Yongdok, with each side capturing and recapturing the town several times. On August 5, the North Koreans launched their attack, again taking the town from the South Korean forces and pushing them south. At 19:30 on August 6, the South Koreans launched a counteroffensive to retake the town. US aircraft and ships pounded the town with rockets, napalm and artillery shells before South Korean troops from the ROK 22nd and 23rd Regiments swarmed into the town. However, NK 5th Division forces were able to infiltrate the coastal road south of Yongdok at Hunghae. This effectively surrounded the ROK 3rd Division, trapping it several miles above P'ohang-dong. The NK 766th Independent Regiment advanced around the ROK 3rd Division and took the area around P'ohang-dong.

On August 10, the Eighth Army organized Task Force P'ohang, consisting of the ROK 17th, 25th, and 26th Regiments as well as the ROK 1st Anti-Guerrilla Battalion, Marine Battalion and a battery from the US 18th Field Artillery Battalion. The task force was given the mission to clear out North Korean forces in the mountainous region. At the same time, Eighth Army formed Task Force Bradley, consisting of elements of the US 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division under the command of Brigadier General Joseph S. Bradley, the 2nd Division's assistant commander. Task Force Bradley was tasked with defending P'ohang-dong from the North Korean 766th Independent Regiment which was infiltrating the town. What followed was a complicated series of fights through the large region around P'ohang-dong and An'gang-ni as South Korean ground forces, aided by US air forces engaged groups of North Korean forces operation all around the vicinity. The NK 12th Division was operating in the valley west of P'ohang-dong and was able to push back Task Force P'ohang and the ROK Capital Division, which was along the line to the east. At the same time, the NK 766th Infantry Regiment and elements of the NK 5th Division fought Task Force Bradley at and south of P'ohang-dong. US naval fire was able to drive the NK troops from the town, but it became a bitterly contested no man's land as fighting moved to the surrounding hills.

포항 전투

ROK troops advance to the front lines near P'ohang-dong

By August 13, North Korean troops were operating in the mountains west and southwest of Yongil Airfield. US Air Force commanders, wary of enemy attack, evacuated the 45 F-51s of the US 39th Fighter Squadron and US 40th Fighter Squadron from the airstrip, against the wishes of General MacArthur. In the event, the airstrip remained under the protection of UN ground forces and never came under direct enemy fire. The squadrons were moved to Tsuiki on the island of Kyushu, Japan. In the meantime, the ROK 3rd Division had to evacuate its position after being surrounded by the NK 5th Division. The ROK division was forced further south to the village of Changsa-dong, where US Navy planners began preparations to withdraw the division by LSTs and DUKWs. The division would sail 20 마일 (32 km) south to Yongil bay to join the other UN forces in a coordinated attack to push the North Koreans out of the region. This evacuation was carried out on the night of August 16 under covering fire from the US Navy.

By August 14, large forces from the NK 5th and 12th Divisions, as well was the 766th Independent Regiment, were focused entirely on taking P'ohang-dong. However they were unable to hold it because of US air superiority and naval bombardment on the town. The North Korean supply chain had completely broken down and more food, ammunition and supplies were not available. UN forces began their final counteroffensive against the stalled North Korean forces on August 15. Intense fighting around P'ohang-dong ensued for several days as each side suffered large numbers of casualties in back-and-forth battles. By August 17, UN forces were able to push North Korean troops out of the Kyongju and An'gang-ni areas, putting the supply road to Taegu out of immediate danger. The NK 766th Independent Regiment, down to 1,500 men, was forced to withdraw north to prevent being surrounded. The NK 12th Division, also down to just 1,500, evacuated P'ohang-dong after this, having been exhausted from heavy casualties. The two units merged and received replacements, re-emerging as a 5,000-man 12th Division. By August 19 the North Korean forces had completely withdrawn from the offensive.

대구

 이 부분의 본문은 대구 전투 및 볼링대 전투입니다.

Shortly before the Pusan Perimeter battles began, Walker established Taegu as the Eighth Army's headquarters. Right at the center of the Pusan Perimeter, Taegu stood at the entrance to the Naktong River valley, an area where North Korean forces could advance in large numbers in close support. The natural barriers provided by the Naktong River to the south and the mountainous terrain to the north converged around Taegu, which was also the major transportation hub and last major South Korean city aside from Pusan itself to remain in UN hands. From south to north, the city was defended by the US 1st Cavalry Division, and the ROK 1st Division and ROK 6th Division of ROK II Corps. 1st Cavalry Division was spread out along a long line along the Naktong River to the south, with its 5th Cavalry and 8th Cavalry regiments holding a 24,000 미터 (79,000 ft) line along the river and the 7th Cavalry in reserve along with artillery forces, ready to reinforce anywhere a crossing could be attempted.

대구 진공

Five North Korean divisions amassed to oppose the UN at Taegu.; from south to north, the 10th, 3rd, 15th, 13th, and 1st Divisions occupied a line from Tuksong-dong and around Waegwan to Kunwi. The North Koreans planned to use the natural corridor of the Naktong valley from Sangju to Taegu as their main axis of attack for the next push south. Elements of the NK 105th Armored Division were also supporting the attack.

On the night of August 4–5, the NK 13th Division began crossing the Naktong River at Naktong-ni, 40 마일 (64 km) northwest of Taegu. The crossing was not discovered until August 5 when ROK artillery and mortar fire was called on to the crossing. North Korean soldiers waded across the river carrying weapons and equipment over their heads. The division's three regiments crossed on foot and by raft over the course of three nights, with the entire division across by August 7. It was several miles from the ROK 1st Division's prepared defenses. ROK troops attacked the 13th Division immediately after it completed its crossing, forcing the North Korean troops to scatter into the mountains. The division reassembled to the east and launched a concerted night attack, broke the ROK defenses, and began an advance that carried it twenty miles (32 km) southeast of Naktong-ni on the main road to Taegu. Within a week, the NK 1st and 13th divisions were converging on the Tabu-dong area, about 15 마일 (24 km) north of Taegu.

The NK 15th Division, next of the North Korean divisions in line to the south, received 1,500 replacements at Kumch'on on August 5, which brought its strength to about 6,500 men. The next day its 45th Regiment marched northeast toward the Naktong River. The regiment passed through Sonsan on August 7 and crossed the river southeast of that town, while under attack by UN aircraft. Once across the river, the regiment headed into the mountains, initially encountering no UN opposition. The other two regiments, the 48th and 50th, departed Kumch'on later and began crossing the Naktong between Indong and Waegwan before dawn of August 8, constructing underwater bridges for their vehicles. The North Koreans supported this crossing by direct tank fire from the west side of the river. These tanks evidently succeeded in crossing the river during the day. The NK 15th Division seized Hills 201 and 346 on the east side of the river at the crossing site, before advancing eastward into the mountains toward Tabu-dong, 7 마일 (11 km) away. The next day, ROK 1st Division regained the high ground at the crossing sites, forcing the North Korean forces further eastward into the mountains. During August 12–16, the three regiments of the NK 15th Division reassembled on the east side of the Naktong River in the vicinity of Yuhak-san, 5 마일 (8.0 km) east of the crossing site and 3 마일 (4.8 km) northwest of Tabu-dong. The NK 15th Division was quickly locked in combat on Yuhak-san with the ROK 1st Division.

US Artillery near Waegwan fires at North Korean troops attempting to cross the Naktong River

삼각고지

South of Waegwan, two more North Korean divisions stood ready to cross the Naktong in a coordinated attack with the divisions to the north. The experienced NK 3rd Division was concentrated in the vicinity of Songju, while the untested NK 10th Division was concentrated in the Koryong area. These two divisions crossed in the US 1st Cavalry Division's line. The NK 3rd Division's 7th Regiment started crossing the Naktong at about 0300 on August 9 near Noch'on, two miles (3 km) south of the Waegwan bridge. Discovering the crossing, elements of the US 5th Cavalry Regiment directed automatic weapons fire against the North Koreans and called in pre-registered artillery fire on the crossing site. Although the enemy regiment suffered some casualties, the bulk of it reached the east bank safely and moved inland into the hills. Thirty minutes later, the 8th and 9th Regiments began crossing the river to the south. The 5th Cavalry Regiment and all its supporting mortars and artillery, now fully alerted, spotted and decimated the two regiments troops and turned them back to the west bank. Only a small number of North Koreans reached the east side where either they were captured, or hid until recrossing the river the following night.

At dawn on August 9, 1st Cavalry Division commander Major General Hobart R. Gay in Taegu learned of the enemy crossing in his division's sector south of Waegwan. As first reports were vague, he decided to withhold action until he found out more about the situation. He quickly discovered that around 750 North Korean infantry had gathered on Hill 268, also known as Triangulation Hill, which was 3 마일 (4.8 km) southeast of Waegwan and 10 마일 (16 km) northwest of Taegu. Gay ordered his division to counterattack the enemy gathering to force them across the river. He and Walker believed the North Korean attack could be a feint and that a larger attack could come from the north. Moreover, the hill was important for its proximity to lines of communication. The main Korean north-south highway and the main double-track Seoul-Pusan railroad skirted its base.

At 12:00 the US artillery fired a preparatory barrage on Hill 268, which the 1st Battalion then attacked, with orders to continue on southwest to Hill 154. Hill 268 was covered with thick brush 4 피트 (1.2 m) and trees eight to 10 피트 (3.0 m) high. The North Koreans repulsed the attack. The next morning, August 10, air strikes and artillery barrages rocked Hill 268, devastating the North Korean battalion. Trapped between the air bombs and artillery shells, they started to vacate their positions. An American infantry attack then reached the top of the hill without trouble and the battle was over by 16:00. American artillery and mortar fire now shifted westward and cut off the North Korean retreat. White phosphorus shells fired from the 61st Field Artillery Battalion caught North Koreans in a village as they attempted to retreat, and they were routed by American infantry, suffering over 200 killed. That evening the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, reverted to division reserve, and elements of the 5th Cavalry finished securing Hill 268. An estimated 300 survivors retreated across the river the night of August 10/11. The NK 3rd Division's attempted crossing of the Naktong south of Waegwan had ended in catastrophe. When the survivors of the 7th Regiment rejoined the division on or about August 12, the once-powerful 3rd Division was reduced to a disorganized unit of some 2,500 men. The North Korean Army placed the division in reserve to be rebuilt by replacements.

영포동

The North Korean plan for the attack against Taegu from the west and southwest demanded the NK 10th Division make a coordinated attack with the NK 3rd Division. The 10th Division was ordered to cross the Naktong River in the vicinity of Tuksong-dong, penetrate east, and cut the UN forces' main supply route from Pusan to Taegu. The division assembled in the Koryong area on August 11. Further north, the NK 25th Regiment, a component of the 10th Division, started crossing the Naktong at about 03:00 on August 12, in the vicinity of Tuksong-dong, on the Koryong-Taegu road. The 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, covered this crossing site, which was 14 마일 (23 km) southwest of Taegu. By daylight, a North Korean force of 300 to 400 had penetrated to Wich'on-dong and 2nd Battalion's H Company engaged it in close combat. In a grenade and automatic weapons attack, the North Koreans overran the advance positions of the company, the mortar observation post, and the heavy machine gun positions. The North Koreans were apparently attempting to control high ground east of Yongp'o in order to provide protection for the main crossing that was to follow. By 09:00, however, the 2nd Battalion, supported by the 77th Field Artillery Battalion and air strikes, drove the North Koreans troops through Yongp'o and dispersed them.

In the three days from August 10 to 12 the Naktong River had dropped three feet and was only shoulder-deep at many places due to lack of rain. This made any attempt at crossing the river considerably easier. A more determined North Korean crossing of the Naktong in the vicinity of the blown bridge between Tuksong-dong and Yongp'o began early in the morning on August 14. North Korean artillery and tank fire from the west side of the river supported the infantry crossing. A large number of North Korean reinforcements were crossing in barges near the bridge, while under fire from American air strikes and artillery. This attack also stalled, with the deepest North Korean penetration reaching Samuni-dong, 1.5 마일 (2.4 km) beyond the blown bridge. There the combined fire of US light weapons, mortars, and artillery drove them back to the river. By 1200, large groups of North Koreans were trying to recross the river to the west side as American artillery continued hammering them, causing heavy casualties. By nightfall, the 7th Cavalry Regiment had eliminated the North Korean bridgehead at Yongp'o. The 7th Cavalry Regiment estimated that of 1,700 North Korean troops who had succeeded in crossing the river, 1,500 were killed. In its first combat mission, the crossing of the Naktong, the 10th Division suffered 2,500 casualties.

융단폭격

In the mountains northeast of Waegwan and Hill 303, the ROK 1st Division continued to suffer North Korean attacks throughout mid-August. North Korean pressure against the ROK division never ceased for long. Under the command of Brigadier General Paik Sun Yup, this division fought an extremely bloody defense of the mountain approaches to Taegu. US planners believed the main North Korean attack would come from the west, and so it massed its forces to the west of Taegu. It mistakenly believed up to 40,000 North Korean troops were near Taegu. This number was above the actual troop numbers for North Korea, which had only 70,000 men along the entire perimeter.

US Air Force bombers drop heavy ordnance near Waegwan.

On August 14, General MacArthur ordered Lieutenant General George E. Stratemeyer to conduct carpet bombing of a 27-제곱마일 (70 km²) rectangular area on the west side of the Naktong River opposite the ROK 1st Division. Intelligence estimates placed the greatest concentration of enemy troops in this area, with some estimates being as high as four enemy divisions and several armored regiments. All up, 40,000 men were reportedly using the area to stage their attack on Taegu. Stratemeyer did not think his aircraft could successfully carpet bomb an area larger than 3 마일 (4.8 km) square but he complied with MacArthur's order anyway. At 11:58, August 16, bombers from 10,000 피트 (3,000 m) dropped approximately 960 tons of 500- and 1,000-pound bombs on the area. The attack had required the entire the FEAF bombing component, and they had dropped 3,084 500 파운드 (230 kg) bombs and 150 1,000 파운드 (450 kg) bombs. This comprised the largest Air Force operation since the Battle of Normandy in World War II.

Walker reported to MacArthur the next day that the damage done to the North Koreans by the bombing could not be evaluated because of smoke and dust, and ground forces were unable to reach the area because of North Korean fire. Information obtained later from North Korean prisoners revealed the enemy divisions the Far East Command thought to be still west of the Naktong had already crossed to the east side and were not in the bombed area. No evidence was found that the bombing killed a single North Korean soldier. However, the bombing appeared to have destroyed a significant number of North Korean artillery batteries, as artillery fire on UN positions waned substantially following the mission. The UN ground and air commanders opposed future massive carpet bombing attacks against enemy tactical troops unless there was precise information on an enemy concentration and the situation was critical. Instead, they recommended fighter-bombers and dive bombers would better support ground forces. They subsequently canceled a second bombing of an area east of the Naktong, scheduled for August 19.