Inch’on 1950
|
Publisher and Title | Campaign 162, Inch’on 1950, The last great amphibious assault, by Gordon L Rottman, illustrated by Peter Dennis, Osprey Publishing Ltd |
ISBN: | 1-8476-961-4 |
Media and Contents: | 96 pages |
Price: | US Price: $18.95, UK Price: £13.99, available online from Osprey Publishing |
Review Type: | First Read |
Advantages: | Good coverage of history; supported by tables, photos and artwork; |
Disadvantages: | |
Recommendation: | Recommended |
FirstRead
The
Korean War opened with a surprise attack by North Korea across the
38th Parallel, the border between the two Koreas. Seoul, South
Korea’s capital, was only a few miles south of the border and fell
in three days. South Korean forces were heavily outnumbered and
poorly equipped so were driven steadily south. The UN authorised
action, and US and Commonwealth forces were rapidly committed by
unfortunately the US Army and Marines had suffered badly from “peace
dividend” thinking and were very low in combat strength. The nearest
US units, in Japan, had only light tanks and almost no recent
training but were rushed to Korea only to be swept away and forced
back to a perimeter at Pusan in the southwest.
McArthur, having commanded US
forces in much of the Pacific during World War 2, was still in Japan
as commander of the South East Asia area and was of course in
command of the efforts to save South Korea. Unfortunately some of
his subordinate commanders were not exactly up to speed in combat
command, and some really stupid operations were considered. McArthur
was aware that a Pentagon contingency plan had been completed only a
few weeks before the North Korean attack, envisaging a counterattack
against just such an invasion by landing amphibious forces at
Inch’on, Seoul’s port city. He decided to use it and efforts began
to pull the needed units together. This was no easy task, since US
Army and Marine divisions needed massive reinforcement to bring them
up to combat readiness.
Nevertheless the assault went in at Inch’on on 15 September 1950 and
was successful. North Korean forces in the area had been gutted by
the continual drain of men sent south to the Pusan fighting, and had
never expected the Inch’on attack so were not prepared. After
Inch’on had been secured the attack continued toward Seoul with some
heavier fighting on the way, but the city was liberated only 14 days
after the Inch’on landings.
This book gives a very good view of the campaign, from the initial
North Korean attack through the hasty rebuilding of US units to the
assault landing, the ensuing battles and the final clearing of
Seoul. A good selection of photographs shows the infantry and also
the Pershing tanks and the amtracs used, as well as knocked-out
North Korean T-34s, the colour plates are very good, and there are
maps and birds’-eye-views to let readers see exactly what was going
on where and when.
Recommended to all who want to know more about the Korean War than
they got from M.A.S.H,
John Prigent
Thanks to Osprey Publishing for the review sample