Battle of Chosin Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Chosin Reservoir |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Korean War | |||||||||
 A column of the US 1st Marine Division moves through Chinese lines during its breakout from the Chosin Reservoir |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
|
|
 China North Korea |
||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Douglas MacArthur Edward Almond Oliver P. Smith |
Peng Dehuai Song Shilun |
||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
| see Battle of Chosin Reservoir order of battle | See Battle of Chosin Reservoir order of battle | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Nominal: 103,520 Committed: ~30,000 |
Nominal: 150,000 Committed: ~120,000 |
||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| US sources: 1,029 killed 4,894 missing 4,582 wounded 7,338 non-battle casualties 15 tank losses 17,843 total Chinese estimation: 13,900 |
Chinese sources: 19,202 battle casualties 28,954 non-battle casualties 48,156 total Unofficial estimations: ~60,000 UN estimation: 29,800 battle casualties 20,000+ non-battle casualties |
||||||||
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir was a very important battle during the Korean War. It took place from November 27 to December 13, 1950.
The United Nations Command (UNC), led by the United States, had moved into North Korea. This happened after North Korea attacked South Korea. However, China then joined the war. China had warned the United Nations not to get too close to its border.
Chinese forces attacked the United Nations Command. This forced the UN troops to retreat. The battle ended in a difficult situation for both sides. Eventually, an Armistice (a peace agreement) was signed. This agreement divided Korea at the 38th parallel, which is still the border today.
Why the Battle Happened
The Korean War started when North Korea invaded South Korea. They quickly took over most of the country. The South Korean army had to retreat to a city called Busan.
The United Nations army then stepped in. They landed at Incheon and took back Seoul. After this, the United Nations forces moved into North Korea. They were getting very close to the Yalu River, which is the border with China.
China saw this as a threat to its own country. So, Chinese soldiers secretly entered North Korea. They hid in the mountains. China's leader, Mao Zedong, decided to launch a big attack. This attack was called the Second Phase Offensive.
Where the Battle Took Place
The Korean peninsula has a large mountain range. It's called the Taebaek Mountains. These mountains divide the eastern and western parts of the country.
The Chosin Reservoir was a lake made by people. It was in a hilly area in the northeast of North Korea. A road connected the reservoir to the port city of Hungnam in the southeast. This road was very important for moving troops and supplies.
Images for kids
-
Map of UN advances toward the Yalu River
-
Map depicting the battle
-
Song Shilun (middle), commander of the People's Volunteer Army 9th Army at Chosin Reservoir
-
Soldiers from the Chinese 79th Division moving to engage the Marines at Yudam-ni
-
Marines engaging the Chinese
-
Lieutenant Colonel Don Carlos Faith, Jr.
-
Chinese troops assaulting Task Force Faith's position at Sinhung-ni.
-
Marines watch F4U Corsairs drop napalm on Chinese positions.
-
A Direct Air Support Center at Hagaru-ri
-
Wounded Marine being evacuated by a HO3S-1 helicopter from VMO-6
-
Map of the Retreat from the Changjin (Chosin) Reservoir
-
Aerial view of the Funchilin Pass, with a close-up of the blown bridge
-
The high-speed transport USS Begor observes the destruction of Hungnam's port facilities on 24 December.
-
The heavy cruiser USS Saint Paul fires her 8-inch (203-mm) guns at Chinese troops threatening the evacuation.
-
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific where many of the UN war dead, which were exchanged under Operation Glory, are buried.
_Reservoir_penstocks_in_the_Funchilin_Pass,_with_a_close-up_of_the_damaged_bridge.jpg)
_off_Hungnam_December_1950.jpg)
.JPG)
See also
In Spanish: Batalla del embalse de Chosin para niños
