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
Date 27 November – 13 December 1950 Location Chosin Reservoir, in present day Changjin County, South Hamgyong Province, North Korea Result See Aftermath section Territorial changes Chinese forces recover northeastern North Korea; UN forces withdraw.
Belligerents
United Nations (UNC)  United States  South Korea  United Kingdom	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 (17 November – 13 December 1950) was an important battle in the Korean War.

United Nations Command, led by the United States, occupied North Korea, after their attack on South Korea. China entered the war after issuing several warnings to the United Nations. China attacked United Nations Command, forcing their retreat. The result was a stalemate, with an Armistice, dividing Korea at the 38th parallel.

Background

North Korea invaded South Korea across the 38th parallel and occupied most of South Korea. The South Korean Army retreated to Busan. The United Nations army intervened and landed at Incheon, capturing Seoul, The United Nations occupy North Korea, approaching the border with China, the Yalu river.

Chinese forces infiltrated into North Korea, hiding. Mao Zedong decided to attack United Nations forces in the Second Phase Offensive.

Terrain

The Korean peninsula has a mountain range, the Taebaek Mountains, in the middle dividing the east from the west. The Chosin reservoir, was a man-made lake, in hilly terrain, in the north-east. A road connects the reservoir to the south-east to the port city of Hungnam.

Notes

Images for kids

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  Map of UN advances toward the Yalu River

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  Map depicting the battle

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  Song Shilun (middle), commander of the People's Volunteer Army 9th Army at Chosin Reservoir

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  Soldiers from the Chinese 79th Division moving to engage the Marines at Yudam-ni

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  Marines engaging the Chinese

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  Lieutenant Colonel Don Carlos Faith, Jr.

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  Chinese troops assaulting Task Force Faith's position at Sinhung-ni.

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  Marines watch F4U Corsairs drop napalm on Chinese positions.

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  A Direct Air Support Center at Hagaru-ri

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  Wounded Marine being evacuated by a HO3S-1 helicopter from VMO-6

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  Map of the Retreat from the Changjin (Chosin) Reservoir

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  Aerial view of the Funchilin Pass, with a close-up of the blown bridge

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  The high-speed transport USS Begor observes the destruction of Hungnam's port facilities on 24 December.

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  The heavy cruiser USS Saint Paul fires her 8-inch (203-mm) guns at Chinese troops threatening the evacuation.

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  The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific where many of the UN war dead, which were exchanged under Operation Glory, are buried.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla del embalse de Chosin para niños