Korean War III.

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Continuing with links to the You Tube video the topic the Korean War:

"Korean War - PART 6, The First Weeks (June, July 1950"

"In the first few weeks of the North Korean attack of June 1950, the USA changes its defense policy in East Asia to include defending South Korea and Taiwan from attack."

* The American Seventh Fleet interposing in the Formosa [Taiwan] Strait between Red China and Taiwan. [protection of the Nationalist government on Formosa guaranteed with conditions].

* South Korean army units [more of a constabulary force as that term understood] understandably not able to withstand massed formations of advancing T-34 tanks. Retreat and regroup the only option and this done repeatedly. Often retreat in a routed and disorganized manner. This again somewhat understandably so.

* The Soviet delegation as part and parcel of the United Nations Security Council boycotting all proceedings totally absent from UN deliberations to send a UN combat force to Korea in response to the North Korean invasion.

"Korean War - PART 7, The First Weeks (June, July 1950"

"In this episode is a detailed description of the USA's first land battle involving Task Force [TF]  Smith, and the ill-preparedness of US soldiers who thought they were in Korea to just make a show of force."

* Task Force Smith [as commanded by Lt. Colonel Smith] an under strength and ill-prepared unit. A task force as designated normally consisting of a full-strength infantry battalion reinforced. Smith having under his command two companies of infantry not even fully manned and a single battery of artillery [six guns].

* Strange that the effectiveness of the Soviet T-34 tank not anticipated. T-34 more or less impervious to American anti-tank weaponry.

* None of the military planners in Washington working under emergency conditions actually thought TF Smith would have to do battle with the North Koreans. TF Smith merely would set up a blocking-position beyond the North Korean would not dare move further south. This of course was not to be!

* The North Korean army a mix of regular conventional ground units and guerrilla combatants. Teams [four-man] in civilian dress infiltrating south with columns of refugees. Each man of the team armed with dagger, pistol, hand grenades concealed on their person. Fight during hours of darkness, taking advantage of a situation to attack American units when possible.

"Korean War - PART 8, Summer of 1950"

"This episode outlines the great expansion of the US defense budget in response to a new US policy outlined in NSC-68; an expansion that made defense expenditures amount to about 20% of US GDP"

* Conscription for military service becoming an aspect of American life for over two decades as a result of Korea.

* American defense spending as a percentage of the federal budget increases markedly.

"Korean War - PART 9, July, August 1950"

"This episode details the fighting around the Naktong River, west of Taegu and the Pusan perimeter."

* Read here of the spontaneous and ad hoc codebreaker unit able to provide extremely vital real-time intelligence to UNC forces as besieged during the fighting in and around the Pusan Perimeter.

"Korean War - PART 10, Pre-Incheon (August 1950"

"UN forces enjoy almost complete air superiority, and the bombing campaign begins. The Naktong River battles continue, with the NKPA pushing UN forces further into a tighter perimeter east of the Naktong and south of Pohang."

* Air superiority continuing until the arrival of Soviet piloted MiG-15. Relentless B-29 saturation bombing of North Korea continuing until early 1951 and the events that became known as "Black Thursday". Soviet MiG-15 jet fighter proven to be superior to the American counter-part at that stage of the war.

* Contingency plans were drawn for a Dunkirk-type reverse amphibious operation if the situation in the Pusan perimeter became too acute.

More to follow!

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