What did an average village in Korea look like?
Your standard huts would work. Remebering
that most of Seoul was made out of wood, most village dwellings probably
were too. I've also seen some pictures white walled buildings of
clay/mud/adobe/ looking stuff topped with oriental shingles. I suggest
digging books for old photos at your library.
Did the GIs/UN contingents weaponry improve much from WWII?
The short answer no. The most notable improvement
was the M20 3.5 inch bazooka, the WWII vintage ones lacked the power to
stop a T-34. The 3.5 incher was first used in July of 1950. Other improvements
included the M2 Full Auto Carbine, Infrared Scopes, a much portable .30
Cal MG, and efficient napalm.
As the war went on use of captured 7.62mm PPsh "Burp
Guns" were more rampant than the use of the MP40 by GIs during WWII.
Perhaps the most frequently used enemy weapon in the US Army since the
Grant equipped his army with stolen Enfields in the Civil War!. The
majority of the UN forces used US weaponry with the notable exception of
commonwealth forces who used British equipment.
What weapons did the Communist Forces use?
Mostly WWII Soviet equipment and Japanese
weapons captured by the Chinese or Soviets. As the war progressed US and
even British stuff taken by the nationalists showed up in Chinese hands.
The Chinese at Chosin Reservoir were almost solely armed with the Thompson
SMG and the heavy use of this weapon by the Chinese continued right up
to Pork Chop Hill. The Chinese answered the BAR with the Russian 7.62mm
Tokarev and also found use for their 120mm mortars.
When were Chinese Forces first encountered?
The Chinese did not attack
when the Allies reach the Yalu. Contact had occured much earlier on October
25th, 1950 during which the 6th ROK captured a Chinese soldier North of
Unsan. He informed his captors of the fact that their were 20,000 Chinese
in Korea at that point.
What were the best units of the ROK the 3rd Rok and the 1st Rok divisions.not givien motorization
Where there any Special forces involved in the War or was it mainly
GIs and the Marines?
Yes paratroopers, rangers, and other
elite units were involved. As the war progressed more and more the ROK's
formed elite units of veteran soldiers . The North Koreans had "Naval Amphibious
Troops"(marines) and even a motorcycle regiment. The elite of the Chinese
units would be those rare few "cadres" who had fought in the Chinese Civil
War on the communist side. These individuals would've been the most indoctrinated
and skilled. Information on British commandos can be found here:
http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/41RMCpub.htm
Is it true that in some cases the first wave of communist troops where
not armed?
Take the following quote form http://rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/riflejap.htm
"Throughout the KW, most Chinese were armed only with grenades.
They were then free to carry ammo and supplies, a vital need in a primarily
infantry army which used rapid and concealed movement as a major weapon.
The CCF were veterans, very experienced in identifying enemy weak
points, and stealthily approaching them at night, undetected. Then,
to a wild cacophony of bugles and whistles, assault platoons armed with
grenades, accompanied by other platoons armed with submachine guns, attacked
with great violence and effectiveness at close range. A Chinese regiment
of 3,000 men in the KW typically had only 1,000 to 1400 weapons of all
types."
What where the UN forces like?
16 nations sent combat forces and 8
more sent medical personnel. Information is sketchy however; most of the
UN contingents can be considered elite. One of most notable action of these
troops where the British Glousceters stand at Imjin River. Thai troops
distinguished themselves in holding what would later be called "Pork Chop
Hill" before being rotated out. The Turks and Ethiopians with there long
knives where well known for night raids on enemy positions and slitting
the throats of the sleeping enemy. Ethiopian troops in a news reel of a
parade wore large sun helmets and a khaki(?) colored uniforms reminding
me of WWI British uniforms.
More Info can be found here:
http://www.korean-war.com/
http://home.earthlink.net/~woll/Bills-Page.htm
Information on Turkish Brigade can be found at: http://www.historynet.com/MilitaryHistory/articles/1997/1297_cover.htm
Where there any Paratrooper operations or helicopter ops?
Helicopters were a new thing in this war they
carried wounded and supplies. The marines tried some expieriments in using
them. The most notable paradrop of the war was conducted by the 187th regiment
of the 11th Airborne Div. They dropped in an area just north of Pyonyang.
As I understand it the mission was carried out in order to secure a train
thought to contain POWs. Less than 40 were found but; these men fealt
lucky not to be among the groups of slaughtered POWs the 187th also found.
Where there any tank battles?
Not in the since of a "tank battle" though
individual tanks occasionally met each other. Always Allied forces were
victorius, not US Tank was knocked out by any North Korean one. 180 Soviet
built T-34s where used by North Koreans in the initial thrust south. They
were invincible to the weak AT weapons of the ROK. However the new 3.5
inch Bazooka and allied ingenuity had killed most before allied tank units
could arrive to clash with them. Eventually as the communist armor dwindled;
tanks commonly used WW1-style: individual tanks supporting the infantry.
In the rapidly moving Allied force many allied nations
also found use for them. The principle US tanks in the theater were the
M-26 Pershing and the older Sherman IV. The Pentagon held a belief similar
to the one they would later hold in Vietnam; this was a war were tanks
were not needed. The Pentagon preferred to keep it's armor ready for action
in Europe.
How about urban battles?
The battle of Seoul was an urban slugfest all along the barricaded avenues
if the city. A typical barricade was made of dirt bags and defended by
Anti-tank rifles and MGs. Other North Koreans took up sniper posistions
in buildings around the barricade. Finnally mines were placed in
front of the posistion. When a posistion appeared to be lost, the North
Korean soldiers would launch a desperate suicide charge instead of surrendering.
Seoul exchanged hands four times in the war but; the first recapture by
Allied forces was the most destructive for the city. Infact, 65%
of the mostly wooden city was destroyed. Thousands of civilians died along
with scores of marines. As US forces closed in the mass graves of
resisting southerners were found; a gruesome example of the North Koreans
determination to hold the "Capitol of the Republic of Korea". Sources are
conflicting on how many defenders the North Koreans had in the city one
source states 20,000 North Koreans and in the next page speaks confidently
of how the Marines captured 130,000 prisoners!
Was the seizure of Port Inchon the only Amphibious maneuver of the war?
No, much smaller operations raid like operations
often involving elite forces were attempted up and down the coast. An Amphibious
landing at Wosan was planned by MacArthur but; the port proved to heavily
mined for the operation to go through. The Marinces were sent back. Then
the port was thought safe again and they were finally sent for another
try. This was despite the fact that the port could've easily been captured
by ground units, MacArthur wanted the Marines to be used. The landings
on October 26th were a symbolic action.
What would a hilltop battle be like?
The hill fighting action first occurred around
Pusan but; occurred more intensely along the 38th parallel toward the end
of the war. Here the US also pursued a method of dominating the No-Man's
land like the British had in WW1. Other notable hill battles include the
Marine efforts to clear the heights along the Retreat route during the
Chosin/Chanjin Reservoir. Often the US army would choose a position other
than the military crest of the hill to use as a trenchline, fearing the
military crest was to far from the peak and it's observation advantages.
Undersiege, the US would often use a curtain barrage to keep the attacking
force from bringing in reinforcements. The Korean War "policeman" also
improvised booby-traps and launched patrols to insure gaps in the line
were monitored.
The defenses in Korea where desperate, Artillery
Crew, AA gun crews, cooks, etc were often made into infantry in an effort
plug gaps in the line. Recon Companies could spearheaded majot counterassualts
supported by Engineers fighting as infantry. Yet, men fought on and the
names of many ridges like "Pork Chop Hill" "Million Dollar"or "No-Name"
became infamous.
Naval or Air Battles of the war?
After the destruction of four PT boats early
on the North Korean "Navy" was limited to Mine warfare. The Allies had
almost constant control of the seas. In the Air combat was more sinister.
Initially the North Koreans had a large force of 180 Soviet made
fighter-bombers at the start of the war. I suggest Mitchner's The Bridges
at Toko-Ri, a great novel of a navy airmen in Korea. The Soviets choose
to use the war as a debut for the MiG-15 complete in some cases with secret
Russian pilots speaking Chinese in radio transmissions as too hide their
presence from the enemy. The Americans responded to this new invention
with the F-86 Sabre; a superior fighter craft.
Air power played a great role in determining the
out come of the war; it's beleaved that the N.Korean siege of Pusan Perimeter
would've collapsed eventually due to the constant bombardment of NK supply
lines by US forces. Napalm strikes and bombardment was nearly always available
for US forces. So effective were they that some North Korean units were
instructed to use 50% of their weapons against aircraft strikes in a vain
effort to discourage them with small arms.
What where the major Campaigns of the Korean War?
Checkout this page for a brief outline:
http://www.theforgottenvictory.org/tencamps.htm
Other Notes of Wargamming
*Bug Outs: The green troops who first arrived in Korea had enjoyed
a relatively comfortable service
in Japan. Thus for those wargamming the Pusan Perimeter consider using
a lower morale level than what would normally apply to regular troops.
Also Bug-Out Roads were often pre-determined by the GIs. Thus units failing
morale should all make their way to the same location.
* Often orphaned childern were taken in by GI units and fed. Some children
were fitted in US clothes and helmets. These kids often became something
of a unit's mascots. I'll never forget an image of three Korean kids enjoying
a cowboy adventure comic book.