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Battle of Chuam-ni

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Battle of Chuam-ni
Part of the Korean War
Date 14–17 February 1951 Location Chuam-ni, South Korea Result UN victory
Belligerents
United Nations  United States  Australia  United Kingdom  Canada  South Korea New Zealand Field Battery	China
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
114 killed 98 wounded 4 killed 16 wounded	unknown

The Battle of Chuam-ni was fought between 14–17 February 1951, at Chuam-ni, South Korea, as part of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) Third Offensive towards Wonju during the Korean War. The battle was for control of the supply line Route 24.^[1]

Due to insufficient strength in troop numbers, a gap of about 12 miles (19 km) between the US 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment and the 23rd Regimental Combat Team. The PVA having become aware of the gap, prepared to exploit the gap in its offensive on Wongju. On 12 February 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment manning positions upon Hill 444 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Chip'yong-ni were attacked by two PVA battalions and was withdrawn to positions northwest of Wonju. During the morning of the 13 February, air observers noted PVA troop movements towards the gap toward the US 2nd Infantry Division's 2nd Reconnaissance Company east of Chuam-ni.^[1]

The 2nd Reconnaissance Company having been sent out to patrol Route 24 in the gap in the defensive line around Wongju, were reinforced with L Company, 9th Infantry Regiment at 12:00 on 13 February. Almost immediately they were attacked by PVA from the northeast, which was repulsed. The PVA then tried to encircle the two companies bringing about the withdrawal of the companies to a blocking position on Route 24 at Chuam-ni.^[1]

On 14 February at 05:00, the PVA, consisting of a regiment of the 116th Division of the 39th Army, launched an attack against the 2nd Reconnaissance Company and L Company, 9th Infantry at Chuam-ni. Suffering large casualties, the two companies withdrew south along Route 24. Having been surrounded, the companies fought a fighting withdrawal suffering further casualties. The total casualties suffered by the 2nd Reconnaissance Company and L Company, 9th Infantry were 114 killed and 98 wounded. PVA casualties were also heavy.^[1]: 288 The result of the withdrawal was that the 23rd Regiment was cut off and the isolated Regiment would then fight the Battle of Chipyong-ni.^{[1]: 285–7}

The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade, consisting of the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the 60th Indian Field Ambulance, and the 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery, were ordered to open Route 24 to the 23rd Regimental Combat Team and cover the gap in the defenses. Meeting the remnants of the 2nd Reconnaissance Company and L Company, 9th Infantry 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Chuam-ni and while pushing north slowly through PVA blocking the route.^[1]: 290

Moving slowly north along Route 24, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade heading towards Chip'yong-ni, were initially held up by a battalion sized force on 15 February, however on 16 February, the PVA had withdrawn and Chuam-ni was occupied on 17 February.^[1]: 291

2nd Reconnaissance and L companies suffered 212 casualties, of which 114 were deaths.^[1] While PVA losses at Chuam-ni are unknown, Mossman gives an aggregate tally of 648 confirmed deaths and an estimate of additional casualties at 3200 killed and 2500 wounded which the Chinese suffered across the battles of Chip'yong-ni, Chuam-ni and Wonju from the 13th to the 14th.^[1]

• Pears, Maurie (2007). Battlefield Korea: The Korean Battle Honours of the Royal Australian Regiment, 1950–1953. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 9780980379600.

• Battlegroup Korea - Chuam-ni