Bucha, Ukraine - 27 Feb 2022 - 15mm
70th Anniversary - Chosin Reservoir - Korean War
Today the Sitrep Podcast is taking a special trip into the Korean War. Late November and early December marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, one of the most desperate and blood-soaked episodes in the Korean War.
Although primarily remembered as a battle of the United States Marine Corps – US Army, US Navy, and even British Royal Marine Commando units were also involved.
It was one such engagement at the “Frozen Chosin” we’ll be looking at today (precise 70th anniversary, 29 November 1950), where a British / US Army / US Marine force called “Task Force Drysdale” makes a resolute push up “Hell Fire Valley” in a heroic attempt to reinforce the desperately-threatened evacuation point at Hagaru-ri.
This was a vital chokepoint the Allies had hold if any of the Marines were to leave the Chosin Reservoir alive, a chokepoint already outnumbered 20-1 and threatened on all four sides by four Chinese divisions … … will these “Chosin Few” survive today’s game?
Map for the game, showing about 3 x 5 km of "Hell Fire Valley" leading from SSE to NNW.
USMC units, I'll be taking out some of those Corsairs ... not sure how many yet. But the 1950 rifle platoons and M26 Pershings are ready to go.
US Army troops and (believe it or not) Royal Marine Commandos were also involved in the November 29 1950 battle up this highway. In fact, Lt.Colonel Drysdale was in overall command of this task force.
Can't have the Battle of Chosin Reservoir without Chinese... LOTS of Chinese. Estimates of total troops involved at Chosin range from 60,000 to 120,000. Smart money is around 80,000 ... against just 4,000 or so US Marines.
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