A Study on the Counterattack Operation of Task Force Kean, which defended the Nakdong River during the Korean War (6·25전쟁 낙동강 방어 시 킨 특수임무부대(Task Force Kean)의 역습 작전에 관한 고찰)

Kang Ji-Hyeon (강지현)

doi:10.29212/mh.2022..125.1

A Study on the Counterattack Operation of Task Force Kean, which defended the Nakdong River during the Korean War

military history
2022, (125), pp.1-46
DOI : 10.29212/mh.2022..125.1
Publisher : Military History Institute, MND
Research Area : Humanities > History
Received : July 6, 2022
Accepted : November 25, 2022
Published : December 15, 2022

Kang Ji-Hyeon ¹

¹국방대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes the counterattack operation of the Task Force Kean, which was conducted from August 5 to August 13 during the Nakdong River defense operation in 1950. The operation of the Task Force Kean is of great significance as the first division-level counterattack operation in the delayed operation that continued in the early stages of the Korean War. However, despite its strong combat capability of up to 23,000 people, it failed to achieve its goal in counterattack operations against about 7,500 North Korean troops. Existing studies briefly deal with the progress of the operation, and focus only on some of the achievements obtained as a result of the operation. Therefore, this study focuses on the appearance of the unit formation, operation preparation process, and operation implementation process to analyze the lessons of the Task Force Kean operation. To this end, regular operational reports, war journals, and command reports of the 25th U.S. Infantry Division during the Korean War will be used intensively. Task Force Kean had strong combat capabilities, but due to the fierce front situation, each unit was formed without sufficient consideration of enemies and operational terrain, and lacked time to prepare for operations such as rehearsal and preliminary reconnaissance. The stability of the rear area was not guaranteed because the North Korean military's threat that penetrated during the operation was not removed, and as a result, the advance of the offensive unit was delayed and the offensive momentum was not maintained. In addition, due to the lack of command capabilities of some commanders during the operation process, the operation of Task Force Kean eventually failed to achieve its purpose.

KEYWORDS

Task Force Kean, Counterattack Operations, U.S. 25th Infantry Division, U.S. 1st Marine Brigade, U.S. 5th Regiment Combat Team

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

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military history 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.94

A Study on the Counterattack Operation of Task Force Kean, which defended the Nakdong River during the Korean War

ABSTRACT

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* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

military history 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.94

A Study on the Counterattack Operation of Task Force Kean, which defended the Nakdong River during the Korean War

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

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