struggling with some of this... But one step at a time,
I've begun on some Japanese Airfields, and had a question about the strange blackness I can occasionaly see in the distant horizon, and how to fix that? It seems to be much worse when I have a camera at high altitude. I can start another thread if (FF, or the Admin) would like me to not post here.
THE KOREAN WAR - THE OUTBREAK!
Why this Map is so Interesting
(This is me rambling about why the begining of the Korean War is so interesting)
I'm piddling with the idea of making a Early Korean War version of your map. From June 25 1950 to Mid October 1950. Basicly from the begining of the conflict right up until the point where the Chinese came in the war in overwhelming numbers.
It would include two of the most exciting campaigns in the war, that being the Pusan Perimeter, and the Inchon Invasion.
You have to keep in mind at the time of the North Korean Invasion of South Korea the US only had a couple hundred men in Korea. The whole of the 8th US Army was spread out over the Japanese Islands, and the Philipines. The newly formed CIA and Mac'A (El Supremo's) G2 Maj. Gen. Charles Willoughby we were Completely Suprized by the North Korean Invasion in the summer of 1950, and again as the Chinese poured over the boarder in winter of 1950.
After the surrender of Japan MacArthur, as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers selected Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge as commander of United States Army Forces in Korea (USAFIK). In 1948 the President of South Korea, Syngman Rhee asked USAFIK for a military mission to aid in the building of his national defense forces in South Korea. This mission became the United Staes Military Advisory Group to the Republic of Korea (KMAG), which included 472 soldiers.
The Story goes that the Joint Chiefs were afraid to give the South Koreans heavy Artillery, Tanks, and an Air Force because they believed they would use such to Invade North Korea.
Add that to the fact that the Joint Chiefs under Harry Truman said they were going to [
i]"Cut Military Spending to the Bone, and then Cut Some More"[/i] They Did. For example, When the Marine Corps was given its orders by the president, they had to activate all of their active and reserve forces and were still unable to form a full Division, and instead became the 1st Marine Brigade.
When the North Koreans Invaded their army was well trained, equiped, and diciplined by the Russians, (Ooo0 Oleg you'se guys get to be the Bad Guys in this Campaign! :wink: ) The South Koreans were not. To be honest nor was the 8th Army, so much so that when they began to move these troops into Pusan they sent oversized Regiments with the thought that poorly trained troops were going to take heavy losses.
As the NK Reds took Seoul and continued southward lead elements of the 8th Army - 24th Infantry Division (including the ill-fated Task Force Smith), were virtually destroyed between Osan and Taejon, General Walker leader of the 8th Army realized his assigned mission was impossible and went over to the defensive around the deep water port of Pusan. The alternative was being pushed into the sea.
General Walker held the Pusan Perimeter and used the Marines as his Fire Brigade, moving them where ever the army was getting hit the hardest in the Parimeter. It's been noted that General Walker said that the 1st Marine Brigade kept the battered 8th Army from being pushed into the Sea.
The bitter weeks of retreat and death would soon change, however, with MacArthur's "Hammer against the Anvil". He pulled the 1st Marine Brigade from Pusan (much to Walkers protest!) reinforced the Marines, making them the 1st Marine Division, and sailed them around the tip of the Korean Pennensula to invade the port of Inchon, which was very close to Seoul. This was very dangerous as the Navy would have to sail through the Flying Fish Channel to reach Inchon, and the Channel had wicked tides that time of year that only allowed the Navy two hours or so to get through the Channel. There was no room for error. The plan was for the Marines to take Inchon, then Seoul, then cut across the Penninsula to Wonson. At the same time Walker's 8th Army would break out of Pusan and push north. MacAuthor was trying to trap the North Korean Peoples Army between the 1st Marine Division, and the 8th Army and destroy it.
The invasion was a sucess! The breakout from the Pusan Perimeter coupled with the landing at Inchon seemed to turn the tide of the war. The NK army was in full retreat, and some what trapped, the UN forces at this time had complete Air, and Naval superiority.....
However as they UN advanced into North Korea and took P'yongyang, the NK Capitol, they had no idea that over 600,000 Red Chinese forces (way more than we had in Korea atm) were waiting for the allied forced to spread thin before they attempted to carry out their orders of destroying the UN forces.
But thats another Map..... I mean story.
