1ST MARINE DIVISION - SPECIAL ACTION REPORT - ANNEX OO 1ST TANK BN - OCTOBER 1950 - DECEMBER 1950
Korean War
Korean War Project Record: USMC-40
CD: 01
United States Marine Corps History Division
Quantico, Virginia
Records: United States Marine Corps
Unit Name: 1st Marine Division
Depository: National Archives and Records Administration
Location: College Park, Maryland
Editor: Hal Barker
Korean War Project
P.O. Box 180190
Dallas, TX 75218-0190 http://www.koreanwar.org DECLASSIFIED Korean War Project USMC-00101468
DE~S~ 1~1r' ,r,m;Ell. 0:30E OOOE ~'0 lS'£ ~Ji?INE DIVISION SPECIAL ACTION !'\lil'ORT 1at Tank Battalion . In .~rbo · Fiol.cl. . lo ·Jan\IIU'Y .l95l., From1 Commano1ng Otf1oor . To: Commanding GGn0ra1, =,l~•t· Marine D1y1·~1.on. . . ' ' . Sub.J:· Special ~ot1on·Rop~rt. tor l'Or1ocl'.• ;.· ... 8 october·liHiO - lb DGcembar 1960;. both. 1.• dates 1no1us1 VCl :. .... ~ · Ref: (a) D1 vision. Gonc'ral .. Or-der No·, '16. at ... '.~ , ·,. 20 Oct 1950 . . .. . (b) i>ddendum No. 1 .to Divicion G;,n·oro1 Order No. 16 of· 24 Oct .1950. . .·· ::·· ( 0) Paragr.~ph:l140l, ~inrino Co.rpe /o!llnUaJ. ::. ( cl) D1 vision l!omorandum No.- 246-60 Qf ·'. ,, 26 Dec 1950 · ...... : : : · . .- ... (c) Jlppondix 1 1 l\Gport of Sor-v1oo Co.'!'.-· ... , .. pany, lot Tank 3attc~ion (f) Appendix 2 1 Ropor.t. of Commun1o~.t1,Qn • · Section, let Tank ·aattaJ.lon · ,.. ..
(g) Appendix 3 1 let ·.Tank !JattaJ.ion Opl)() : l-60 of 10 Oct 1950 · · · · ... (h) Appandi¥ 4 1 let '£ant i3attRl~.o.P .. fi.Pn.. O: 2-50 Of 1? Oat 1950 .. '
(i) App(l)1dlX 0 1 1St ·~&nk .Battalion Oplj!O 3-50 of 23 Nov 1-900 . . l. DlTRODUCTION
; '!he purpPe~ o! thie r~p.ort is to record ··the activities of tho 1st Tank Batta~ion in the WNbAN ., !IJOOIUNG - C!JO~IN l\oservo1r Operation. RGoommon¢lations .b.~at th~so rocommendations may. ·bonotl t. ~.arine. Tank BattR11ona on futuro opcrationsi
. 'I'hG 1st 'i'Rilk Batt_Allon 1i&S a.asign.l!i4 the · dual mission of furniabing tanlt.support to in fantry rGgimonta and·,prov1ding tank!' for tno ant1-mcchan1Zed dof~neo at tno division zono.
llio let Tank Butt1:.U.o~ 1q r...n organie sepa rate battr~ion ot tho 1st ~.ar1ne Division, Re inforced. It is orge.Q.i:Z.od in fl.ooorda.noq with Tlo K~-·1238 -·,.lar and consists oi' a Headquarters Company 1 a sorviou company 1 apd ,four Uno tank corupan1 oa - ,,, :a, C, and D. It 1 s pr1 ncipal equipment 1e 70. l••-26 tanks, 12 loi4h3 >"al)lt .D:lzors 1 9 ~.4.it3 Tanka W/POA Fl~mo ~rowora, .1 M4A3 ComfD unicatlon Tank, .Rnd 5 M32D3 tank RoJocov\!:iry .. Ve hicles. In lldd1 ti~n to this nggrogato of 97 tr"ok-lll.Y1ng vohlolcB tho lmttP.lion has 74_salt pr0pollod whoolod vchiolcS and 52 trAilers of . vurloua typos.
'lhl3 batt~ion oommandor of tllc ~st THnk Batt&lion 1s a mcmbor·or the SpaciP~ Stnff of tlH:r 1 at Marino D1 vi eion wh'lt'G' he servos ns D1 viSion Tank Ott1cGr,
l
DECLASSIFIED DECLASSIFIED Korean War Project USMC-00101469
. ' D~~i!i'~ • .AN!•1t was 1ndua tr1ouny preparing for thb ·forthcoming epo1•at1on. Two of, tho tMl<: ccmptmios !'!ad j1ist •u•rivo2. 't'ASK ORGAN I Z!JTION Strength let TB.nk Bn , 45 Off ·8B'7 cnl'US!!IC.H. l'. 'MILNE, 2 Off :14 a~l UbN LtCo;L 1 USMC HqCo 15 Off: :t.l9 · Cfll: US.\10 E~ W. . CL~bl1.KE;; 2 Off 6 mil USN Capt, UBi-lOR Burco 9 Uf£ 197 onl WMC P. C. MORELL, , Capt,, USMCR, :eoA 5' O.t·t 153 ~nl USMC G. M. ENGLI'BH, . 2 cnl US!I :·Capt; USMC , 6 Si'f 142, anl USMC B'.F. W!1.LI.IlMS, , 2 onl USN ·.Capt, USMC,, ·CoG· 5 art 13.:3 Gnl iJ.Sl·10 ·It.. }1,. TA~~9R, .. ' . 2 ool USN: Cep t, USMC CoD 5 Off 143 onl USMO L. T. CHASE, 2 anl USN Oap t, US!< OR 3,. PRELil1INll!lY PLJ\NNING· . . :'Tho. swrttness of thG.. cOurse .of avoilts _prior to cmbP.,rkat1 on for t.n.t s :f.:JrthcOming operati"on precluded t;ho issuMco of battalion ,planning sohcdulcs oX"" d1ro·cti1vos, How(!yor, .durlqg· thiS plann!ng phase tho S-3 ostaqu·sqcd Linl.so)'l w1 th "the- -ass nUl. t _regiments. · The :tm.t.t'r.llo·n comwflnder nnd the 8-llly persoriP.l li.l!lison w1 th the division stAff •. , · .. 1st MF>rinc, DiviSion Dpcri.tion ,o'rdcr 16-50,· · iss !led on 10 oct 1950,, ord,er9d "emd1ng•. Moobors of thcso ~·ank Liaison Tonms wc1•e s;;Uloo.'.l.ed in t;heir :functions nnd briefed on tho land1ng.
DECLASSIFIED DECLASSIFIED Korean War Project USMC-00101470
J>1U' was losrncd that the hArbor ·Md tho surrounding watc>r o:t tho landing boacl1.os ..wor.o· ,., hoP.v1ly mined it. was fCl. t that tho be~oh;;e.nd ·. - routes of 'egross :trom the. boaoh m1gb.t .f\l:so· ·bo·, hcavny lllinod •. ·Thoro:!' oro, l. t WAS ,pl.annod .to l.:nd the tanks on oall rather than 1n a·ohedUl.Gd wl;vcs. :iho tank· battalion commander planned to ·ti'MSfor from 'tlio LSD' to the Central control voascl prior to the. landing; an LCVP was arran ged to aocompl1sh th1a trr.no:tor. Jlo would bo. nocompMlod by two :rRdio ·operators with SCR 510 ra.d1o sets. 'i"'ha l'mllt l,1f:ison .l£0!-llllG were · to l>>nd r..nd determine thQ str.tus of tho beaoh rclf<.tiva to minc::s ~·' mEirk olartred lMGS: f\nd radio all information to the tank bat:tHl.1on • o~mmnnder· wh:i would !Wt~·ry tho Centr,.U. Cont:rol V~sol·to ·land ·th~·two.assault tank o:>mpanios on :the ·beaches ·llo designntod•. He woUJ..d~·thOI\ r~66mmond to Ed viSiOn a· timo Of lc.nding and a l6nding boaoh tor th<> romr,J.nlng t1:.rtks 'lllld when directed by Dl.ViSiOil would oxoouto this plllll. . . . During thiS plllllning phase tho lS~ .Tank Be.ttr.Uon was again plaguoll by tho!' moll'-ciXis tenc·o or M-25 tnnk spi\N parts.· 'l't.nJ!:. meohl'llll.os worked around tho oloalt rop,iring t>mlts and overhauling onll. rebuilding accossori.:.s nnd units for which no rcplnoomcnts could boob tained•. ibrough those m.eJ.nt.onP.noe ~!forts,·. 2. M-26 tanks wore round to bo inoperative nnd boyond. our ropRir .capabilities. · CO!Ilbat Servio<> Group furnl.shed.·rop·lRoomcnt te.nks fQr thos.o two and further :t'urn1ah0d 1. M-26 tMk, it ·M4J,3 ·tank · dozer to crq,sa existing tank ehort;-~gos., · 'lhc 3 1<-26 ropl&oo!llont tMKS DGodod considerable muinten~oe wor~ and added t~ tha ~oGmingly impossible tnsk. at'· roi\dying ull ,t1\!Jks to:r an amphibious asS{lUlt. Working up,;to ·t.\le vory mo!llent th>wp, ·tho mechanics oompl:ot>od .their workr.flnd· 11Stod all tnnks as bcl.ngi. ~perat1 vo, · ;,nothcr project wRs r.ooo!llplishod during · ·. this period, thnt of applying d~ep .wnter :ford ing kits to tnnl!:s, Cotll'cnt Service Group .de liv erod the kl ts and .Bnt t:J the' .~>.-26 t1:n1ts. of tho throe· tr.nk.-pl.1tcons ·or: tn<> Jmti-~·,;nk Companies o:f the lst, 6th lllld.... 7th l'iF.rines. '!he immensity ·or this prcJcot m::n; be pnrtilllly vJ.aurCL1Zed .by .. n'l·ting thnt 85 J.l,-26 tonlDECLASSIFIED DECLASSIFIED Korean War Project USMC-00101471
ANNEX OBOE OBOE 'lO 1ST MARINE DIVIlliON SPECIJ\L ACTION REPORT (Cont 1d) Combat Service Group coUld not supply deep water fording kits f<>r the l!emaining 19 M4A3 tanks nor for the remaining 4 M32B3 tank recov ery vehicles. .Also~ AnothJJl" very ·sGrlous short age deiieloped, this ba~lquested air delivery for --the remaining reqU1rt,Jilent, of ··common Ki ta for . 6.4· tanks, ·as wi·thout the mlj.terial.S in the .Com mon Kits the· efforts 1n apPt.Y1ng the deep water fOrding adapters nnd sta·cl W1thst..and- a tcmperaturG pr·-10 degrees:·
i.S. wheeled vehicle water proofing· mRter1als ·beomne·.a:vaURbl:e this ba.ttalion received the ''Order· to· Waterproo:r: 'all: 'WhGClGd. :ND:RWW,.RBilLS .., . - ~} ' ... ~ . There was no time availnble'for training. nor :for a rapeP,rsal prior to this operRtion ·an~ no•ne·Was held. · ·'Ihree or the line tf.lnk compan- . ies moVus assault~ ··, · · · · . : · The ~niy "training Rccompl.1ahed )n .I11ohon was in the nature of ori tiqu~ts · c:f t·.r.nk ·oompRn,y actions and bflttal1on runct1one· in the recent Inchon - SeoUl opGrl'ltion •. ·::The ·bfittall<>n stRf1', .o~m.PtmY commanders; and 'llotiiparil(o1'fioars pRrti- ·,·:· 4
DECLASSIFIED DECLASSIFIED Korean War Project USMC-00101472
DECt.ASSihdl COl:ia ill' which a: sbarin:g o.'f'C'eibes.e. or!.tlq.ue• pr.o;ved .. vary profi tabl"· .to <'-.ll• p.artiolpan ts ann: mt.l<>bi. ·. '! of f.hls· J.r.f~r:nat1:on waP mad<> the .eubjeo';. of:- . . •":·. platoon hold school•· attar ambe.·rl · · · :· .·.
. lifter ·oomplot1on of' .the .Ihohon ~ Sao.t.\1 · operRtion- the .state- of. ·G.l'Rl.n~,ng of· the lst Tnnk Bc;;,ttnli::m· was· VRStly .tr.c;~r·.Jved ovar the stat;G ~.t' treir..ir.·g at tru~. tliu~ of thG -I:u:ilion land!.ng. 'lhr:r gt~:ln3r.~ -~lJ' hr-J.rl .not i'~.r~Jd ·th9.1·r.. ta!lli: guns .pr~.or tJ r.ctuu.1 c::.rnbat no\~~ hR11 the exper1~m~G. :;:;.f. li:H ng me.uy :r•o:ua~.s A.t "'-l:l't'loJ.:.~r on<~my tRrg-Gta. -Thr3!- t;r,r.~t :dt•i vo::'S: whof3 c ,,:~nly : dr1V0l' ·t;ra1·nir.g.had.-bean jn a cl·al3s Rb=:s.r.d.· ship n~w had i,l.r·ivon. owny, m1:1es·· and,. mor.e. 1m-_ po-r·Grm"t, he..d cxpcr~:Gr.oe:·l r.ne.ny h~tr!"A :...:r combat dr1 vl,~g. · Tank 00•1llll'l'tn'd~r"··· tllecr•y t:.,ajn-~d l:)y nec0ss1 ty, -hnd·' rk;.w::tpplicd t.l.u:iir t!"l·e.::ll.. :'.. w. · .1.n RCtual ·f'iGld·Op-Ora.:tf:;n~-J 1:gairtst an. &.mad an~;:~m-.}'. .. And had ..r.aco.u:lred ~C:Jr..~idoncc:t 1.n thl!ir.- h.an:!11-ng . of thiS he&v.tor ta~l<. 'llle loP.dero nnd bo-w gunner.s ".h"nd ~e!'f.J!'lfl~d ·tl.ll?.:i.r.. vi:tRl. ,f!Jri:c.. t.t~.t:u~ :tn the teaouw.k a:t~ell under or,qmy, :fire. 'iti·G: -timk Cl"'eWil ·a-nd: thelt\" t-a.nka~\:ha.d mat .and' de.- ': stf't,ya·d cthe :enemy; ~'-34 :ctul>k.''· :.. t 'l'cad!ncss ~r tl!1a·· t'a't tall,,n. t t ·mu~ t ;bG· not~.l. that t,wo training doflo1 ~n~.1cs still , ex·.~<.ed •.. l'he f1e"d·.. ·or,. be.ttLe .. docis not .pc,mlt SR-~!.s:Ca.ctory .J?rvgrattfl 1 ~. techni c~·:l·· ·trat~~ing.-. . ·. Tank. ur.~·,,s neodctC. Sl"ho:>lir..g ~n, t;.'la. mFny toch.- . ni'JAl. do·1ir4-is o:r th13 tank. -~~g1.noj . tho gun, tho radto,: 'the 1 SUt~:t;;con~i~n-~Y.~t.cm,_._ the ·electrical-.· sys·~e.. ,·:,ind -:lt.4•
5. LOJ•DHW J•ND Dl3i·W JiT!Ol~ · hajo!' IbuglAB E. Habarl1 e wns deS1·gn..ted· Embn!"k.FJ. ttcrl OfJ.'.ioe:r• ~f E.m"!.:m.:riflti :.n- G1~.:::: uu .ai:.i~·s¥. •' anC! ·_was·.·aRS!B·tad J'Jy. ,tl.pp~inteC! :Pmt•P,l"'k:Rt.1~n _,;: .···.:. O!fi cers fr.;m JP.oc>-h ':=:Om!):-:~·~·... - ... f./ .. ,, ·:~~- •, ~
.. ·· ... , ., . •.' . ::. DECLASSIFIIW DECLASSIFIED Korean War Project USMC-00101473
at~1NEli ANNEX OBOE OBOE ID l8T M.hl\INE: DIVISION SPECIAL AC':!.'!ON P.EPOF.T .( Oont' d)
Embarkation Group EASY was commanded ~ CO, 1st TariJ<· Eattalion, and comprised 4 t.SD 1s. whioh transp~rtad tho two· tank oomp~~!es e~~portL~g the two as sault regiments •..'lh,e remaining two tank companies and ·the. hee,c,quar;ter~ company ' tlame thrower tanks WGrG': loa,dOd' 11)'; approximate · platoon a.iza on.LST'a· ot.snbar:k.St!~n Gro,up. BAKER and DOG whioh were transporting assaUlt infantry troops of thG 1st and 7th Marinos. Tho tank battalion's equipment ·and personnel was loaded. aboard .5 L~D=.s, 12 .LST!s, and 3 MA'&. The-losding plans for this battalion were formulated and ottooted as follows: Company A, l•t Tank Battalion, loaded by platoons, on 4 LBT' s of Eanbarkation Group JX:G. Company headquarters personnel embarked on .an LSD_ of Embarkation Group EhSY. Company B, 1st Tank Battalion, loaded by platoons. on 4 LST' s at Embarkation Group BilKER. Company noadq1.1arters personnol em barked on an LSD ot Embarkation Group EASY. Company C, 1St Tank Batta:ti:m, loaded two pla~oona, vne. scotion, and headqu~rters pla toon lees two tank dozers in LBU 1s and em~arkod in 2 LSD' s of Embarkation Group EASY. ~e re maining ta~~. section and two ta~k ~ozera loaded on an LST. Company D, lBt Tank BattAlion, loaded in·. ·tBU 1s a."'ld. embarked in 2 LSD's o'! Elnbark:it!on · Group EASY and in 1 LSD ot Embarkation Group DOG.
lbe Flame ~ank Platoon was loaded· by. sec tiona in LST' a ~f Embar-kation Gr-~upa BAKER, and JX:G. Service Oompsny 1s·wheeled vehicles wore distributsd on 5 LST's of . .Elzlbarkation Grvu.pa BilKER and IOG. 6orvi oe . Company personnel em barked on an t.B.D ot Embarkation. Group EASY.
l!eadquar.ters COmpany per.soMOl an~ J;ne let Tank Battalion :ccmofland Poat.embarked on an LSD of l!)nbarkatio.n GroUp .EASY. · · Tho LSU 1 s that tanks ) fue LST 1s· which 'transported .tho vehicles of Service Company .wore al•o transporting 88S~Ult infantry tro~ps a~d were or~wded. To this croWded condition-was attributed the necessity for the order that.vohialo drivers would not remain with their vehicles but woUld 6
. '
DECLASSIFIED DECLASSIFIED Korean War Project USMC-00101474
.,, J.•~NEX OBOE 050E TO .H~· MARINE DT.VIBION SPECIAL : ,_~_C:l'I9~ .Bli?OR'l' ( c~n tId) H' ..••
transfGr ·-t:.: an·, APA'" 'f:.a~- "thG :M:-"t":ei'!.Gnt to· ·the · obj ccti ve arid woUld. '!;hen transfer· bac)t t~ .tha LBT bCf:;r~ ·1 t bGacliGd. 'IhG · tre:.r:..s·f-0.!': p.r;ved se.tisfacto>'Y ·•1 t.h ·thQ exaoption that ,;l ~,_, 11' drivc;-rs ab:.ard ·-t;o_, gLt~p4. the ·Johicloa ;m~l~ .of.-. them were l:o tea iil'ld "qonn·aerabl~ eql.llpm.)nt .•. waa-~=st- to tP.is ·)?_ _,-~t~f~P.<. · -~: · 6. llOVEMENT TO i;f!,.I.J MRIVB., ~T OBJJ:igirvi ·AREA J_ ,' c•: • /' ·, ' - ' - ' . . . ' . . ThG LOT1 e tr&n'Sp;)rti'ug tan!~a ;;£ th!s ... batt&llon sailed on 1~ 0o1;ober fl.n:i tho r~BD' s SP.ilCJd en the'.16th ·or' Oct-.:ilbe::o Hnd ·av,ut.:;::.k·. tho l.S'I''S at·Be&. .. . , ..
Durl:!.g tt,H3 movwnent t~- "th!J ~bje"lti''\'3 area the tartit plat:;::.ns part'v~co: pl"eYe-!ltt vc roo.inten- · ence dHilY and chacj:cpr:Oof!ng • thel.r 'tRilk·s.. ."iill l,Jil!lds_ war~- briefed ··on th~' .... landing plan and intelligencoe 'ad. raaolu>d. thol~ assigned anchorA~>e by early.-· morning on· 26 · October. · · · · · ., .. 7. OPERATIONS
· 9.~ 6ot6b·~;_ lgfi?- iVhen orders w-ore received to execute -tYls administrative landing the battalion commander or~crcd all ta~~ battalion pcreonnal cmbarkad on I,SD' s to load in· the LBU 1s and to land with the t"nk.s. ~e LSU's olaai-ed th<>·LbD1s by 0700 and the .adminiat:rativo l&ndi.ng wao eff ected without l.t1old0nt on· Dluo find Y\:::tloW Beaches on tho shores of Kalma-'P.ando south- caE t; oi' 'I'J'ons.<:al. · ·rr•he advf-..nco l''eOonna!SSanC:a offl.c0r had posted signa·mArlting the route and· tho looa:tion: of. tho a.Bstgned ·tAnk·· ~ssom bly area· east· ·of. the ai.rfiald. · Ha. persqn- .· ally met company QOlii!Ilanders and gUided :them to thelr company areas ·withi-n tl1e batt fiLion_. area; ilia bat,t~llon cP ·was· es.tl1Bh00. .at T.f! 6936, A. . .. ' ..
COI·1par~i .-~s ::o ·~11! r ~Ln d th C"t maj ol·j ty of·; · ~- ,- · hcadqunPtci:r.J·- an~ fltJ;'·t·it"Jt::· co:apan:l\::H ~uompleted the landi n_g Mtd• ·--Yli~j'G.·'ln' ··t...~G' as~ ,_g.n~d liroa ~- o~oo_.. 'J.!h·C" r:~l~ta t' ~~J.cmant; ~·-e l'klOlpRny. B landod' · &t 0'73,); ''thci'S •'lu>"jM• the day·. iind the last il company ·platoon 'landed·.