Operation Ripper

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Korean War
Osan – Pusan Perimeter – Inchon – Pakchon – Chosin Reservoir – Faith – Twin Tunnels – Ripper – Courageous – Tomahawk – Yultong Bridge – Imjin River – Gloster Hill – Old Baldy – Kapyong – Bloody Ridge – Heartbreak Ridge – Sunchon – Hill Eerie – Sui-ho Dam – The Hook – Pork Chop Hill – Outpost Harry

Operation Ripper was a military operation conceived by General Ridgway during the Korean War, intended to destroy as much of the People's Volunteer Army and North Korean military from Seoul and of the towns of Hongch'on, fifty miles west of Seoul, and Ch'unch'on, fifteen miles farther to the north and to bring UN troops to the 38th parallel. It followed upon the heels of Operation Killer, an eight day UN offensive that concluded February 28, to push Communist forces north of the Han River.

The operation was launched on March 7, 1951 with the I and IX Corps on the west near Seoul and Hoengsong and X and ROK III Corps in the east, to reach "Line Idaho", an arc with its apex just south of the 38th Parallel in South Korea.

Operation Ripper was preceded by the largest artillery bombardment of the Korean War. On the left, the U.S. 25th Infantry Division quickly crossed the Han and established a bridgehead. Farther to the east, IX Corps reached its first phase line on 11 March. Three days later the advance proceeded to the next phase line. During the night of March 14-March 15 , elements of the ROK 1st Division and U.S. 3d Infantry Division liberated Seoul, marking the fourth and last time the capital would have changed hands since June 1950. The Communist forces were compelled to abandon it when the UN approach to the east of the city threatened them with encirclement.

Following the recapture of Seoul, Communist forces retreated northward, conducting skillful delaying actions that utilized the rugged, muddy terrain to maximum advantage, particularly in the mountainous X Corps sector. Despite such obstacles, RIPPER pressed on throughout March. In the mountainous central region, the IX and X Corps pushed forward methodically, the IX Corps against light opposition and the X Corps against staunch enemy defenses. Hongch'on was taken on the fifteenth and Ch'unch'on secured on the twenty-second. The capture of Ch'unch'on was the last major ground objective of Operation Ripper. UN forces had advanced north an average of thirty miles from their start lines. However, while the Eighth Army units had occupied their principal geographic objectives, the goal of destroying enemy forces and equipment had again proved elusive. More often than not, the Communist forces withdrew before they could receive extensive damage. Ch'unch'on, a major Communist supply hub, was empty by the time UN forces finally occupied it. As the U.N. troops ground forward, they were constantly descending sharp slopes or ascending steep heights to attack enemy positions that were sometimes above the clouds.

By the end of March, U.S. forces reached the 38th parallel.

References

• Appleman, Roy C. RIDGWAY DUELS FOR KOREA. College Station: Texas A&M University Press (1990)

• Blair, Clay. THE FORGOTTEN WAR: AMERICA IN KOREA, 1950-53. New York: Time Books (1988)

• Fehrenbach, T. R. THIS KIND OF WAR: A STUDY IN UNPREPAREDNESS. New York: Macmillan (1963)

• Mossman, Billy C. EBB AND FLOW: NOVEMBER 1950-JULY 1951. UNITED STATES ARMY IN THE KOREAN WAR. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Center of Military History (1990)

• Schnabel, James. POLICY AND DIRECTION: THE FIRST YEAR. UNITED STATES ARMY IN THE KOREAN WAR. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Center of Military History (1972)

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