Korean War 70th Armor Regiment

1 korean war

1.1 deployment, defensive, , offensive
1.2 chinese communist forces intervention
1.3 relief combat

korean war
deployment, defensive, , offensive

at outbreak of korean war in june 1950, 70th heavy tank battalion still performing duties support unit armor school @ fort knox. 70th alerted movement san francisco on 8 july , began preparations deployment korea. unit severely understrength, both in terms of personnel , equipment. 250 men had transferred unit other units on fort knox, fort campbell, kentucky , fort meade, maryland. additionally, tanks underwent intensive maintenance , refit, receiving new track, replacement parts and, parts not obtained normally, removed display vehicles around base. relatively new m4a3e8 sherman tanks supplied rock island arsenal , delivered battalion when reached korea. tactical training conducted @ platoon level, still totaled 30 days time battalion deployed.

the 70th embarked rail on 17 july fort knox, arriving @ camp stoneman, california on 20 july. battalion boarded usns general a. w. brewster @ fort mason, california on 23 july, vehicles , equipment loaded on separate cargo transport. brief port calls @ yokohama , sasebo, japan, ship arrived @ port of pusan, korea on 7 august 1950. equipment transport did not arrive until 9 august. battalion set unloading tanks transport , reloading them on trains taegu. 70th heavy tank battalion attached 1st cavalry division , elements of company b first went action near waegwan, korea on 15 august. appearance, along 6th , 72nd tank battalions, on front welcome american units had had no tanks fight north koreans t-34 s.

the battalion s employment 1st cavalry division closely mirrored use during world war ii. 1 tank company attached each cavalry (actually infantry) regiment of 1st cavalry division, platoons further divvied 1 per battalion. initial missions route reconnaissance in order become familiar terrain in anticipation of follow-on counterattack or withdrawal orders; , show of force missions discourage north korean probes in 1st cavalry sector. nevertheless, 1st cavalry division hard pressed north koreans , had withdraw key terrain near taegu between 4–9 september. stabilizing front on next few days, division , other units went on offensive on 15 september in support of inchon landings near seoul.

as american units began break out of pusan perimeter, suffered numerous casualties mines koreans laid in path of advance. in 1 incident, company spearheaded advance on taegu-waegwan road, unit lost @ least 75% of tanks mines in order clear road follow-on infantry. on 21 september, tanks of 70th tank battalion continued spearhead 1st cavalry s northward advance, @ times outpacing both supporting infantry own supply line. tanks of company c led advance of task force lynch (after lieutenant colonel james h. lynch), consisting of troops of 3rd battalion 7th cavalry regiment , other units, in drive toward units breaking out inchon landings. on 26 september, task force lynch drove 106 miles before linking @ chongji elements of 31st infantry regiment, 7th infantry division, 1 of units had landed @ inchon.

after several days of “mopping up” operations, battalion moved on 4 october vicinity of wijon-ni prepare crossing imjin river american , united nations troops continued advance northward. crossed river on 7 october, , continued across yesong river on 12 october. continuing advance northward against sporadic resistance battalion reached pyongyang on 20 october. pyongyang, company c , other battalion elements made contact 187th regimental combat team, had made airborne drop in vicinity of sunchon. 1st cavalry division , 70th tank battalion continued advance northward , reached unsan, 30 miles north of pyongyang 29 october.

chinese communist forces intervention

on 31 october, chinese forces counterattacked american , un forces in korea. 70th heavily engaged in providing rear guard 1st cavalry division began withdraw south. fighting platoon in support of each infantry battalion, units cut off, isolated , forced fight through heavy chinese forces, suffering heavy casualties in process. platoons, supporting 8th cavalry regiment, annihilated. initially, units priority exfiltrate through chinese forces. 9 november, 1st cavalry , 70th tank battalion had reestablished front line , defended positions through 17 november. on 18 november, conducted combat reconnaissance until 1st cavalry division placed in army reserve on 21 november, remained until 28 november. on 28 november, division committed eighth army s right flank prevent encirclement chinese. these positions along line kunu-ri through sunchon, 1st cavalry division covered withdrawal of western sector of eighth army. division conducted orderly withdrawal near uijongbu, north of seoul, 12 december 1950. new defensive line established here , 1st cavalry division, 70th heavy tank battalion attachment, maintained these positions through end of year.

in january 1951, 70th tank battalion began preparations move out of line, , on 7 january 1951 moved assembly areas in vicinity of singidong. on next 2 weeks battalion conducted maintenance , repairs on vehicles , integrated , trained new replacements battalion. anticipating strong enemy attack in vicinity of 6th rok division, 70th tank battalion formed core of task force johnson, conducted reconnaissance in force on 22 january disrupt communist forces preparations looming attack. battalion supported regiments of 1st cavalry division in conducting combat reconnaissance missions through remainder of month.

in february 1951, battalion supported 1st cavalry division on left flank of ix corps in carrying out limited offensive operations northward kumyangjang-ni. on 15–16 february, company attached 5th cavalry regiment form task force crombez in order relieve 23rd infantry regiment , french infantry battalion had been cut off approximately 6 regiments of communist forces. in heavy fighting ensued, infantry, rode on tanks during advance, suffered numerous casualties, task forces succeeded in reaching 23rd infantry. 2nd platoon, company received presidential unit citation actions in relieving 23rd infantry. battalion resumed aggressive patrolling in 1st cavalry division sector april 1951, along limited offensive objectives reaching wonchang-ni.

by 11 april, warming weather, began thaw ground, , flooding communists of lowlands below hwacheon reservoir, forced 70th heavy tank battalion inactivity, , moved out of line in order conduct much-needed repairs , maintenance on vehicles , take on new replacement personnel. in eighth army reserve, battalion once again strength when communist forces resumed offensive on 23 april 1951. 25 april, 1st cavalry division, 70th heavy tank battalion still attached, used plug gap in eighth army line north of seoul when 6th rok division collapsed, , relieve hard-pressed 27th british commonwealth brigade. having stabilized line, battalion reverted aggressive patrolling, deep behind enemy lines. in late may 1951, mission changed combat patrols direct support of cavalry regiments advanced on axis seoul uijongbu, thence north imjin river in vicinity of cheorwon. having reached these limited objectives, emphasis again returned combat patrols, between cheorwon , tosan west. when peace talks began between communist forces , united nations command, 2nd battalion, 7th cavalry regiment, , 4th platoon, company c, 70th heavy tank battalion selected serve honor guard peace camp @ munsan-ni , placed under direct eighth army control. battalion briefly went reserve on 29 july, in 1st cavalry division line in august. battalion continued combat reconnaissance patrols through september , briefly went on offensive 1st cavalry division during operation commando in october 1951. having attained objectives, significant casualties, division went on defensive , 70th heavy tank battalion dug positions on line. first time since after arrival in korea, 70th saw large numbers of communist tanks across front, though consistently beaten off concentrated tank , artillery fire, in conjunction close air support.

relief combat

on 21 november 1951, battalion, less company b (still in line supporting 8th cavalry regiment in combat), went reserve , moved new assembly area. upon closing on assembly area, learned they, along 1st cavalry division, relieved 45th infantry division, , redeploy hokkaido, japan. 70th heavy tank battalion relieved 245th tank battalion, organic tank battalion of 45th infantry division. company b withdrawn line on 16 december. battalion began transferring property 245th tank battalion on 7 december , bulk of battalion departed korea ship on 17 december. company b departed on 28 december 1951. upon arrival @ camp chitose 2, in hokkaido, battalion began taking on property of 245th tank battalion.

the 70th heavy tank battalion later moved camp chitose 2 camp fuji , remained in japan until 15 october 1957, when inactivated , relieved of assignment 1st cavalry division.