The Foundation of Freedom is the Courage of Ordinary People
History On Line
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Firepower may
not win, but it usually helps. A lot.
In the hands of resolute forces of equal numbers,
firepower is the decisive element.
7th Infantry Division 75-mm recoilless
rifle gunner grimaces as he fires in support of
infantry units directly across the valley. An observer
(standing, with field glasses) will note effectiveness
of their fire while the crew reloads the next
round.
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The CCF fifth
phase campaign met with initial success, by
skillfully detecting our weakest points and
concentrating their forces there for the assault.
But at every step they paid heavily, from
constant air bombardment, superior and more
mobile artillery and armor, and from the greater
firepower in our infantry units.
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With total control of the air and
enemy armor largely destroyed, Marines advance
across an open field in tank-infantry
assault.
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K/2/65, 3rd Infantry Division
also successfully attacked with mutually
supporting tanks and infantry, and now defend
their gains.
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After our air, and the superior
firepower of our heavy tanks, had destroyed most
CCF armor, our infantry were free from the deadly
tank-infantry combinations which the NK used in
their initial invasion of South Korea. Now, the
shoe was entirely on the other foot, and our own
forces used armor, artillery, and air support in
defeating the CCF 5th Phase Campaign and driving
them back once again to the 38th Parallel.
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By mid-1952, a year after the UN
stopped Eighth Army's successful
counterattack once it reached the 38th Parallel,
the CCF built artillery concentrations which
about equalled our own. During their 5th Phase
campaign, however, they were far inferior in
heavy artillery. Here, a 155-mm self propelled
gun gave us massive fire-support for our infantry
together with the ability to quickly re-deploy as
required.
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Causes of the Korean Tragedy ... Failure of Leadership, Intelligence and Preparation
The Foundations of Freedom are the Courage of Ordinary People and Quality of our Arms
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