As in Killer, the primary objective of
Operation Ripper was to destroy enemy forces and
equipment and hamper his efforts to conduct a new
offensive. Also, rather than make a direct
assault across the Han to re-capture Seoul,
Ripper was to outflank Seoul and the area north
as far as the Imjin River. Then, Ridgway hoped to
take Seoul by a flanking attack from the east or
by sufficient threat to induce the enemy to
withdraw.
In the event during Ripper, with
1st Cavalry Division providing cover, the 7th
Marines took Hongchon which did indeed result in
the CCF abandoning Seoul which was reoccupied by
the ROK 1st Division, supported by the US 3rd
Division, on March 15.
