Chinese Machinations KW (id:#65465)

(From The Cellar Pack#10 ID: FT301)   [next]   [previous]

Toktong Pass, North Korea 1950-11-28 (2 others)

Overview:

Captain Barber spent the daylight hours of the 28th reorganizing his perimeter for the renewed Chinese attacks he was sure would come with darkness. To this end, he was re-supplied by airdrop with ammunition, grenades, medical supplies and coils of barbed wire. His men used the time to dig in further, even stacking enemy dead to act as quasi-sandbags around their fighting holes. A light helicopter dropped off vital batteries for the radio that gave his forward observer a link to a battery of 105mm howitzers in Hagaru-ri. Barber ensured that these guns were pre-registered. From the enemy’s perspective, it was vital that they secure the pass so as to bottle up the 5th and 7th Marines to thus enable their comrades in arms to destroy some 7,000 Marines in detail. The only means of escape for the Marines was through the pass that Fox Company, now at just over half-strength, guarded. At 2200 hours the crackle of a loudspeaker brought with it a patronizing voice in near perfect English calling on the Marines to surrender. After several minutes of this speech a large bonfire erupted along the enemy tree line near the rocky knoll. In the firelight could be seen the silhouettes of dozens and dozens of Chinese soldiers clad in their distinctive quilted jackets and trousers carrying out some form of war dance. As the embers died down to a glow so too did the Chinese political officer’s heated psychological warfare efforts.

Defender: American (USMC) (No more details)  

Errata (source)