Chosin Reservoir, Battle of

During the Korean War, joint North Korean-Chinese attack on United Nations forces November–December 1951, in northwest Korea about 80 km/50 mi north of Hungnam. The UN forces were driven back to Hungnam from where they were evacuated in mid-December. The US Marines suffered 4,418 casualties in the battle and 7,313 from other causes, principally frostbite. Chinese losses were later calculated at about 37,500.

The 1st US Marine division, with British Marine Commandos attached, was advancing north in the Chosin reservoir area. It was attacked 27 November by 12 Chinese divisions reinforced with North Korean troops. The UN force was in mountainous country with only one poor road of supply, which was vulnerable to attack and also liable to be blocked by heavy snow at any time, and their only course was to fall back to a concentrated position at Hagaru, at the southern end of the reservoir complex. The Chinese followed up their attack, and the UN force began a fighting retreat south from Hagaru 6 December which ended four days later at Hungnam, a supply port on the Sea of Japan, from which the survivors were evacuated by sea. Hamhung was then bombarded to destroy the supply dumps left behind.