The founding of New China in 1949 heralded the end of the old era, but powerful external enemies did not want us to be peaceful. They did not believe that the Chinese had stood up.
Therefore, after the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the 17-nation coalition, headed by the United States, after gaining the initiative on the battlefield, ignored the warnings of the new China and not only crossed the 38th parallel, but also pointed directly at the Yalu River.
How can people snore on the side of the couch!
From a historical point of view, whenever there is an accident on the Korean Peninsula, a unified China will inevitably send troops. This was true for both the Tang Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty, and it was the same in the Qing Dynasty, but the Qing army failed to block the Japanese offensive and laid the groundwork for Japan's subsequent large-scale invasion of China.
The United States is a more powerful country than Japan. If the US military Chen Bing is along the Yalu River, the consequences would be disastrous, so sending troops is an inevitable choice.
But are we sure about fighting the country with the strongest national power in the world at that time, and the country with the most advanced weapons and equipment in the world? I'm afraid everyone has questions about this.
However, in the first and second battles to resist US aggression and aid to Korea, the volunteers who had experienced many battles defeated the coalition forces with their superb ingenuity, super tactical ability and tenacious spirit of sacrifice. And from the Yalu River all the way to the north of the 38th line, practice has proved that we can not only win, but also a big victory, even though the opponent's firepower is hundreds of times ours!
When looking back at this history decades later, many people did not believe it or even dared to admit it. Someone looked for information from South Korea and the United States, and turned out the "Volunteer Army's Use of Human Sea Tactics" that the South Korean Army and the US Army concocted to cover their shame.
The real human sea tactics often appeared in World War I, but under heavy machine guns and artillery firepower, no amount of human seas could withstand the consumption. The US military’s firepower is N times that of World War I. If they can’t even stop the crowds, are they all fire sticks in their hands?
Moreover, what many people don’t know is that the comparison of the forces between the volunteers and the opponent is only 2:1 in most cases, and the troops must be divided to protect the logistics line and the east and west coasts. The coalition forces do not have to worry about the volunteers being able to carry out air strangulation and amphibious landing operations. Forces can be concentrated to the 38th line, and the actual force comparison between the two sides is not very different. Under these conditions, the tactics of hitting the crowd?
Of course, reasoning is one aspect, and the key is to show solid historical facts. Next, we will talk about the 116th Division that can be recorded in the history of the Battle of Linjin River, so that everyone can understand how the volunteers fought at that time.
The 116th Division is an old army with a glorious tradition. During the Liberation War, it was known as the first-class main force. In the famous 39th Army, this division was also the main force.
In the first battle before, the 116th Division participated in the Battle of Yunshan. It was one of the first units of our army to engage with the US army. In the second battle, there was a famous example of a volunteer force landing a US military company. , Is also done by Division 116.
By the time of the third battle, the coalition had built a position on the 38th parallel, and Linjin River and others were used as its defense support. At that time, the total strength of the Volunteer Army was more than 230,000, and there were more than 70,000 people in the People's Army as an auxiliary, and the coalition strength was 200,000.
Generally speaking, when both sides have the same technical level, they can attack only if they have a 3 to 1 strength advantage. At that time, the comparison between our side and the enemy's strength was only 1.5 to 1, and the opponent’s firepower was far stronger than mine. To fight?
As far as the 39th Army is concerned, the original plan was to break through the Linjin River with the 116th Division and the 117th Division. Later, on the advice of the 116th Division, the division was changed to take the main attack. After the breakthrough, the entire army was put into combat. This is the famous Linjin River. Battle.
At that time, after the first two battles, the 116th Division had certain combat and non-combat attrition. After adding the attached troops, the actual force put into combat was 9,840, and the main attacking force was about 7,500.
Its face-to-face enemy is the 1st Division of the Korean Army, which is a relatively powerful force in the Korean Army. In addition to the division’s artillery battalion, it has also strengthened 2 US artillery battalions. This unit had previously fought against the 39th Army.
There are three positions on the south bank of the Linjin River. The first is the basic position relying on the river bank, the second is the United reserve position, and the third is the division reserve position.
The first position was laid on the river bank, and the deep position was built at the main points behind the river bank. In addition to the trenches, a large number of fortresses and shelters were also built.
Although the Linjin River was shallow and the temperature was low at that time, the river surface was frozen, but under the bombardment of Korean artillery, the river ice was not enough to allow large forces to pass quickly, and it still had to go in vain. In temperatures of minus 20 or 30 degrees, what this means is self-evident. Moreover, there are 7 to 10 meters of cliffs on the south bank of the Linjin River. If the troops are suppressed by intensive firepower, the consequences will be disastrous.
So how should the 116th Division fight this battle?
The first battle is logistics, and the same applies to a division-level unit.
In terms of weapons, the 39th Army adjusted more beautiful weapons before entering the country, but still had many mixed weapons. In the second battle, the troops seized a lot, and the weapons of each department were more complex, which was not conducive to ammunition replenishment.
Therefore, before the war, the 116th Division adjusted the weapon configuration of the troops to make the weapons of the main attacking troops more tidy. Each heavy machine gun has 6500 to 9750 rounds, each light machine gun has 2500 to 3750 rounds, each submachine gun has 225 rounds, each rifle has 100 rounds, and each has 3 to 5 grenades.
Because it is a tough battle, the 116th Division is assigned to the 25th Artillery Regiment and the 45th Artillery Regiment. In addition, the division has a mountain artillery battalion (1), and the regiment has infantry artillery companies (3) and regimental mortars (12 platoons). There are 86 artillery pieces in the whole division, including 43 reinforced artillery and division-level artillery, 30 rounds of field howitzers, and 60 rounds of mountain artillery, infantry artillery and mortar.
In terms of food, 200,000 catties of grain and seized canned food and compressed biscuits have been raised. The 116 division requires each person to reach a four-day reserve of grain (three crops for one life). Logistical requirements ensure that the troops have two hot meals a day as much as possible, and drink as much hot soup as possible before the attack to keep out the cold.
In order to deal with the casualties in the battle, the main attacking regiment brought 500 war rescue medicinal materials, the division brought 1000 people, each infantry squad designated sanitation fighters, and the battalion company adjusted and strengthened sanitation personnel.
People have food, weapons and ammunition are only basic requirements. It is not enough to win the war.
Once the troops are suppressed, the consequences of crossing the river will be extremely serious. It is crucial to conceal yourself as much as possible and confuse the opponent so that it cannot tell the direction of our main attack. At the same time, if the troop lurks at a relatively close distance and is not found by the opponent, the impact distance when launching an attack will also be shortened, thereby reducing troop casualties.
After reconnaissance of the terrain, the 116th Division discovered that there were a large number of rain cracks on our side of the Linjin River, which could be used as a concealed part of our assault troops after earthwork.
Therefore, three days before the war, half of the entire division’s forces were deployed for fortification construction. At a width of 2500 meters and a distance of 150 to 300 meters from the enemy, 316 shelters, more than 3,000 anti-cannon holes, and more than 30 open artillery positions were constructed. More than 50 cover artillery positions, 18 battalion command posts.
In order to avoid exposure, most of the above-mentioned fortifications are constructed under the ground surface, and topographic features are used as cover. Coupled with a layer of snow camouflage, the air reconnaissance of the coalition forces was futile. Even General Li Qiwei personally carried out air reconnaissance by plane and found no sign of the main force of the volunteers gathering on the Linjin River.
When the 116th Division was conducting its own logistics and position preparations, it continuously carried out reconnaissance on the Korean army positions.
The Volunteer Army is a force that places great emphasis on reconnaissance and intelligence. After the 116th Division arrived at the Linjin River, it learned the specific deployment of the Korean Army's 1st Division by catching the Korean Army's scouts. Later, scouts were sent to detect the specific depth of each section of the Linjin River and the geographical situation on the opposite bank.
The 116th Division Commander Reconnaissance in Linjin River
From the division commander Wang Yang to the most basic infantry squad leader, all participated in the reconnaissance work, and then summarized and analyzed, and finally selected the side of the river that bends to the Korean army and has a cliff as the main breakthrough.
At first glance, this is not in line with military conventions, because the cliff is not conducive to climbing, and at the same time the river bends to the side of the Korean army, which will expose the army to cross-fire from both sides of the Korean army.
But why did Division 116 choose to break through here?
First, we can conceal a large number of troops on our side, and the attack distance is relatively short when the attack is launched; second, because the face is a cliff, the Korean army’s defense is slightly weaker, and after attacking the cliff, it is a continuous ups and downs. It is convenient for our army to develop offensive.
The more troublesome thing is how to climb a cliff of 7 to 10 meters quickly?
The division commander Wang Yang personally went to the front for reconnaissance and observed the structure of the cliff section by section. He found that there were also rain cracks on the cliff, which actually formed a section of steps. If you use a ladder, the troops can climb up quickly.
And how to suppress the firepower of the Korean army in this process, and at the same time quickly and safely pass through the minefields laid by the Korean army?
The 116th division's method is to use artillery. After careful discussion and analysis, the 116th Division’s artillery plan is:
From 4:40 to 5 pm on December 31, the division and regiment artillery group fired at the Korean army's position; from 4:50 to 5:03, the regiment battalion mortar fired intensively, destroying enemy obstacles and Minefield: From 5 o’clock, the division and regiment’s artillery group carried out 3 minutes of suppressed firing. After 5:03, the infantry began an assault. The division artillery group began to block the shooting and assist the infantry assault.
And why did the attack start at 4:40? In fact, the time set by the superior at the beginning was 5 o'clock, but after the 116th Division actually observed the sunset time, it was believed that the line of sight by 5:03 was not good, which would affect the shooting effect of the artillery. And 4:40 happened to be the time point when the U.S. aircraft's fuel was withdrawn.
In other words, during the period from 4:40 to 5:03, the Korean army on the opposite side had no air support, and the visibility was also conducive to our artillery.
During the preparations for crossing the river, the echelons of the 116th Division rigorously rehearsed their offensive formations. At the same time, in order to increase the assault speed in the snow, the ladders and shoes were tied with grass to prevent slippage. The soldiers made use of rain cloths. "Water socks" to prevent frostbite when wading through the river; in addition, lard and other rubbing hands and feet are also collected to prevent frostbite.
After making all these preparations, at 4:40 pm on December 31st, the 116th Division launched an attack on the Korean army in front of it. Because the volunteers had previously feigned attacks in other directions, and the 116 Division’s concealment was too intact, and the attacking firepower was strong enough, the infantry assaulted quickly, and only took 10 minutes to capture the forward position of the Korean army.
By 5:40, the assault battalions of the two main attacking regiments occupied 114.7 and 192 respectively, and controlled the beachhead positions. Then the 116th Division mainly crossed the river and attacked the Korean army in depth on New Year's Day in 1951.
At 6 o'clock on January 1, 1951, after 13 hours of fierce battle, the 116th Division broke into the Korean Army 15 kilometers in depth and successfully completed the Linjin River breakthrough mission. The main force of the 39th Army immediately crossed the river that day.
The rapid breakthrough of the Volunteers on the Linjin River led to the collapse of the coalition defenses. The 116 Division continued its New Year’s assaults non-stop, hitting the Royal Rifle Regiment of the British Army’s 29th Brigade on the front line in Pugu, destroying more than 40 tanks and cars, killing and wounding more than 300 people, and captured another. There were more than 60 people. In this battle, the Seventh Steel Company of the 347th Regiment was the prototype of the Seventh Steel Company in "Soldier Assault". With only 7 people left in the company, the 19-year-old horn Zheng Qi blew the Charge. As a result, I heard that the British Army of the Charge had fled without a fight, and it became another legend among the volunteers.
After breaking the Korean defense and violently beating the British troops, the 116th Division's soldiers pointed directly at Seoul. On January 4, the division, the 39th Army Reconnaissance Team, and the 50th Army Corps all attacked Seoul. Among them, the advance team of the 348th Regiment of the 116th Division directly occupied Li Chengman's "Presidential Palace" and residence. At this time, the 116th Division's "New Year's Eve" attack was less than 4 days away.
One month before, the 116th Division invaded Pyongyang, and now it is in Seoul. At that time, someone jokingly called Zhang Feng, the deputy commander of the 116th Division, who led the team: "You are the garrison commander of the two capitals of North Korea."
Within our army, the Linjinjiang breakthrough was highly regarded. General Wang Yang, the commander of the 116th Division, was one of them in his book "Ten Assaults".
General Chen Geng commented that this battle is "three dangers and three oddities":
The first is that the breakthrough is selected dangerously, but it is very strange, that is, the daring to choose the breakthrough in the area where the Linjin River turns to the enemy, contrary to the conventional wisdom of the military, and unexpectedly win.
The second is that the offensive starting position was selected dangerously, but it was strange, that is, boldly concealing nearly 8,000 offensive troops and weapons on the offensive starting position one day ahead of time without being noticed by the enemy, which played a surprisingly successful effect.
The third is that the artillery positions were chosen dangerously, but it was very strange that they boldly set up more than 50 artillery pieces at a distance of 300 meters from the enemy's front for direct shooting, which accurately destroyed the enemy's fortifications.
Marshal Liu Bocheng commented: The 39th Army is a good choice for this breakthrough, and the right choice should be a full score!
The so-called glimpse and know the whole thing, this is how the Volunteer Army fights, not the so-called crowded tactics. It is by virtue of superb wisdom and tenacious spirit that we were able to achieve victory, and the national power of New China and the military power of the People's Army were fought in a battle.
The international status is achieved, not by comparison. It is the victory that year that we Chinese have swept away the decline of a century.
Today, our country is thriving, and the weapons and equipment of the People's Army are more advanced. Behind peace is the silent contribution of countless people and the foundation laid down by the predecessors.
Looking back on this day of the New Year's Day assault of the Volunteer Army Ace Division, I still feel very excited. At the same time, I would like to extend the most cordial New Year greetings to those soldiers who once and now guard us!
