Operation Blaze
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Operation Blaze (2 July 1952) was a
United Nations Command United Nations Command (UNC or UN Command) is the multinational military force established to support the Republic of Korea (South Korea) during and after the Korean War. It was the first international unified command in history, and the first a ...
(UN) operation near Kangao-ri during the
Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
to capture a prisoner.O'Neill 1985, p. 243. The raid involved a company-sized attack from the newly arrived
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) is a regular motorised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. 1 RAR was first formed as the 65th Australian Infantry Battalion of the 34th Brigade (Australia) on Balikpapan in 1945 and sinc ...
(1 RAR) on Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) positions on Hill 227. Although the Australians were able to take some of the PVA positions on the hill, they did not achieve all of their objectives and were eventually forced to withdraw after running out of ammunition.


Background

Australia had committed a second battalion to the fighting in Korea in 1952, with the
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) is a regular motorised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. 1 RAR was first formed as the 65th Australian Infantry Battalion of the 34th Brigade (Australia) on Balikpapan in 1945 and sinc ...
(1 RAR) joining
3 RAR The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) is a mechanised infantry battalion of the Australian Army, based in Kapyong Lines, Townsville as part of the 3rd Brigade. 3 RAR traces its lineage to 1945 and has seen operational servi ...
in the
28th British Commonwealth Brigade The 28th Infantry Brigade was a British Army formation which served during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, The Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation. History 28th Brigade First World War The 28th Brigade was ...
of the
1st Commonwealth Division The 1st Commonwealth Division was the military unit that commanded Commonwealth land forces in the Korean War. The division was a part of the multinational British Commonwealth Forces Korea, with infantry units of the British Army, Canadian ...
in early June. Soon after the battalion was detached to the 29th British Infantry Brigade to relieve the 1st Battalion, the
Leicestershire Regiment The Leicestershire Regiment (Royal Leicestershire Regiment after 1946) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, with a history going back to 1688. The regiment saw service for three centuries, in numerous wars and conflicts such as both W ...
, on the
Jamestown Line The Jamestown Line was a series of defensive positions occupied by United Nations forces in the Korean War. Following the end of the 1951 Chinese Spring Offensive and the UN May-June 1951 counteroffensive, the war largely became one of attritio ...
.


Battle

A Company 1 RAR, under the command of Major David Thomson, was tasked to raid the positions of the PVA 39th Field Army on Hill 227. The raid was 1 RAR's first major action of the war and was to be carried out in broad daylight. The objectives of the raid were to take prisoners for the purpose of gathering intelligence and to overrun the garrison stationed on Hill 227.Odgers 2000, p. 139. Preceded by a bombardment from supporting artillery, the attack on Hill 227 started at 09:00. With the assaulting troops wearing American issue
body armour Body armor, also known as body armour, personal armor or armour, or a suit or coat of armor, is protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks. Historically used to protect military personnel, today it is also used by variou ...
and with flamethrower and demolition
platoon A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two or more squads, sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the branch, but a platoon can be composed of 50 people, although specific platoons may rang ...
s attached, the company gained the top within half an hour and immediately faced heavy and accurate PVA small arms, mortar and artillery fire. Company headquarters received two direct hits from mortar fire, killing the wireless operator and wounding the artillery forward observation officer and two other members.O'Neill 1985, p. 246. Only two out of six bunkers targeted for capture were subsequently occupied, and the Australians attempted to flush the PVA out into the open. However, the assaulting force was unable to dislodge the remaining PVA defenders, nor were they able to capture a prisoner. A Company remained in possession of Hill 227 stronghold for 90 minutes, before being directed to withdraw due to running out of ammunition.


Aftermath

Although the Australians failed to achieve all their objectives, it was not a complete failure for them. The PVA positions atop Hill 227 were largely destroyed, and the operation provided 1 RAR with vital experience against the PVA. A Company also gained high praise for their conduct, with the operation overseen from a nearby observation post on Hill 210 by General
James Van Fleet General James Alward Van Fleet (March 19, 1892 – September 23, 1992) was a United States Army officer who saw service during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Van Fleet was a native of New Jersey, who was raised in Florida and gradu ...
, commander of US Eighth Army; General Mark Clark, UN commander; Major General James Cassels, commander of the 1st Commonwealth Division; and Brigadier Thomas Daly, the commander 28th Brigade. Regardless, the preceding artillery bombardment by the 25 pounders had been too light to cause damage to the bunkers on Hill 227 while the two airstrikes planned in support of the operation could not be undertaken due to poor weather. Major David Thomson and Lieutenant G.J Lucas were later awarded the
Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC ...
; Corporal Edward Taylor received the
Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award ...
and the US Silver Star was awarded to Corporal H.E Patch.O'Neill 1985, pp. 246–247. Three Australians were killed and 34 wounded, one of whom died the next day.


Notes


References

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External links


1 RAR – Royal Australian Regiment Association
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blaze, Operation Battles and operations of the Korean War in 1952 Battles of the Korean War Battles of the Korean War involving Australia Battles of the Korean War involving China July 1952 events in Asia