Battle of the Pusan Perimeter: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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| partof = the [[Korean War]]

| image = [[File:Pusan Perimeter Sept 4.jpg|300px|border|alt=Armed men sit in foxholes watching over a lower terrain feature]]

| caption = UN soldiers from the [[27th Infantry Regiment (United States)|27th US Infantry]] await North Korean attacks across the [[Nakdong River|Naktong River]] from positions on the ~~Pusan~~Busan Perimeter, September 1950.

| date = 4 August – 18 September 1950 ({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=8|day1=4|year1=1950|month2=9|day2=18|year2=1950}})

| place = [[Busan]], [[First Republic of Korea|South Korea]]

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| commander1 = {{Flagdeco|United Nations}} [[Douglas MacArthur]] {{Flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[Walton Walker]] {{Flagdeco|First Republic of Korea|1948|size=23px}} [[Chung Il-Kwon]] {{Flagdeco|First Republic of Korea|1948|size=23px}} [[Shin Sung-Mo]] {{Flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[George Stratemeyer]] {{Flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[Arthur Dewey Struble]]

| commander2 = {{Flagdeco|North Korea|1948}} [[Choe Yong-gon (army commander)|Choi Yong-kun]] {{Flagdeco|North Korea|1948}} [[Kim Chaek]] {{Flagdeco|North Korea|1948}} [[Kim Ung]] {{Flagdeco|North Korea|1948}} [[Mu Chong|Kim Mu-chong]]

| units1 = {{Flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[Eighth United States Army|Eighth Army]] {{Flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[Fifth Air Force]] {{Flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[U.S. Seventh Fleet|Seventh Fleet]] {{Flagdeco|First Republic of Korea|1948|size=23px}} [[Republic of Korea Army|South Korean Army]] {{Flagdeco|United Kingdom|size=23px}} [[British Army]] {{Flagdeco|United Kingdom|size=23px}} [[~~Royal Navy|~~Royal Navy]] {{Flagdeco|Australia|size=23px}} [[Royal Australian Air Force|Australian Air Force]] {{Flagdeco|Australia|size=23px}} [[Royal Australian Navy|Australian Navy]] {{Flagdeco|Netherlands|size=23px}} [[Royal Netherlands Navy|Netherlands Navy]] {{Flagdeco|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|naval}} [[Royal Canadian Navy|Canadian Navy]] {{Flagdeco|France|size=23px}} [[French Navy]] {{Flagdeco|New Zealand|size=23px}} [[Royal New Zealand Navy|New Zealand Navy]]

(''[[Battle of Pusan Perimeter order of battle#UN Forces|Main article]]'')

| units2 = {{Flagdeco|North Korea|1948}} [[Korean People's Army]] {{Flagdeco|North Korea|1948}} [[Korean People's Navy]] {{Flagdeco|North Korea|1948}} [[Korean People's Air Force]]

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}}

The '''Battle of the Pusan Perimeter''' ({{lang-ko|부산 교두보 전투}}), known in Korean as the '''Battle of the Naktong River Defense Line''' ({{lang-ko|낙동강 방어선 전투}}), was a large-scale battle between [[United Nations Command]] (UN) and [[North ~~Korea]]n~~Korean forces lasting from August 4 to September 18, 1950. It was one of the first major engagements of the [[Korean War]]. An army of 140,000 UN troops, having been pushed south to the brink of defeat, were rallied to make a final stand against the invading [[Korean People's Army]] (KPA), 98,000 men strong.

UN forces, having been repeatedly defeated by the advancing KPA, were forced back to the "Pusan Perimeter", a {{convert|140|mi|km|adj=on}} [[defense line]] around an area on the southeastern tip of [[South Korea]] that included the port of [[Busan]] (then spelt ''Pusan''). The UN troops, consisting mostly of forces from the [[Republic of Korea Army]] (ROKA), [[United States]], and [[United Kingdom]], mounted a last stand around the perimeter, fighting off repeated KPA attacks for six weeks as they were engaged around the cities of [[Daegu|Taegu]], [[Masan]], and [[Pohang]] and the [[Nakdong River|Naktong River]]. The massive KPA assaults were unsuccessful in forcing the UN troops back farther from the perimeter, despite two major pushes in August and September.

North Korean troops, hampered by supply shortages and massive losses, continually staged attacks on UN forces in an attempt to penetrate the perimeter and collapse the line. The UN forces, however, used the port to amass an overwhelming advantage in troops, equipment, and logistics, and its navy and air forces remained unchallenged by the KPA during the fight. After six weeks, the KPA force collapsed and retreated in defeat after the UN force launched a [[Battle of Inchon|counterattack at Inchon]] on September 15, and the UN forces in the perimeter [[Pusan Perimeter Offensive|broke out ~~from the perimeter~~ the following day]]. The battle ~~would be~~was the farthest the KPA would advance in the war, as subsequent fighting ground the war into a stalemate.

== Background ==

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The KPA, 89,000 men strong, had advanced into South Korea in six columns, catching the ROKA by surprise and completely routing it. The smaller ROK suffered from widespread lack of organization and equipment, and was unprepared for war.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=1}} Numerically superior, KPA forces destroyed isolated resistance from the 38,000 ROK soldiers on the front before moving steadily south.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=2}} Most of South Korea's forces retreated in the face of the advance. By June 28, the KPA had captured South Korea's capital [[Seoul]], forcing the government and its shattered forces to retreat further south.{{sfn|Varhola|2000|p=2}} Though it was steadily pushed back, ROK forces increased their resistance farther south, hoping to delay KPA units as much as possible. North and South Korean units sparred for control of several cities, inflicting heavy casualties on one another. The ROK defended [[Yeongdeok]] fiercely before being forced back, and managed to repel KPA forces in the [[Battle of Andong]].{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=22}}

Outnumbered and under-equipped US forces—committed in piecemeal fashion as rapidly as they could be deployed—were repeatedly defeated and pushed south. The 24th Division, the first US division committed, took heavy losses in the [[Battle of Taejon]] in mid-July, which they were driven from after heavy fighting. Elements of the 3rd Battalion, [[29th Infantry Regiment (United States)|29th Infantry Regiment]], newly arrived in the country, were wiped out at [[Hadong]] in a [[Hadong Ambush|coordinated ambush]] by KPA forces on July 27, leaving open a pass to the Busan area.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=221}}{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=114}} Soon after, [[Chinju]] to the west was taken, pushing back the [[19th Infantry Regiment (United States)|19th Infantry Regiment]] and leaving open routes to Busan.{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=24}} US units were ~~subsequently~~ able to defeat and push back the KPA on the flank in the [[Battle of the Notch]] on August 2. Suffering mounting losses, the KPA force on the west flank withdrew for several days to re-equip and receive reinforcements. This granted both sides several days of reprieve to prepare for the attack on the Busan Perimeter.{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=25}}{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=247}}

== Prelude ==

=== Forces involved ===

The KPA was organized into a [[mechanized warfare|mechanized]] [[combined arms]] force of ten [[division (military)|divisions]], originally numbering some 90,000 well-trained and well-equipped troops in July, with hundreds of [[T-34]] tanks.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=225}} However, defensive actions by US and ROK forces had delayed the KPA significantly in their invasion of South Korea, costing them 58,000 of their troops and a large number of tanks.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=226}} In order to recoup these losses, the KPA had to rely on less-experienced replacements and conscripts, many of whom had been taken from the conquered regions of South Korea.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=116}} During the course of the battle, the KPA raised a total of 13 [[infantry]] divisions and one [[armored warfare|armored]] division to fight at the ~~Busan~~Pusan Perimeter.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=226}}

The UN forces were organized under the command of the Eighth United States Army, which served and was headquartered at Daegu.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=108}}{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=19}} Under it were three weak US divisions; the 24th Infantry Division was brought to the country early in July, while the [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] and [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|25th Infantry Division]] arrived between July 14 and 18.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=254}} These forces occupied the western segment of the perimeter, along the Naktong River.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=226}} The ROK, a force of 58,000,{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=20}} was organized into two [[corps (military)|corps]] and five divisions; from east to west, [[I Corps (South Korea)|I Corps]] controlled the [[8th Infantry Division (South Korea)|8th Infantry Division]] and [[Capital Division (South Korea)|Capital Divisions]], while [[II Corps (South Korea)|II Corps]] controlled the [[1st Infantry Division (South Korea)|1st Infantry Division]] and [[6th Infantry Division (South Korea)|6th Infantry Division]]. A reconstituted ROK [[3rd Infantry Division (South Korea)|3rd Infantry Division]] was placed under direct ROK control.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=253}}{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=109}} Morale among the UN units was low due to the large number of defeats incurred to that point in the war.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=255}}{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=108}} US forces had suffered over 6,000 casualties over the past month, while the ROK had lost an estimated 70,000.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=113}}{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=262}}

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Overall command of the naval force was taken by the [[US Seventh Fleet]], and the bulk of the naval power provided was also from the US.{{sfn|Marolda|2007|p=14}} The United Kingdom also provided a small naval task force including an aircraft carrier and several cruisers. Eventually, [[Australia in the Korean War|Australia]], [[Canada in the Korean War|Canada]], the [[Netherlands]], and [[New Zealand in the Korean War|New Zealand]] provided ships as well.{{sfn|Marolda|2007|p=15}} Several hundred fighter-bombers of the [[Fifth Air Force]] were positioned within the perimeter and in Japan, and just off the coast were US Navy aircraft aboard the {{USS|Valley Forge|CV-45|6}} and the {{USS|Philippine Sea|CV-47|6}}. By the end of the battle the Eighth Army had more air support than General [[Omar Bradley]]'s [[Twelfth United States Army Group]] in [[European Theater of Operations|Europe]] during World War II.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=126-127}}

From south to northeast, the KPA units positioned opposite the UN units were the [[83d Motorized Regiment (North Korea)|83rd Motorized Regiment]] of the [[105th Armored Division (North Korea)|105th Armored Division]] and then the [[6th Division (North Korea)|6th]],{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=253}} [[4th Division (North Korea)|4th]], [[3rd Division (North Korea)|3rd]], [[2nd Division (North Korea)|2nd]], [[15th Division (North Korea)|15th]],{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=254}} [[1st Division (North Korea)|1st]], [[13th Division (North Korea)|13th]], [[8th Division (North Korea)|8th]], [[12th Division (North Korea)|12th]], and [[5th Division (North Korea)|5th]] ~~Divisions~~divisions and the [[766th Independent Infantry Regiment (North Korea)|766th Independent Infantry Regiment]].{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=255}}

Throughout September 1950, as the battle raged, more UN forces arrived from the US and other locations.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=133}} The [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Infantry Division]], [[5th Regimental Combat Team]],{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=257}} [[1st Provisional Marine Brigade]], and [[British 27th Commonwealth Brigade]] arrived in Busan later in the fighting, along with large numbers of fresh troops and equipment, including over 500 tanks.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=226}}{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=258}} By the end of the battle, Eighth Army's force had gone from three under-strength, under-prepared divisions to four formations that were well-equipped and ready for war.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=134}}[[File:UN troops offload.jpg|thumb|250px|alt=Troops unload supplies from a boat at a pier|UN troops unload in Korea]] [[File:Tank on Crane.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A crane hoisting a tank into a boat|An [[M4 Sherman]] tank being loaded onto a barge at the port of [[Oakland, California]], prior to shipment to Pusan, 1950.]]

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=== Naktong Bulge ===

About {{convert|7|mi}} north of the confluence of the Naktong and Nam ~~Rivers~~rivers, the Naktong curves westward opposite [[Yeongsan|Yongsan]] in a wide semicircular loop. For most of this span, the Naktong river is around {{convert|1300|ft}} wide and {{convert|6|ft}} deep, allowing infantry to wade across with some difficulty, but preventing vehicles from crossing without assistance.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=119}} This perimeter was manned by a network of observation posts on the high ground where forces from the 24th Infantry Division monitored the river area.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=135}} Forces in reserve would counterattack any attempted crossings by KPA forces.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=290}} The division was spread extremely thinly; already understrength, it presented a very weak line.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=120}}{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=291}}

[[File:Marines at Naktong River.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Two men in military uniforms sitting on a ledge overlooking a river|US Marines sit on a newly captured position overlooking the Naktong River, August 19]]

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==== North Korean crossing ====

[[File:USMC Casualty Naktong River.jpg|thumb|US Navy Corpsman treats US Marine casualty from the front line of the battle, August 17.|alt=Medics treat a pair of injured men in a tent in the middle of a jungle]]

On the night of August 5–6, 800 KPA soldiers began wading across the river at the Ohang ferry site, {{convert|3.5|mi}} south of Pugong-ni and west of Yongsan, carrying light weapons and supplies over their heads or on rafts.{{sfn|Gugeler|2005|p=30}}{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=293}} A second force attempted to cross the river further north but met with resistance and fell back. On the morning of August 6, the KPA attacked in an attempt to penetrate the lines to Yongsan.{{sfn|Gugeler|2005|p=30}} This caught the Americans, who were expecting an attack from further north, by surprise and drove them back.,{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=121}} ~~Subsequently,~~and the KPA ~~were able to capture~~captured a large amount of American equipment.{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=25}} The attack threatened to split the American lines and disrupt supply lines to the north.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=136}}

Despite American counterattacks, the KPA were able to continue pressing forward and take Cloverleaf Hill and Oblong-ni Ridge, critical terrain astride the main road in the bulge area.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=121}}{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=136}} By August 10 the entire KPA 4th Division was across the river and beginning to move south, outflanking the American lines. The next day, scattered KPA elements attacked Yongsan.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=136}}{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=302}} The KPA forces repeatedly attacked US lines at night, when American soldiers were resting and had greater difficulty resisting.{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=26}}

==== North Korean defeat ====

The 1st Marine Provisional Brigade, in conjunction with ''Task Force Hill'', mounted a massive offensive on Cloverleaf Hill and Obong-ni on August 17.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=130}} At first tenacious KPA defense halted the ~~Marines~~marines' push. The KPA then mounted a counterattack following this in hopes of pushing the ~~Marines~~marines back, but this failed disastrously.{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=26}}{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=134}}{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=139}} By nightfall on August 18, the KPA 4th Division had been nearly annihilated and Obong-ni and Cloverleaf Hill had been retaken by US forces.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=134}} The next day, the remains of the 4th Division withdrew completely across the river.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=317}}{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=27}} In their hasty retreat, they left a large number of artillery pieces and equipment behind which the Americans used.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=140}}

=== Eastern corridor ===

The terrain along the ROK front on the eastern corridor made movement extremely difficult. A major road ran from Daegu {{convert|50|mi}} east, to P'ohang-dong on Korea's east coast.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=319}} The only major ~~north-south~~north–south road intersecting this line moved south from Andong through [[Yongch'on]], midway between Daegu and P'ohang-dong. The only other natural entry through the line was at the town of [[An'gang-ni]], {{convert|12|mi}} west of P'ohang-dong, situated near a valley through the natural rugged terrain to the major rail hub of Kyongju, which was a staging post for moving supplies to Daegu.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=319}} Walker chose not to heavily reinforce the area as he felt the terrain made meaningful attack impossible, preferring to respond to attack with reinforcements from the transportation routes and air cover from [[Pohang Airport|Yongil Airfield]], which was south of P'ohang-dong.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=320}}

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[[File:Marines carrying wounded - Pusan.jpg|thumb|Marines carrying a wounded man in a stretcher in August 1950.|alt=a group of men carry an injured man on a stretcher through a grass field|277x277px]]

On August 10, the Eighth Army organized ''Task Force P'ohang'' — the [[17th Infantry Brigade (South Korea)|ROK 17th]], 25th, and 26th ~~Regiments~~regiments as well as the ROK 1st Anti-Guerrilla Battalion, Marine Battalion and a battery from the US [[18th Field Artillery Regiment]]. This task force was given the mission to clear out KPA forces in the mountainous region.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=322}} At the same time, Eighth Army formed ''Task Force Bradley'' under Brigadier ~~general~~General [[Joseph S. Bradley]], consisting of elements of the [[8th Infantry Regiment (United States)|8th Infantry Regiment]], 2nd Infantry Division.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=325}} ''Task Force Bradley'' was tasked with defending P'ohang-dong.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=326}} What followed was a complicated series of fights throughout the region around P'ohang-dong and An'gang-ni as ROK forces, aided by US air forces, engaged groups of KPA in the area. The KPA 12th Division was operating in the valley west of P'ohang-dong and was able to push back ''Task Force P'ohang'' and the ROK Capital Division, which was along the line to the east. At the same time, the KPA 766th Infantry Regiment and elements of the KPA 5th Division fought ''Task Force Bradley'' at and south of P'ohang-dong. US naval fire drove the KPA troops from the town, but it became a bitterly contested [[no man's land]] as fighting moved to the surrounding hills.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=327}}[[File:South Koreans at Pusan.jpg|thumb|alt=Lines of troops marching along a road|ROK troops advance to the front lines near P'ohang-dong|left|235x235px]]

==== Fight for P'ohang-dong ====

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=== Daegu ===

Shortly before the Busan Perimeter battles began, Walker established Daegu as the Eighth Army's headquarters.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=135}} Right at the center of the Busan Perimeter, Daegu stood at the entrance to the Naktong River valley, an area where KPA forces could advance in large numbers in close support. The natural barriers provided by the Naktong River to the south and the mountainous terrain to the north converged around ~~Taegu~~Daegu, which was also the major transportation hub and last major South Korean city aside from Busan itself to remain in UN hands.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=335}} From south to north, the city was defended by the US 1st Cavalry Division, and the ROK 1st and 6th ~~Divisions~~divisions of ROK II Corps. 1st Cavalry Division was spread out along a long line along the Naktong River to the south, with its [[5th Cavalry Regiment|5th]] and [[8th Cavalry Regiment|8th cavalry regiment]]s holding a line {{convert|24|km}} along the river and the [[7th Cavalry Regiment]] in reserve along with artillery forces, ready to reinforce anywhere a crossing could be attempted.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=337}}

==== Daegu advance ====

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South of Waegwan, two more KPA divisions stood ready to cross the Naktong River in a coordinated attack with the divisions to the north.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=339}} The experienced KPA 3rd Division was concentrated in the vicinity of [[Songju]], while the untested KPA 10th Division was concentrated in the [[Goryeong County|Koryong]] area.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=141}} These two divisions crossed in the US 1st Cavalry Division's line. The KPA 3rd Division's 7th Regiment started crossing the Naktong on August 9. Despite being spotted and taking fire, the bulk of it reached the east bank safely and moved inland into the hills.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=339}} The 5th Cavalry Regiment and its supporting artillery, now fully alerted, spotted the other two regiments and forced them back to the west bank.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=141}} Only a small number of KPA reached the east side where either they were captured, or hid until recrossing the river the following night.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=339}}

At dawn on August 9, 1st Cavalry Division learned of the North Korean crossing.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=340}} KPA infantry had gathered on Hill 268, also known as Triangulation Hill, which was {{convert|3|mi}} southeast of Waegwan and {{convert|10|mi}} northwest of Taegu.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=341}} The hill was important for its proximity to lines of communication, as the main Korean ~~north-south~~north–south highway and the main double-track Seoul-Pusan railroad skirted its base.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=340}} 1st Cavalry Division counterattacked the KPA gathering to force them back across the river, but their initial assault was repelled. The next morning, August 10, air strikes and artillery barrages rocked Hill 268, devastating the KPA, who withdrew back behind the river.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=341}}

==== Yongp'o ====

The KPA plan for the attack against Taegu from the west and southwest demanded the KPA 3rd and 10th ~~Divisions~~divisions make a coordinated attack. {{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=342}} Elements of the 10th Division began crossing the Naktong early on August 12, in the vicinity of Tuksong-dong, on the Koryong-Taegu road, but were driven back.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=142}} A more determined KPA crossing began early in the morning on August 14.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=142}} This attack also stalled and was driven back to the river.{{sfn|Leckie|1996|p=113}} By nightfall, the [[bridgehead]] at Yongp'o was eliminated.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=344}}

==== Carpet bombing ====

[[File:Waegwan Bombing.jpg|thumb|250px|alt=Bombs explode over a large area of land|US Air Force post-strike picture of a {{convert|3.5|by|7.5|mi|km|adj=on}} area near Waegwan, in which 99 bombers dropped 3,500 ~~500lb~~500 lb bombs]]

In the mountains northeast of Waegwan, the ROK 1st Division continued to suffer from KPA attacks throughout mid-August. KPA pressure against the division never ceased for long. US planners believed the main KPA attack would come from the west, and so it massed its forces to the west of Taegu. It mistakenly believed up to 40,000 KPA troops were near Taegu. This number was above the actual troop numbers for the KPA, which had only 70,000 men along the entire perimeter.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=142}}

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Fed by intelligence from the [[Soviet Union]], the North Koreans were aware the UN forces were building up along the Pusan Perimeter and that they had to conduct an offensive soon or else forfeit the battle.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=139}} In planning its new offensive, the KPA commanders decided that any attempt to flank the UN force was impossible thanks to the support of UN naval forces.{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=31}} Instead, they opted to use frontal attacks to breach the perimeter and collapse it.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=393}} A secondary objective was to surround Taegu and destroy the UN units in that city. As part of this mission, the KPA would first cut the supply lines to Taegu.{{sfn|Millett|2000|p=506}}

North Korean planners enlarged their force in anticipation of a new offensive.{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=32}} The KPA, originally numbering 10 divisions in two corps, was enlarged to 14 divisions with several independent brigades.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=394}} The new troops were brought in from reserve forces based in North Korea.{{sfn|Millett|2000|p=507}} [[Marshal]] [[Choe Yong-gon (army commander)|Choe Yong Gun]] served as deputy commander of the KPA, with General [[Kim Chaek]] in charge of the Front Headquarters.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=139}} Beneath them were the II Corps in the east and I Corps in the west. II Corps controlled the KPA 10th, 2nd, 4th, 9th, 7th, and 6th ~~Divisions~~divisions as well as the 105th Armored Division, with the [[16th Armored Brigade]] and [[104th Security Brigade]] in support. I Corps commanded the 3rd, 13th, 1st, 8th, 15th, 12th, and 5th ~~Divisions~~divisions with the 17th Armored Brigade in support.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=394}} This force numbered approximately 97,850 men, although a third of it comprised raw recruits or forced conscripts from South Korea, and lacked weapons and equipment.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=395}}{{sfn|Millett|2000|p=508}} By August 31 they were facing a UN force of 120,000 combat troops plus 60,000 support troops.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=181}}

On August 20, the KPA commands distributed operations orders to their subordinate units.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=139}} These orders called for a simultaneous five-prong attack against the UN lines. This would overwhelm the UN defenders and allow the KPA to break through the lines in at least one place to push the UN forces back. Five battle groupings were ordered as follows:{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=395}}

# 6th and 7th ~~Divisions~~divisions to break through the US 25th Infantry Division at Masan.

# 9th, 4th, 2nd, and 10th ~~Divisions~~divisions to break through the US 2nd Infantry Division at the Naktong Bulge to Miryang and Yongsan.

# 3rd, 13th, and 1st ~~Divisions~~divisions to break through the US 1st Cavalry Division and ROK 1st Division to Taegu.

# 8th and 15th ~~Divisions~~divisions to break through the ROKA 8th Division and ROKA 6th Division to [[Hayang]] and Yongch'on.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=396}}

# 12th and 5th ~~Divisions~~divisions to break through the ROKA Capital Division and ROKA 3rd Division to P'ohang-dong and Kyongju.

On August 22, North Korean ~~Premier~~premier [[Kim Il Sung]] ordered the war to be over by September 1, but the scale of the offensive did not allow for this.{{sfn|Millett|2000|p=507}} Groups 1 and 2 were to begin their attack at 23:30 on August 31 and ~~Groups~~groups 3, 4, and 5 would begin their attacks at 18:00 on September 2.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=396}} The attacks were to closely connect in order to overwhelm UN troops at each point simultaneously, forcing breakthroughs in multiple places that the UN would be unable to reinforce.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=139}}{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=181}} The KPA also relied primarily on night attacks to counter the UN's major advantages in air superiority and naval firepower. KPA generals thought such night attacks would prevent UN forces from firing effectively and result in large numbers of UN [[friendly fire]] casualties.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=182}}

The attacks caught UN planners and troops by surprise.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=180}} By August 26, the UN troops believed they had destroyed the last serious threats to the perimeter, and anticipated the war ending by late November.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=397}} ROK units, in the meantime, suffered from low morale thanks to their failures to defend effectively thus far in the conflict.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=398}} UN troops were looking ahead to [[Operation Chromite]], their [[amphibious assault]] far behind North Korean lines at the port of Inchon on September 15, and did not anticipate the KPA would mount a serious offensive before then.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=180}}

The Great Naktong Offensive was one of the most brutal fights of the Korean War.{{sfn|Varhola|2000|p=7}} The five-prong offensive led to heavy fighting around [[Battle of Haman|Haman]], [[Battle of Kyongju|Kyongju]], [[Second Battle of Naktong Bulge|Naktong Bulge]], [[Battle of Nam River|Nam River]], [[Battle of Yongsan|Yongsan]], [[Battle of Tabu-Dong|Tabu-Dong]] and [[Battle of Ka-san|Ka-san]].{{sfn|Millett|2000|p=557}}{{sfn|Bowers|Hammong|MacGarrigle|2005|p=162}} The KPA attacks made appreciable gains and forced the UN troops along the Pusan Perimeter to form a thin line of defense, relying on mobile reserves for the strength to push back KPA attackers. From September 1{{spaced ndash}}8 this fighting was intense and the battle was a very costly deadlock for the two overextended armies.{{sfn|Catchpole|2001|p=36}} The KPA were initially successful in breaking through UN lines in multiple places and made substantial gains in surrounding and pushing back UN units.{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=139}} On September 4–5 the situation was so dire for the UN troops that the Eighth Army and ROK moved their headquarters elements from Taegu to Pusan to prevent them from being overrun, though Walker remained in Taegu with a small forward detachment. They also prepared their logistics systems for a retreat to a smaller defensive perimeter called the ''"Davidson Line''". By September 6, however, Walker decided another retreat would not be necessary.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=416}}

On September 15, exhausted KPA troops were caught unaware by the [[Battle of Inchon|landings at Inchon]], far behind their lines. Those forces that remained after 15 days of fighting were forced to retreat in a total rout or risk being completely cut off.{{sfn|Bowers|Hammong|MacGarrigle|2005|p=176}} Isolated KPA resistance continued until September 18, but on that date UN troops were mounting a full-scale [[Pusan Perimeter offensive|breakout offensive]] and [[UN September 1950 counteroffensive|pursuing retreating KPA units]] to the north, ending the fighting around the Pusan Perimeter.{{sfn|Bowers|Hammong|MacGarrigle|2005|p=175}}

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Both the UN and KPA forces suffered massive casualties. The US 5th Regimental Combat Team had 269 killed, 574 wounded and four captured during the battle.{{sfn|Ecker|2004|p=14}} The US 1st Cavalry Division suffered 770 killed, 2,613 wounded and 62 captured.{{sfn|Ecker|2004|p=16}} The 2nd Infantry Division suffered 1,120 killed, 2,563 wounded, 67 captured and 69 missing.{{sfn|Ecker|2004|p=25}} The 24th Infantry Division suffered 402 killed, 1,086 wounded, five captured and 29 missing.{{sfn|Ecker|2004|p=26}} The 29th Infantry Regimental Combat Team suffered 86 killed, 341 wounded, 1 captured and 7 missing.{{sfn|Ecker|2004|p=27}} The 25th Infantry Division suffered 650 killed, 1,866 wounded, four captured and 10 missing.{{sfn|Ecker|2004|p=29}} With other non-divisional units, the US Army's total casualty count for the battle was 3,390 killed, 9,326 wounded, 97 captured (9 of whom died in captivity) and 174 missing, adding up to 12,987 casualties.{{sfn|Ecker|2004|p=30}} The US Marine Corps suffered 185 killed, the US Navy suffered 14 killed and the USAF suffered 53 killed.{{sfn|Ecker|2004|p=24}} Another 736 were killed, 2,919 wounded and 12 missing during the breakout offensive from the perimeter.{{sfn|Ecker|2004|p=39}} The official count for US casualties was 4,599 killed, 12,058 wounded, 2,701 missing, 401 captured.{{sfn|Varhola|2000|p=6}}{{sfn|Ecker|2004|p=32}} South Korean casualty numbers are nearly impossible to estimate, but are known to be at least twice the total UN casualty count, or at least 40,000.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=605}} The US also lost 60 tanks in the fight, bringing the total number lost in the war to that date to 136.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=602}}

There were also a small number of British casualties in the campaign, including five soldiers killed. [[Naval rating]] J.W. Addison was the first casualty in ~~Pusan~~Busan, killed August 23 aboard {{HMS|Comus|R43|6}} when the ship was attacked by a North Korean aircraft.{{sfn|''The Times'', August 24, 1950}} On August 29, Lieutenant Commander I. M. MacLachlan, commander of [[800 Naval Air Squadron]], was killed in an aircraft accident aboard {{HMS|Triumph|R16|6}}.{{sfn|''The Times'', August 29, 1950}} Additionally, three British troops of the 27th Brigade were killed near ~~Taegu~~Daegu; Private Reginald Streeter was killed September 4, and Captain C. N. A. Buchanan and Private T. Taylor died September 6. Another 17 British soldiers were wounded in the area.{{sfn|''The Times'', September 6, 1950}}

Two [[war correspondent]]s were killed in the campaign, [[Ian Morrison (journalist)|Ian Morrison]], a reporter for ''[[The Times]]'', and [[Christopher Buckley (journalist)|Christopher Buckley]], a reporter for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', were killed August 13 near Waegwan when their vehicle struck a landmine. One [[India]]n [[Indian Armed Forces|Armed Forces]] officer was also killed in the incident, Colonel [[Manakampat Kesavan Unni Nayar]], a representative from the [[UNCOK|United Nations Commission on Korea]].{{sfn|''The Times'', August 14, 1950}}

North Korean casualties for the battle are almost impossible to ~~estimate~~reasonably ~~precisely~~estimate due to a lack of records. It is difficult to determine how many South Korean citizens were forcibly conscripted during the battle and how many deserted as opposed to being killed. Larger engagements destroyed entire regiments and even divisions of KPA troops, and their strength had to be estimated based on accounts of KPA captured by the UN. On September 1, the KPA numbered approximately 97,850 in South Korea, and up to one third of this number is suspected to have been conscripts from South Korea.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=395}} In the aftermath of the ~~Pusan~~Busan Perimeter battle, only 25,000 or 30,000 of these soldiers returned to North Korea by the end of the month. Upwards of one third of the attacking force became casualties in the fighting. This would mean KPA casualties from September 1 to 15 could range from roughly 41,000 to 36,000 killed and captured, with an unknown number of wounded.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=604}} With the addition of the 5,690 killed in the Bowling Alley, 3,500 at the Naktong Bulge,{{sfn|Fehrenbach|2001|p=134}} at least 3,700 at ~~Taegu~~Daegu{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=142}}{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=345}}{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=347}} and an unknown number at P'ohang-dong before September 1, KPA casualties likely topped 50,000 to 60,000 by the end of the battle. They also lost 239 T-34 tanks and 74 SU-76 self-propelled guns; virtually all of the armor they possessed.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=602}}

=== War crimes ===