Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Indomitable will to cross a river despite the biting wind

Cogwheel-teamwork with hundreds of mechanized equipment

The earth started shaking. The silence at dawn soon disappeared into the river with the rising sun. A dozen armoured vehicles hurtled to the river with a roaring sound. Smoke bombs spreaded here and there created protection for the assault river crossing of the vehicles. On November 12, the third day of patriotic training, a large-scale river crossing operation was conducted in parts of the Namhan River by the 11th Division, the attack forces.

The hundreds of mechanized equipment presented a grand sight in this peaceful river basin. Our military fully demonstrated its all strategic and tactical abilities.

Cold weather due to a sudden drop in temperatures could not cool the soldiers’ passion for training. A biting wind blowing along the river could also not break their spirit to cross the river. They used combat skills learned through intensive training at their optimal level, using this engagement in actual training as an opportunity through which they could further develop their fighting capability.

The river crossing with hundreds of mechanized equipment proceeded just like a cogwheel. As soon as the infantrymen crossed the river by boat in the early dawn, the armoured vehicles rushed into the river. Then, raft and floating bridge construction by boats for bridge erection followed. Dozens of boats moved the parts of bridge and linked and settled them around the river. While they constructed the floating bridge which takes a relatively longer time, three rafts transported 20 K-1 tanks over the river, coming and going across the 200-meter width to either side of the river. After the completion of the floating bridge, the main equipment such as regular vehicles, combat support equipment, self-propelled guns and military forces crossed the river, announcing their arrival. At this time, above the river, the army aviation force prepared for counteroffensive protection of the defensive unit. Several Cobras defended our river-crossing soldiers, circling the river. Meanwhile, a reconnaissance helicopter watched enemy movement closely.

The river crossing operations successfully continued until 5 p.m. Minimizing damage, the 11th Division increased its fighting ability for “enemy central strike operations” to be conducted the next day. The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Choi Yun-Hee, visited the training site and saw our military’s powerful strength for himself. He said, “North Korea keeps provoking us at the Military Demarcation Line and the Northern Limit Line(NLL) as well. Be the strong army bringing great fear to the enemy by having the best readiness against the enemy and gaining the confidence of the people.”

And, Colonel Im Hyung-Wook, the commander of Tuho unit, 11th Division, said, “With the conviction that intensive training can only make the forces strong, we’ve conducted the river crossing training and developed actual fighting capability. We will give our best effort to complete the military’s proper duty.”

Meanwhile, the 26th Division, the defense forces, interrupted the river crossing of the attack forces, focusing on combined fighting power. After the operation, they prepared for the next defensive operation through a strategic retreat.

By Yeong-Sun, Lee < vs119@dema.mil.kr >
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