Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

35-minute assault river crossing ...The Blue “offensive operations”

2,000 soldiers and 130 tanks and armored vehicles cross the river
Self-propelled guns, K-9 and K-55, broke through the defensive forces line
Soldiers deployed at expected counterattack area to install blocking obstacles

On the morning of November 18, dusky spray rose up from the Namhan River, the border area between Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do and Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do. It was cold, with hoarfrost still on the field of reeds, but the air was heating up because of soldiers from the 26th Division, preparing for a river crossing.

On the eighth day of the patriotic training, a river crossing operation to secure a bridgehead was conducted by the attacking division. As the 11th Division, the defensive unit, destroyed the bridge of the main operational area the previous day, it became a necessary operation to get to Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, the final attacking target point. Due to this, the division made a full effort to select and secure the crossing site. Lion unit, the subordinate of the division, and Lightning unit, the subordinate of the capital mechanized infantry division, arrived at the crossing site the previous day and successfully obtained a security area after destroying enemy units that tried to enter.

● Delayed river crossing due to fog … completed in an instant

However, that day’s operation was delayed due to the thick fog. The fog is normally a very favorable weather condition for river crossing operations. “Fog blocks the enemy’s view, so in an actual fight, it is good to cross the river immediately. But we were delaying it for safety reasons in this training,” explained Major Cho Jun-Sang, the operations officer of the Lion unit.

The river crossing started around 11 a.m. With infantrymen crossing the river by boat, armored vehicles followed them with a roar. Soldiers completed the assault river crossing, the highlight of the river crossing operations, in just 35 minutes.

When infantrymen and armored vehicles occupied the target site, boats for bridge construction covered the 100m-wide river to build a raft and floating bridge. They first built the raft at around 1 p.m., so that tanks, chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) equipment and military engineers could cross the river, then built floating bridges to allow the rest of the units to cross the river quickly as well. Above the river, three Cobra, AH-1S, the main force of the ROK Army air powers, covered the air to protect from enemy attack.

Speed is critical for the river crossing operation because many soldiers should move within a small area. Displaying combat skills polished every day, soldiers completed the bridge. It is not easy work to make an elaborate raft and floating bridge against a strong current and enemy interruption; however, they made a consistent move and finished their mission.

It was around 2:40 p.m. when 2,000 soldiers and 130 tanks and armored vehicles finished the river crossing in success. “Today’s most important mission was the rapid river crossing. If it gets delayed, movement of the main attacking forces is limited, and it can result a delay of the entire operation,“ said Major Lee Sang-Yeol, the training planning officer of the Division.

● Soldiers make it through violent cold and rough land … secured the bridgehead

While the river crossing proceeded, the defensive units decisively stopped the attack. The division cut through the blocking line with self-propelled guns, K-9 and K-55. After the completion of the river crossing, they kept removing threatening elements by attacking enemy forces who spreaded everywhere. Covering and reconnaissance in the air with aviational fighting forces continued.

The division prepared the bridgehead at two places in the Yeoju area beyond the Namhan River. So far, it was Lion and Lightening units who protected the bridgehead area to take an important role in the operation.

In particular the Lion unit, which secured the proceeding bridgehead, undertakes a critical assignment that blocks the defensive unit to concentrate the military force and protect the bridgehead area, a strategic location. Also, they should prepare for the counteroffensive of the enemy. Major Cho said, “It is expected that the defensive unit counterattacks us by mobilizing several battalions. We have deployed defense forces at expected areas and installed blocking obstacles such as mines, barbed-wire, road craters, etc.”

The division will make the main attacking unit, which stood by in the rear, march north through this bridgehead. But it still seemed to have a serious engagement surrounding the bridgehead. Since the defensive unit also is taking note of the movement of the division, it is a very important moment to decide the direction of the main attacking unit’s movement. Major Lee said, “Once we move the main attacking units to the opposite side of the river through the bridgehead area, then we will employ the flexible tactics so that they can arrive at the target point, rapidly responding to the defensive unit. Since we also have to prepare for the counterattack, there will be some modifications in the entire operational plan. We have several scenarios assuming situations in 4-6 hours.” According to the Major, the division has established 12 operational plans so far.

With the success in overcoming the biting cold and strong wind and crossing the Namhan River, which was the most difficult obstacle to reach the target point, the soldiers’ morale is about as high as it can get. During the intensive training started on November 11, they were tired but filled with passion to complete the rest of the mission with powerful firing power and rapid mobility. Lieutenant Colonel Choi Gu-Sik, the commander of Gangbyeong battalion who conducted the river crossing operation, showed confidence, saying that they would take a step forward the goal, destroying any defensive unit that blocks their way.

The attack operation conducted in subfreezing river wind is heating up the patriotic training field and heading toward the climax.

From Namhan River, By Su-Yeol, Maeng < guns13@dema.mil.kr >
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