Evening star., 1950-12-25
Hungnam Operation
Is Called 'Amphibious
Landing in Reverse
Was Among Smoothest
Pieces Of Work in U. S.
Military History
Bv David Lascrence

By David Lascrence
The United States Navy could
have kept up the bombardment
for weeks at the Hungnam beach
head on the northeast coast of
Korea and could have held off
almost any number of Chinese
Communists-but it wasn't neces-
sary. For when the withdrawal
YVES complete, the port was use
less and our troops were headed
for employment elsewhere.
An amphibious landing III re-
verse is what has just been ac-
complished without a hitch. 1t
was one of the smoothest mill
tary operations of it's size in our
history. The United Nations
forces were not under panicky
pressure-they took their time
over a period of 10 days and the
whole thing went off without a
mishap. This was no Dunkirk.
Some day the story should be
told in technical detail, and prob
ably will be soon. For it demon
strates what naval gunfire plus
naval aircraft support can do. The
curtain of fire was maintained
night and day, irrespective of
weather conditions. The constant
shelling from the battleship
Missouri and some heavy cruisers
and several destroys consti-
tuted a barrage such as can be
laid down in a sustained manner
around the clock in no other way.
Ready for Submarines.
AS for Russian submarines,
which it was assumed would also
volunteer for service with the
Chinese Communists, the Navy
was ready for them. Every heavy
ship was ringed by fast-moving
destroyers. All the latest tech
niques of detection which are
available for spotting and hunt
ing down submarines were ready
for instant use. The fleet was
ready for enemy aircraft, too, as
the new antiaircraft guns on our
ships fire automatically with al
most machine-gun rapidity.
: The big carriers, of which there
were several present, also had
their rim of protecting destroyers
and auxiliary craft. 1t was. in
fact, a full-sized Navy task force
of the sort that was operating in
the Pacific war as a part of the
major fleet in 1945.
The number of ships used and
the orderly way in which not only
men but artillery pieces, tanks,
vehicles and other equipment and
supplies were loaded during this
mammoth operation cannot be re-
vealed now for reasons of security
but at least 100000 United Nations
forces in Northeast Korea. Adding
to these the tens of thousands of
North Korean civilians evacuated
the same way gives some idea of
what gigantic task, of withdrawal
was performed. ......
~ In a sense, the naval operation
was an xample of the basic prin-
ciples of warfare which heavy
ships have always been expected
to execute. Only a year ago, lay
men were scoffing at the battle
ship Missouri. aground in the mud
off Norfolk To-day the Missouri is
in fighting form and along with
her, in full commission, soon will
be three OIL e1 battleships.
Two More on Way.
1t became known today. for in
stance, that the battleships New
Jersey and Wisconsin are virtually
ready and hat another battleship
may be in the line later. Thus
America refloats a whole division
of battleships for service anywhere
on the seven seas that the neces-
sity may arise to protect with
heavy gunfire the movement of
our troops at seaports.
Along with the pattleships will
go cruisers and destroyers aplenty.
For little by little the big Amer
lean fleet is coming out of moth
balls" to do the job it was designed
to do before the wishful- thinking
experts of the De Seversky school
of thought Inisled Congress and
the American people into believing
navies and ground armies are
obsolete.
There are whispers, too, that
the big battleships with their
sturdy decks may have a new
value-for emplacements from
which to fire guided missiles close
to shore. These missiles do not
have to wait on clear weather
They can be directed to targets
with amazing accuracy through
the use IL those proximity fuses
which began to show their effec-
tiveness toward the end of World
WdE IL.
But today there is easier breath
ing here as the Navy gets through
a tense period of old-fashioned
bombardment while tens of thou
sands of troops were safely en-
barked on waiting transports. 1t
was successful operation but it
would not have been so effective
had it not been for the naval avia-
tors who directed the fire of the
gunners on the warshipS by tele-
phoning from frequent sorties
along the shore. This is one of the
techniques perfected during World
War II. 1t makes the phrase "sea
power" seem inadequate. For it
has in truth become sea-air power.
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