The Inchon Landing

[Albany Rifles]

70 years ago today the UN went on the counteroffensive in Korea.

The majority of the forces were US but there was a large Commonwealth, ROK, French & Dutch naval forces as well. Interestingly there was also a Japanese presence.

After World War 2 ended, the Japanese merchant marine fleet was wiped out thanks to both the efficacy of the US Pacific Fleets Submarine Forces and USAAF mining campaigns during the war. To provide inter-island communications the Japanese were provided 37 surplus LSTs to use to move personnel, equipment and goods throughout Japan. When the planning began for Inchon the US PAcific Fleet realized they were desperately short of LSTs. Because of the huge tidal shifts at inchon LSTs were critical to the success of the operation. To solve the issue the US Navy leased back the 37 LSTs with Japanese crews and sailed them under UN flags. So while the Japanese did not formally participate in the Korean War there were instances where they contributed. If you see reference to a UN flag vessel during War it's a pretty good bet that it was a Japanese vessel with a Japanese crew.

To no ones surprise the vessels all were immaculate and in a very high state of readiness and reliability.


https://history.army.mil/html/booksh...t02/sec01.html

A ton of material available here on the US Counteroffensive.

[tbm3fan]

I clearly recall Fleet Weeks in San Francisco when not only the US Navy but foreign Navies would also show up. Usually Canada and Japan. Have been on several Japanese warships and was mightily impressed with their super clean and ship shape condition compared to ours. They were on a whole other level and this was before the USS Hornet ever showed up as a museum where I try to duplicate them. Luckily I am a perfectionist in this sort of thing so it is not as though it is hard. I also remember being on the Connie back in 1999 and while touring the ship on my own took to task a sailor as to why I was seeing rusted off at the base stuffing tubes around the Island. So much for being water tight and where was the Chief...

[Dazed]

70 years ago today the UN went on the counteroffensive in Korea.

The majority of the forces were US but there was a large Commonwealth, ROK, French & Dutch naval forces as well. Interestingly there was also a Japanese presence.

After World War 2 ended, the Japanese merchant marine fleet was wiped out thanks to both the efficacy of the US Pacific Fleets Submarine Forces and USAAF mining campaigns during the war. .

The Korean War was a first step in the post war industrialization of Japan. Making tires and fabricating parts for the US. Not to to mention the infrastructure required for a forward staging area.