Operation Killer

Part of the Korean War

Date	20 February – 6 March 1951
Location	Korea
Result	U.N. victory

Belligerents

United Nations:

China

North Korea

Commanders and leaders

Matthew Ridgway

Basil Aubrey Coad

Peng Dehuai

Casualties and losses

59 killed, 802 wounded, 119 missing

7,819 killed, 1,469 wounded, 208 POW

United Nations:

Not to be confused with Operation Rat Killer during the same war.

Operation Killer was the start of the second major counter offensive launched by United Nations forces against the Chinese Communist People's Volunteer Army and the North Korean Army during the Korean War between 20 February and 6 March 1951. The offensive was formulated by General Matthew Ridgway with the goal of annihilating enemy forces south of a line designated the "Arizona Line". The operation was immediately followed by Operation Ripper.

A line for operations was drawn from Yangpyoeng eastwards to positions north of Hoengsong and along the east-west portion of the Wonju-Kangnung highway, all about twelve to fifteen miles above the front line. It was given the name "Arizona line".

The 2nd Division jumped-off on "Operation Killer" on 22 February. The initial advance was slow, not so much due to resistance as to terrain. The sector assigned to the 2nd Division presented enormous problems. However, by 1700 hours both the 9th and 38th Infantry Regiments had reached the Chuchon River where swift waters and a lack of bridges delayed crossing. The engineers constructed a foot bridge for immediate use of the 9th Infantry and, in the 23rd Infantry Regiment's zone of advance, tanks of the regimental tank company were used to ferry people to the north bank. The 9th Infantry ran into moderate resistance on 23 February but with all three battalions teaming up, an enemy force of 2,000 was routed, dispersed to the north, leaving their dead and wounded behind.

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Wikipedia