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27 November in military history: Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, 1950

Military history · 27 November · Korean WarFull calendar

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US Marines of the 1st Marine Division in helmets and winter coats walking across a snowy field past an M26 Pershing tank in Korea, winter 1950 to 1951, snowy mountains on the horizon
Marines of the 1st Marine Division move through the snow beside an M26 Pershing tank in the Korean winter of 1950 to 1951. US Marine Corps photograph by Corporal Peter McDonald. Public domain. Cpl Peter McDonald, US Marine Corps, via Wikimedia Commons.
Quick answer

On the night of 27 November 1950 Chinese divisions attacked the US 1st Marine Division at Yudam-ni, on the frozen Chosin Reservoir in North Korea, and cut its road south, while others fell on an Army task force east of the reservoir. The Army force was destroyed, but the Marines fought their way back to the coast.1

The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, 1950: breakout from the frozen hills

27 November to 13 December 1950 · 75 years ago

China won at Chosin Reservoir in 1950, but 30,000 UN troops, mostly US Marines, fought out of a 120,000-man trap to Hungnam. The cold, the breakout, a map.

Read the full story of The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, 1950: breakout from the frozen hills ›

Battle of Cape Spartivento, 1940: the inconclusive clash off Sardinia

27 November 1940 · 85 years ago

Royal Navy forces covering a convoy to Malta clashed off Cape Spartivento with the Italian fleet sent to intercept it, in World War II. Both sides drew off after a short, indecisive fight, which left the British cruiser Berwick and the Italian destroyer Lanciere damaged.

Read the full story of Battle of Cape Spartivento, 1940: the inconclusive clash off Sardinia ›

Frequently asked questions

When did the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir begin?

The Chinese attacked on the night of 27 November 1950, the day the US X Corps began its offensive west from the reservoir. The fighting and the withdrawal to the coast lasted into December.2

Who fought at the Chosin Reservoir?

The US 1st Marine Division, the Army's Task Force MacLean (later called Task Force Faith) and other X Corps units, against the Chinese IX Army Group.3

How did the Chosin Reservoir campaign end?

The Marines broke out to the port of Hungnam, and in December 1950 X Corps was evacuated by sea to South Korea.4

Notes

A number in the text points to a note; each note names the works that paragraph draws on, listed in full under Sources.

  1. Allan R. Millett, “Battle of the Chosin Reservoir”; Billy C. Mossman, via Internet Archive; Lynn Montross and Nicholas A. Canzona, via Internet Archive. ↩
  2. Allan R. Millett, “Battle of the Chosin Reservoir”; Billy C. Mossman, via Internet Archive; Lynn Montross and Nicholas A. Canzona, via Internet Archive. ↩
  3. Allan R. Millett, “Battle of the Chosin Reservoir”; Billy C. Mossman, via Internet Archive; Lynn Montross and Nicholas A. Canzona, via Internet Archive. ↩
  4. Allan R. Millett, “Battle of the Chosin Reservoir”; Billy C. Mossman, via Internet Archive; Lynn Montross and Nicholas A. Canzona, via Internet Archive. ↩

Sources

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