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I Battle of Inchon

History

Dated history of Battle of Inchon (15-19 September 1950 (landing and city; Seoul follows to 28 Sep)) in Inchon (Incheon) harbour and the approach to Seoul, Korea.

Educational history. Casualty figures are documented ranges. This is not operational advice, a ranking of nations, or a how-to for weapons or coups.

At a glance
Timeline

Milestones in order. This is history, not a weekly activity grid.

1950-08 Pusan holds1950-08-23 Briefing fight1950-09-13 Wolmi bombardment1950-09-15-am Wolmi-do1950-09-15-pm City landings1950-09-16-19 Inchon secured1950-09-20s Han and Seoul1950-09-28 Seoul ceremony1950-10 North of the parallel1950-10-25+ China enters
  1. Pusan holds
  2. Briefing fight
  3. Wolmi bombardment
  4. Wolmi-do
  5. City landings
  6. Inchon secured
  7. Han and Seoul
  8. Seoul ceremony
  9. North of the parallel
  10. China enters
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Quick answers

Are the scores a ranking of nations or armies?

No. Scores are browsing aids inside an era-bounded atlas — not live league tables of countries.

How many died?

UN/ROK killed in the Inchon-Seoul operation are usually given in the hundreds. KPA dead and captured were much higher. Civilian deaths in Seoul's recapture are part of a wider 1950 urban ledger -- use ranges, not a fake precision.

Why did it work?

Surprise, naval/air preparation, KPA overstretch in the south, and a plan fitted to tides. It was not magic and not costless.

Why was the Navy sceptical?

Tides, mudflats, channels, and seawalls -- Inchon was a hydrographic nightmare on paper. The sceptics were not cowards; they were sailors who could read a chart.

Did it end the Korean War?

No. It ended the first campaign. The war continued until 27 July 1953, after Chinese intervention.

Who commanded?

MacArthur at UNC; Admiral Doyle afloat; General Almond (X Corps); Marine generals (Smith and others) on the landing force; ROK units under the same operation.

Start with this section - History

Without the Pusan Perimeter there is no Chromite -- a landing needs a war still alive in the southeast.

MacArthur's Tokyo briefings are a civil-military document as much as a plan.

Timeline

  1. Pusan holds

    The perimeter makes a rear landing thinkable.

  2. Briefing fight

    MacArthur's 45-minute argument with JCS visitors -- a famous staff scene.

  3. Wolmi bombardment

    Naval/air prep of the island.

  4. Wolmi-do

    Morning tide; island taken.

  5. City landings

    Evening tide; seawalls.

  6. Inchon secured

    Port opens; Kimpo next.

  7. Han and Seoul

    Urban fight for the capital.

  8. Seoul ceremony

    Rhee and MacArthur in the damaged city.

  9. North of the parallel

    The success becomes a new war aim.

  10. China enters

    The sequel Chromite did not plan.

Eras

Argument

Pusan plus a map of Inchon.

The tides

Wolmi and the city pulses.

Seoul

Capital recapture.

Exploitation

KPA collapse in the south; UN goes north.

Memory

USMC liturgy; Seoul museum; the Yalu shadow.

Milestones

Pusan saved from the rear

Logistics of the KPA cut.

Seoul's second 1950 liberation

A Korean capital fact.

A success that licensed overreach

The Yalu road.

28 September is a ceremony, not a peace. October is the dangerous month.

Chinese intervention is the afterlife every Inchon toast should mention.

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