On this day in the Korean war July 5th

[bobdina]

1950-Approximately 3 a.m. Task Force Smith reached the selected defense positions approximately 2-1/2 miles north of Osan and began digging in. The 52nd Field Artillery guns dug in a mile and half or so to the south of TFS positions with one gun dug in a half mile to TFS's rear. This one gun had all the High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rounds the artillery had brought with them - 7 rounds.A little after 7 a.m. a North Korean tank column, with a few infantry riding, was spotted coming the road. 8:16 a.m. the 52nd Field fired the first artillery rounds by an American unit of the Korean War at the advancing T-34 tanks.It did, however, kill or wound most of the infantry on the tanks. Two T-34 tanks were disabled but were pushed off the road.In total, 33 T-34 tanks went through Task Force Smith infantry positions by 9 a.m and through the 52nd artillery positions by 10:15 a.m and continued on toward Osan.Meanwhile a relative calm settled over TFS infantry positions. At approximately 10 a.m. a column of trunks and infantry could be seen coming down the road. Led by three tanks, this column was several miles long and arriving at point approximately 1000 yards north of TFS infantry positions. At approximately 11 a.m., TFS mortars and .50 caliber machineguns opened fire on the column. The fire was effective. Trucks blew up and men were blown into the air. Everyone who could took cover in ditches and rice paddies but the three T-34 tanks continued to advance and took TFS infantry positions under fire. Meanwhile North Korean infantry quickly reorganized and began a double envelopment of TFS's flanks. By 2:30 p.m. North Korean units were on Task Force Smith's flanks while a huge North Korean reserve waited on the road so the order to pull out and fall back was given. American forces in Korea had suffered their first defeat. It was a costly one for Task Force Smith. It lost approximately 150 infantrymen and officers killed, wounded or missing and 15 artillerymen and officers.While the TFS fight was going on north of Osan, the 24th Division's 34th Infantry Regiment arrived at Taejon and was deployed north to set up defenses at P'yongtaek and Ansong with regimental headquarters at Songhwan-ni, a town 6 miles south of P'yongtaek on the main highway and rail line. The 1st Battalion established positions on both sides of the main highway and rail line north of P'yongtaek while the 3rd Battalion was ordered to Ansong.
CINCPACFLT established Service Squadron 3, effective 7 July as principal logistic agent of COMSEVENTHFLT.

Fleet Marine Force Pacific directed 1st Marine Division to form the lst Provisional Marines Brigade.

COMNAVFE implemented President Truman's order for a blockade of the Korean Coast.

1951-Heavy air strike by Fast Carrier Task Force on targets in Wonsan area with 247 sorties flown during day.

600 ROK troops supported by friendly ships successfully raided mainland opposite Cho-do (Island.)

1952-USS Orleck (DD886) and USS Doyle (DMS34), while firing at targets in the city of Chuuronjang, south of Songjin, were caught during a turn and fired on at 6,000 yards range by 75 mm to 155 mm batteries. Approximately 70 rounds were fired by nine guns, and Orleck was bracketed at least five times, receiving fragments on board which caused superficial damage and one minor personnel injury. Firing continued until ships opened range to 16,000 yards. Counterbattery fire by Orleck and Doyle resulted in one gun being silenced.

1953-USS Boxer (CVA 21) celebrated her 60,000th landing.

USNS LST 578 ran aground in the vicinity of Cheju-do, flooding her lower compartments and sustaining major damage.

SS Cornhusker Mariner ran aground in rough seas off the entrance of Pusan and suffered major damage.


http://www.korean-war.com/TimeLine/1953/timeline1953.html
http://www.history.navy.mil/wars/korea/chron53b.htm#jul