15 SEP 1950
“AT 5.45AM ON 15 SEPTEMBER 1950, WARSHIPS BEGAN TO BOMBARD THE LANDING BEACHES AND REAR AREAS, WHILE CARRIERLAUNCHED AIRCRAFT ALSO JOINED THE FRAY”
01 DIRE STRAITS
The approaches to Inchon are long and narrow. It's the sort of area such a large fleet finds it difficult to navigate in the dark, while the ships are bunched up and very vulnerable to enemy attack. Assistance is provided by US Navy Lieutenant Eugene Clark, who landed on 1 September and has spent the two weeks since collecting intelligence. On 15 September he and his South Korean supporters seize and switch on the local lighthouse.
02 BOMBARDMENT BEGINS
Inchon has been shelled and attacked by aircraft on and off since 10 September, as have other targets up and down the Korean coast so as not to draw undue attention to the chosen landing zone. At 5.45am on 15 September a bombardment opens up on the landing beaches and the town behind them.
03 LANDING ON BEACH GREEN
At 6.30am the 3/5th USMC and ten tanks storm ashore under close air support. They quickly overwhelm the poorly co-ordinated DPRK defenders, then prepare defences and a minefield at the end of the isthmus.
04 WOLMI DO SECURE
By midday the islands of Wolmi Do and Sowolmi Do are secure, and the 3/5th are prepared for counterattacks along the isthmus or across the shallow water at low tide. As the next waves land that evening, the 3/5th provide covering fire and direct naval artillery fire and air strikes from their vantage point.
05 LANDING ON BEACH RED
At 5.30pm the first units of the 5th Marines RCT land on the shoreline of the city of Inchon itself. Marines have to use scaling ladders to clamber from the landing craft onto the top of the sea wall, where only isolated resistance is met. Several pillboxes hold up attacks locally, but these are quickly outflanked and destroyed. The Marines push into the city, towards the high ground at its centre.
06 BEACH BLUE
At 5.30pm, landing craft and Amtracs (amphibious tracked armoured personnel carriers) hit the shore to the south of Inchon, on the far side of the city, tidal basin and salt pans. They move inland to take up a blocking position, preventing any DPRK forces to the south from interfering with the landing. Again resistance is light, and the UMSC are able to seize high ground by last light.
07 INCHON HIGH GROUND
Despite some confusion in the city streets, by midnight the high ground in Inchon is secured and the USMC has an effective perimeter. At dawn, their advance resumes, again against light resistance.
08 SECURING INCHON
On 16 September, as the 1st Korean Marine Corps Regiment land behind, the USMC push steadily on through Inchon. By nightfall, the whole city and the surrounding area is under United Nations control.
09 ON TO KIMPO AIRFIELD
With the retaking of Inchon complete, on 17 September 1950 the 1st US Marine Division begins to push out of their beachhead towards their next objective – Kimpo Airfield – and their final goal – Seoul.