Assault on Ongjin Peninsula
Because of the border being established on the 38th Parallel the Ongjin Peninsula had become an isolated South Korean outpost on the western flank of the North Korean main offensive. It was known to be defended by an ROK Infantry Regiment with some artillery support, but no tanks.
Responsible for the capture of the Peninsula and destruction of the South Korean troops was the NKPA 78th Independent Regiment.
This regiment was stronger than other regiments of the North Korean army; it had four rifle battalions and unlike other regiments included an assault engineer battalion, an organic tank company, SP Gun company and also to make up for it being forced to operate without divisional or corps artillery assets had been given a heavy mortar company equipped with Soviet 160mm mortars.
The commander of the 78th decided to concentrate his regiment against the small town of KANGYRONG and ordered his troops to quickly attain this target.
The defending troops from the South Korean 17th Infantry Regiment had however established an elaborate defensive position near the Kangyrong-josuji lake north of the NKPA target. The ROK commander had also seen that his troops were on full alert when the North Korean offensive kicked off.
OOB NKPA 78th Infantry Regiment:
HQ
FOOx3
78th Recon Battalion (leg)
I Rifle Battalion
II Rifle Battalion
III Rifle Battalion
IV Rifle Battalion
78th Engineer Battalion (leg)
78th Artillery Battalion (76,2mm)
78th Heavy Mortar Battery (12cm)
78th SP-Gun Battery (SU-76 x4)
78th Tank Company (T-34/85 x4)
78th AA-Company (37cm x4)
78th Supply Battalion (Gaz jeep x3, Heavy Truck x4, Medium Truck x6, Ammo Truck x6)
344th Heavy Mortar Battalion (240mm x6)
OOB ROK 17th Infantry Regiment (-)
HQ 17th Regiment
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
Engineer Battalion
Artillery Battalion (105mm)
Elements AA Battalion (40mm/Quad 50cal)