Super Bazooka KW (id:#60039)

(March Madness 2007 Pack ID: MM07 PuP1)   [next]   [previous]

Nonsan-Kongju Road Junction, 1/2 mile W of Taegu 1950-07-20 (5 others)

Overview:

The 24th Infantry Division's defense in and around Taejon was collapsing. As the battle-hardened units of the NKPA 3rd and 4th Divisions enveloped the city from the north, west, and south US units fought desperate delaying actions and began to withdraw to the east. One serious problem encountered by both US and ROK units in the early stages of the conflict was the lack of an effective anti-tank weapon. US and ROK 57mm AT guns, 57mm and 75mm RCLs, and 2.36 inch bazookas were not able to effectively penetrate North Korean T34/85s. This deficiency was reported up the chain and quartermaster corps sped the delivery of the newer 3.5 inch "Super Bazookas" to Korea. The first of these weapons reached US units on 19 July. On 20 July, COL Beauchamp, CO of the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division was having difficulty communicating with his various units. When told that contact with the 1st Battalion could not be restored, COL Beauchamp decided to review the situation in person. mounted a jeep with his driver and sped west along the main road. Approximately ½ mile west of Taejon he came to the Nonsan-Kongju road junction. As the jeep approached the crossroad, a T-34/85 lumbered into view and immediately opened fire.

Defender: American (2nd Platoon, G Company, 19th Infantry Regiment and Engineer Section, C Company, 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion, with Bazooka Section, 24th Reconnaissance Company, 24th Infantry Division)  

Errata (source)