Combat· Korean War
Op CLAMBAKE
Operation CLAMBAKE was a carefully planned daylight raid against the Chinese-held Ungok hill mass, mounted to destroy fortifications, kill the enemy, and collapse his bunkers and trenches rather than to hold ground.
The Marines prepared the operation in elaborate detail, rehearsing it repeatedly and arranging a feint by tanks and artillery against neighboring heights to draw enemy attention away from the true objective. Under cover of that diversion, reinforced platoons armed with bangalore torpedoes, flamethrowers, satchel charges, and rocket launchers stormed the objective hills, breaching the wire and methodically destroying the heavy fortifications, while supporting tanks crossed a frozen paddy to protect the assault's flank. The raiders accomplished their purpose, wrecking bunkers, trenches, and caves and inflicting substantial losses before withdrawing. CLAMBAKE demonstrated the value of meticulous planning and rehearsal, the effectiveness of flamethrowing tanks against enemy tank-killer teams, and the coordination of air, armor, and artillery in support of an infantry assault.
Record no. 644