Counterattack on the Naktong, 1950

The careful study of any battle or campaign yields lessons from the past that can light our way, however dimly, into the future. The First Battle of the Naktong Bulge is no exception to this rule and, indeed, is especially rich in historical examples relevant to current doctrine. This study, while primarily an analysis of counterattack doctrine from a divisional perspective, incidentally raises other important issues as well. Foremost among them are a wide range of questions concerning the employment of light infantry. On paper, the 24th Division was in August 1950, a heavy infantry divison; in reality, it had been reduced by peacetime belt-tightening and operational losses to approximately the size of today's new light divisions, with a similar mix of weapons. Force to fight in prime light infantry terrain, the division continued to operate with the mind-set of a road-bound heavy force. In contrast, the North Korean 4th Division, equally light, maneuvered freely through the roadless area. In addition to light infantry, other relevant issues raised by the study include the potential responses available to encircled forces, the use of ad hoc forces to protect a division's rear, and the lack of existing doctrine for skeletonized units. All of these issues represent fruitful areas of investigation and deserve studies of their own.