Tiger Division

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Capital Division (South Korea). (Discuss)

The Tiger Division (맹호사단 in Korean) is the nickname of the Capital Division, currently one of the five mechanized infantry divisions in the Republic of Korea Army. It is part of the VII Corps, 3rd Army (TROKA), tasked with covering approaches to Seoul from North Korea and counterattack operations.

This division saw extensive combat both during the Korean War and the Vietnam War, where it was despatched in September, 1965, as a part of the Republic of Korea's contribution to the U.S. war effort. In The 1965 deployment became possible when in August of that year the Republic of Korea's National Assembly passed a bill authorizing the action. Recently, elements of this division were sent as Republic of Korea's contribution to the "coalition of the willing" in Iraq.

Contents

[edit] Service During Korean War

In progress.

[edit] Service in Vietnam

Korean soldiers that volunteered for service in Vietnam were given bonuses: they would “receive credit for three years of military duty for each year served in Vietnam as well as additional monetary entitlements; further, combat duty would enhance their future Army careers.”

All the units sent to Vietnam (the Tiger Division, White Horse Division, the Korean Marines) were chosen because they were considered to have the longest and best records from the Korean War.

The Tigers were considered uncanny for their ability to search territory and smoke out enemy soldiers and weapons. They would plan operations meticulously and sometimes even rehearse it beforehand. The soldiers would seal off a relatively small area, no more than 9 or 10 square kilometers. Troops would be brought in by air and land, but would arrive at the same time to maximize the chokehold. Slowly but surely the cordon would be tightened, and everyone and everything would be searched. Civilians were separated and interrogated, routinely offered rewards if they cooperated. It was not unusual for an area to be searched three or four times by different platoons. To prevent enemy breakouts, the Koreans had special reaction forces that could plug holes in the perimeter. General William Peers considered the Koreans the best at these so-called "cordon and search operations."

The Tiger Division was deployed just outside of Qui Nhon in Binh Dinh province, from where it could protect vital arteries such as Highways 1 and 19, as well as rice-growing areas and foothills to the north and west. They arrived on September 22, 1965 and returned home March 11, 1973.

[edit] Current Status

The Tiger Division was reorganized in 1980s to parallel the reorganization taking place in United States Army at the same time. The "regiments" of the older organization were replaced by "brigades," consisting of both armor and mechanized infantry components. The 1st and Cavalry regiments were reorganized to include two mechanized infantry battalions and an armored battalion each, while the 26th regiment became an armored brigade with two armored battalions and a mechanized infantry battalion.

[edit] Order of battle in Vietnam

  • Divisional Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • Cavalry Regiment, composed with three infantry battalions
  • 1st Infantry Regiment, composed with three infantry battalions
  • 26th Infantry Regiment, composed with three infantry battalions
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery
  • 10th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
  • 60th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
  • 61st Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
  • 628th Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm)
  • Divisional Engineer Battalion
  • Armor company
  • Reconnaissance Company
  • Signal Company
  • Military Police Company
  • Medical Company
  • Ordnance Company
  • Quartermaster Company
  • Replacement Company
  • Aviation Section

[edit] Current Order of Battle

  • 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade: former 1st Regiment of Korean ArmyRepublic of Korea Army
  • 1st Amored and Mechanized Infantry: former 1st Cavalry Regiment of Korean Army
  • 26th Amored Brigade
  • Division Artillery Brigade
  • Signal Battalion
  • Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
  • Combat Engineer Battalion
  • Air Defense Artillery Battalion
  • Support Battalion
  • Medic Battalion
  • NBC Battalion

[edit] Summary of operations in Vietnam

  • Total Strength Dispatched: 114,902
(OFF: 7,652 EM: 107,340)
  • KIA: 2,111 (OFF: 186 EM: 1,925)
  • WIA: 4,474 (OFF: 246 EM: 4,228)
  • Operations Conducted: 175,107
  • US Units that served alongside the Tiger Division were numerous and included:
9th Division Black Panthers.
504th Military Police Battalion, C Company

[edit] Operation Hong Kil Dong

During Operation Hong Kil Dong (July-August 1967), the Koreans killed 638 and lost only 26 soldiers, a kill ratio of nearly 25 to 1. Also amazing was the fact that 98 crew-served and 359 individual weapons were captured.

The Tigers were known for their ability to surround and annihilate Communist units. One such operation was between January 23-29, 1968 near Phu Cat.

Six companies of the Tiger Division engaged a Communist force, and then began forming a tight ring around the enemy. By day they tightened the noose, and at night they held their ground. The NVA fought desperately to break out, but was defeated after six days of intense combat. The kill ratio was significantly in the Koreans' favor with 278 Communists dead for every 11 Koreans - a ratio of 25 to 1. Some Americans said the operation’s planning was unoriginal and the execution was too cautious, but the methods most certainly produced an impressive body count.

[edit] Operation O-Zak-Kyo

Joint operation during Vietnam War between ROK Capital (Tiger) Division and the 9th (White Horse) Division.

In progress

[edit] References


[edit] Trivia

  • Amongst many famous names in Korea, HIH the Crown Prince Yi Seok volunteered and served as an enlisted man in a regiment in the Tiger Division.
  • 8th Battalion, 26th Armored Brigade, Tiger Division, was the first unit to receive the K-1 MBT in 1988.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

The Korean Vietnam Veterans Web Site in Korea

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../t/i/g/Tiger_Division_8c47.html"