Battle of Chipyong-ni

Battle of Chipyong-ni
Part of Korean War
Map of the Battle of Chipyong-ni on the night of 13–14 February 1951
Date 13–15 February 1951 Location Jipyeong-ri Coordinates: 37°28′30″N 127°38′13″E / 37.475°N 127.637°E / 37.475; 127.637 Result Decisive UN victory
Belligerents
China	United Nations United States France
Commanders and leaders
Deng Hua	Paul L. Freeman, Jr.
Strength
25,000 Chinese source:~6,000	4,500
Casualties and losses
1,000 killed 2,000 wounded 79 captured Chinese source:~1,800 casualties	51 killed 250 wounded 42 missing

 United Nations

25,000

1,000 killed
2,000 wounded
79 captured

The Battle of Chipyong-ni (French: Bataille de Chipyong-ni), also known as the Battle of Dipingli (Chinese: 砥平里战斗; pinyin: Dǐ Pīng Lĭ Zhàn Dòu), was a decisive battle of the Korean War, that took place from 13–15 February 1951 between American and French units of the US 23rd Infantry Regiment and various units of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) around the village of Chipyong-ni, present-day Jipyeong-ri. The result was a United Nations Command victory. The battle, along with the Third Battle of Wonju, has been called "the Gettysburg of the Korean War," and represents the "high-water mark" of the Chinese incursion into Korea. Due to the ferocity of the Chinese attack and the heroism of the defenders, the battle has also been called, "...one of the greatest regimental defense actions in military history."

After Chinese forces entered Korea in November 1950, the UN Forces, uncertain about the intentions and warfighting capabilities of the Chinese, drew back behind the 38th parallel and waited to see what the Chinese would do. Plans were even made for complete withdrawal from the peninsula. In this climate of general uncertainty, Lt. General Matthew B. Ridgway decided to make a stand at Chipyong-ni and also at Wonju. He recognized that the Chinese had overstretched their supply lines, and would not be able to keep up their advance much longer. He intended to use the 23rd RCT to blunt the Chinese attack so that the Eighth Army could carry out a counterattack before the Chinese had a chance to consolidate their forces.

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