The Sorye Dong Raid - 41 Commando raid behind the Korean lines

Si Biggs
2 hours ago
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Unit/ Formation: 41 Cdo RM

Location: Korea

Period/ Conflict: Korean War

Year: 1951

Date/s: 7 April 1951

THE SORYE DONG RAID

41 Independent Commando moved into Ebisu Camp in the suburbs of Tokyo in January 1951 and all ranks enjoyed a period of R&R. Later, the Unit was transferred to HMAS Commonwealth at the Naval Base at Kure to re-equip, train and absorb reinforcements.

Unfortunately, the arrival of key specialists was delayed and the CO became concerned that morale would suffer through prolonged inactivity so plans were made to mount a unit raid to cut the supplies from Manchuria to Hungnam. This was to be a daylight demonstration in force with very considerable support.

On 2 April 1951, 21 Officers and 256 ORs of 41 Independent Commando embarked in the LPD USS Fort Marion (11 LVT, 5 LVT(A) and 13 LC) and the APD USS Begor (4 LC).

LVTs embarking British commandos leave Fort Marion for the beach at Sorye Dong, on 7 April 1951. [Wikipedia] — LVTs embarking British commandos leave *Fort Marion* for the beach at Sorye Dong, on 7 April 1951. [Wikipedia]

The Gunfire Support Group comprised a cruiser and two destroyers.

Air Support was available from the carriers USS Boxer and USS Phillipine Sea. Six minesweepers were to approach to within 2000 yards of the beach.

Royal Marine Commando George Barnes on the USS Horace A. Bass (APD-124), a US Navy destroyer, before a raid into North Korea, 1951

An SFCP (Shore Fire Control Party), a Tactical Air Support Party, and an Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), to reconnoitre the beach, were attached to the Commando.

After two rehearsals of the Amphibious Group the Force assembled off the objective area where on D-1, 6 April 1951 proper consultations between the group commanders became possible for the first time.

Thick fog postponed the landing and reduced the naval bombardment to two hours but, at 0805 7 April, D Tp landed from two LVTs (armoured amphibians) and by 0900 hours the covering force was in position ready for the Assault Engineers, aided by the MT Section, to begin work.

Earlier raids had been directed at culverts and bridges, which could soon be repaired, and tunnels, from which roof falls could easily be removed. (Ideally, a train wrecked in a tunnel would block a line longest).

An anti tank team from 41 CDO cover the approaches April 1951

On this raid the target was the embankment. Demolitions were carried out in four phases: first 16 shaped charges were blown to make boreholes, next each borehole was packed with 801lbs of TNT which were detonated. This process was then repeated in the craters to produce a gap in the embankment 100 ft wide and 16 ft deep. Finally 55 anti personnel mines were laid in the craters.

When mining was complete the withdrawal started and the last LVT left the beach at 1555 hrs.

The Commando had been ashore for nearly eight hours and, apart from a small group which fired at C Tp from long range, there had been no enemy activity, although an informer reported two division in Songjin 15 miles to the North.

There were no landing force casualties but unfortunately 5 villagers had been killed and 15 wounded. These were tended by the SBAs. Apart from this the naval bombardment had inflicted only superficial damage.

The Commando disembarked at Yokosuka and was re-established in Camp McGill on 13 April from where sub unit and unit training continued.

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