12th Division (North Korea)
Encyclopedia
12th Infantry Division was a division
of the Korean People's Army
during the 20th Century.
and was initially composed of the Northeast Volunteer Army, Chinese 15th Division and was initially composed of the 30th, 31st and 32nd Infantry Regiments. The unit was initially equipped with vehicles attained by North Korea from the Soviet Union
shortly after April 1950.
In April 1950, the People's Republic of China
returned 12,000 more veterans of the CCF to Korea where they formed the 7th Division (redesignated the 12th about July 2, 1950).
Artillery
units of the 12th Division, at the time of the division's activation at Wonsan in April or May 1950, were composed of battle-seasoned Korean veterans from the Chinese Communist Army.
to Taejon during the Korean War
. It also fought in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter
. During this fight it suffered such heavy losses it merged with the NK 766th Infantry Regiment to regain its strength.
On September 16, in the I Corps
sector, elements of the Capital Division
fought their way through the streets of An’gang-ni. The next day, advancing from the west in the II Corps
sector, a battalion of the 7th Division
linked up with elements of the Capital Division, closing a two-week-old gap between the ROK I and II Corps. The NKPA’s 12th Division waged a series of stubborn delaying actions against the Capital Division in the vicinity of Kigye as the North Koreans retreated northward into the mountains. Kigye fell back under South Korean control on September 22, 1950.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the Korean People's Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
during the 20th Century.
Formation and early history
It was activated in WonsanWonsan
Wŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.- History :The original name of...
and was initially composed of the Northeast Volunteer Army, Chinese 15th Division and was initially composed of the 30th, 31st and 32nd Infantry Regiments. The unit was initially equipped with vehicles attained by North Korea from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
shortly after April 1950.
In April 1950, the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
returned 12,000 more veterans of the CCF to Korea where they formed the 7th Division (redesignated the 12th about July 2, 1950).
Artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
units of the 12th Division, at the time of the division's activation at Wonsan in April or May 1950, were composed of battle-seasoned Korean veterans from the Chinese Communist Army.
Korean War
The 12th Division part of the North Korean advance from SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
to Taejon during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. It also fought in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter
Battle of Pusan Perimeter
The Battle of Pusan Perimeter was a large-scale battle between United Nations and North Korean forces lasting from August 4 – September 18, 1950. It was one of the first major engagements of the Korean War...
. During this fight it suffered such heavy losses it merged with the NK 766th Infantry Regiment to regain its strength.
On September 16, in the I Corps
I Corps (South Korea)
I Corps was created July 24, 1950, just before the Battle of Pusan Perimeter.I Corps consisted of the 8th Infantry Division and the Capital Division....
sector, elements of the Capital Division
Capital Division (South Korea)
The Capital Mechanized Infantry Division , also known as Tiger Division , is currently one of the five mechanized infantry divisions in the Republic of Korea Army...
fought their way through the streets of An’gang-ni. The next day, advancing from the west in the II Corps
II Corps (South Korea)
-History:II Corps was created July 24, 1950, just before the Battle of Pusan Perimeter.II Corps consisted of the 1st Division and 6th Infantry Division....
sector, a battalion of the 7th Division
7th Infantry Division (South Korea)
The 7th Infantry Division was a military formation of the Republic of Korea Army during the 20th Century.After the fall of Taejon, only had a few hundred survivors to participate in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter....
linked up with elements of the Capital Division, closing a two-week-old gap between the ROK I and II Corps. The NKPA’s 12th Division waged a series of stubborn delaying actions against the Capital Division in the vicinity of Kigye as the North Koreans retreated northward into the mountains. Kigye fell back under South Korean control on September 22, 1950.