Battle of Battle Mountain

Battle of Battle Mountain
Part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter
US 5th Infantry troops man a mortar west of Masan.
Date August 15 – September 19, 1950 Location Sobuk-san mountain range, South Korea Result United Nations victory
Belligerents
United Nations  United States  South Korea	North Korea
Commanders and leaders
William B. Kean	Pang Ho San
Units involved
25th Infantry Division 5th Infantry RCT 24th Infantry Regiment 27th Infantry Regiment 35th Infantry Regiment National Police	6th Division
Strength
~15,000	10,000
Casualties and losses
~400 killed ~1,000 wounded	8,000 killed, captured and deserted

The Battle of Battle Mountain was an engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War from August 15 to September 19, 1950, on and around the Sobuk-san mountain area in South Korea. It was one of several large engagements fought simultaneously during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. The battle ended in a victory for the UN after large numbers of United States Army (US) and Republic of Korea Army (ROK) troops were able to prevent a Korean People's Army (KPA) division from capturing the mountain area.

Operating in defense of Masan, the US 25th Infantry Division placed its 24th Infantry Regiment and 5th Infantry Regiment on Sobuk-san to defend its two peaks, P'il-bong and Hill 665, which would later be known as "Battle Mountain." What followed was a month-long struggle with the KPA 6th Division, in which Battle Mountain changed hands 20 times.

During the deadlock, neither side was able to secure a definite victory in capturing the mountaintop, but the US forces succeeded in their mission of preventing the KPA from advancing beyond Battle Mountain, paving the way for the KPA's eventual defeat and withdrawal.