Battle of Tabu-dong

Battle of Tabu-dong
Part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter
US 1st Cavalry Division troops look down on Hill 518 from an observation post north of Waegwan, September 1950.
Date September 1-15, 1950 Location Tabu-dong, Gasan-myeon, Chilgok County, South Korea 36°02′51″N 128°31′03″E / 36.047433°N 128.517380°E / 36.047433; 128.517380 Result United Nations victory
Belligerents
United Nations  United States  South Korea	North Korea
Commanders and leaders
Hobart R. Gay Paik Sun-yup	Lee Yong Ho
Units involved
1st Cavalry Division 1st Infantry Division	3rd Division
Strength
14,703	7,000
Casualties and losses
600 killed 2,000 wounded	5,000 killed, captured and deserted

The Battle of Tabu-dong was an engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War from September 1 to September 15, 1950, in the vicinity of Tabu-dong, Chilgok County, north of Taegu in South Korea. It was a part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, and was one of several large engagements fought simultaneously. The battle ended in a victory for the UN after large numbers of United States Army (US) and Republic of Korea Army (ROK) troops repelled a strong Korean People's Army (KPA) attack.

Holding positions north of the crucial city of Taegu, the US 1st Cavalry Division stood at the center and the ROK 1st Division held at the northwest of the Pusan Perimeter defensive line, tasked with keeping the UN headquarters secured from attacks from the KPA. On September 1, the KPA 3rd Division attacked as part of the Great Naktong Offensive.

What followed was a two-week battle around Tabu-dong and Waegwan in which the KPA were able to gradually push the 1st Cavalry Division back from its lines. However, the KPA were not able to force the US and ROK troops to withdraw completely or push the UN out of Taegu. The KPA was outflanked by the Inchon landings on 15 September and on 16 September the UN forces began their breakout from the Pusan Perimeter, forcing the KPA to abandon their attacks on Tabu-dong.