Battle of Masan

Battle of Masan
Part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter
American tanks advance west of Masan
Date August 5 – September 19, 1950 Location Masan, South Korea Result United Nations victory
Belligerents
United Nations  United States  South Korea	North Korea
Commanders and leaders
William B. Kean	Pang Ho San Paek Nak Chil
Units involved
25th Infantry Division 24th Infantry Regiment 27th Infantry Regiment 35th Infantry Regiment 5th Infantry RCT ROK Marine Corps[1] National Police[2]	6th Division 7th Division
Strength
~15,000	20,000
Casualties and losses
1,057 killed 3,085 wounded 20 missing	11,000 killed and deserted 3,000 captured

The Battle of Masan was an engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces, which took place early in the Korean War between August 5 and September 19, 1950, in the vicinity of Masan and the Naktong River in South Korea. It was 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) troops were able to repel the repeated attacks of two Korean People's Army (KPA) divisions.

Operating as the extreme southern flank of the Pusan Perimeter, the US 25th Infantry Division placed its regiments around the South Korean city of Masan, with the 24th Infantry Regiment and 5th Regimental Combat Team based in Haman and nearby Sobuk-san, and the 35th Infantry Regiment based along the Nam River to the west of the city. Throughout the six-week battle, the KPA 6th and 7th Divisions attacked the 25th Division's regiments in an attempt to break through the UN forces and attack Pusan.

An initial UN counteroffensive out of Masan proved ineffective in stopping the KPA from advancing. In the subsequent fight, the 35th Infantry was able to repel the KPA at the Battle of Nam River and were highly regarded for these actions. However, the 24th Infantry performed very poorly at the battles of Blue Mountain and Haman, forcing the 25th Division to muster reserves to counter the KPA gains against the 24th.