Don't give up the ships: United States naval operations during the first year of the Korean War

One key to understanding military operations during the first year of the Korean War is to explore the relationship between U.S. Navy and United Nations Command because naval operations were essential to waging the war in Korea. This dissertation explores U.S. naval operations, focusing on the Inchon landing, minesweeping operations, blockade and escort missions, and naval air operations during most of the first year of the Korean War. It covers the period from the North Korean invasion until the Chinese intervention.; The amphibious assault at Inchon involved all the navy's operational capabilities in Korean waters. There was a basic plan for the landing: neutralize Wolmi-do, invade Inchon, seize the major airfield at Kimpo, and capture of Seoul. With the exception of a few mines, Joint Task Force 7 faced no naval opposition upon landing. U.S. Navy knew that mines were being used by the Russians. Anti-mining operations were carried out by carrier-based aircraft and minesweepers. Mining operations was a fundamental requirement for preserving the access to the east and west coastal waters.; The blockade and escort force's main accomplishment was the control the seas surrounding the Korean waters. Destroying the North Koreans' minefields was a particularly dangerous part of the task force's operations, especially at Wonsan and Chonnampo. By means of naval bombardment of the coastal roads and attacks by carrier-based aircraft, naval interdiction was extended inland.; Like most modern wars, the Korean War was not anticipated in its causes, its conduct, and its consequences. The Korean War was one of the most significant historical events of the Cold War era. Moreover, the Korean War played an important role in U.S. naval history. During the first year of the Korean War, it became obvious that the navy had essential role in deterring or fighting a limited, conventional war during the Cold War era. This came at atomic of rapidly shrinking defense budgets, in which the Navy was suffering a disproportionate share of cuts, and reversed a trend that would have severely reduced the Navy's size and strength. In some, the Korean War gave the U.S. Navy a new impetus for its development during the Cold War era.