| Longest Korean War | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 1 2013, 04:48 AM (216 Views) | |
| Simon Darkshade | Oct 1 2013, 04:48 AM Post #1 |
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Nefarious Swashbuckler
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What is the longest possible period of time the Korean War could last for? Technically, it is still going, given the armistice and no peace treaty, but I'm referring to the 1950-53 period. |
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| Matthew | Oct 1 2013, 02:13 PM Post #2 |
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Ah, you are too clever, I was going to say something about 2050 or something. I do not really know enough about that war and am currently engaged in looking at Suez, but what sort of effect would a less volatile war have? That is to say, no immediate extreme success for the north, and consequently no race back to the parralel after Inchon? |
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| Simon Darkshade | Oct 1 2013, 03:46 PM Post #3 |
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Nefarious Swashbuckler
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That would be an interesting development, but US intervention would still occur, resulting in an earlier rollback of the North Koreans. One point of departure is Eisenhower's Presidential victory and his successful use of the threat of the atomic bomb. If that can be changed, then a conventional Korea could putter along through the rest of 1953 and 1954; after that, the availability of tactical nuclear weapons will be an enticing option for the United Nations Command. After the ceasefire, it took until 1957 for Commonwealth forces to leave Korea, having gone to brigade strength in 1954 and battalion strength in 1956. Turkey kept a brigade there until 1960, the Belgians, Thais and Filipinos had battalions until 1955 and the Ethiopians kept a token contingent there a lot longer. |
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| Basil Fawlty | Oct 2 2013, 03:09 AM Post #4 |
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Post Tenebras Lux
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Perhaps there is another way of looking at the premise. June 1950 - North Korea invades South Korea; the United Nations quickly responds with a "police action." U.S. reinforcements begin arriving to hold the North around the Pusan Perimeter. September 1950 - The Battle of Inchon results in the collapse of the North Korean offensive. U.S. forces break out of Pusan, driving toward Seoul. August-December 1950 - UN armies push north after driving the DPRK across the 38th Parallel, securing the Yalu River by Christmas. Early 1951 - Alarmed by the conquest of North Korea, the People's Republic of China considers intervening. However, the last stages of the ongoing Chinese Civil War preclude any overt action. February 1951 - Douglas MacArthur returns to the United States for a hero's welcome. Major combat operations begin to wind down. Mid 1951 - The Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek is finally driven off the mainland in a major blow to American confidence. 1951 - The USSR and PRC begin funneling arms and aid to North Korean insurgents in the now-reunited peninsula. 1951-52 - Despite previous successes, U.S. occupation forces begin to take heavier casualties as more arms and men flow into North Korea. November 1952 - Dwight Eisenhower is elected, defeating incumbent Harry S. Truman. Ike pledges to end the ongoing war in Korea. 1953-54 - Despite an increase in garrison troops and more aid to Syngman Rhee's government, Communist subversion continues to wreak havoc throughout the peninsula. Many begin to call for an atom strike on China unless it ceases supporting the insurgents. 1955 - The failure of atomic diplomacy leads to a new assessment of the strategy in Korea. This develops into a prelude of the search-and-destroy operations employed in Vietnam. 1956 - Eisenhower reelected president over Democratic candidate Adlai E. Stevenson. The Suez Crisis occurs in a tenser environment, fueling fears of a nuclear exchange with the Soviets. In response the Eisenhower Administration demands that Britain write off Egypt and declares that invading would "involve the United Nations in the wrong war at the wrong time." Eden's government falls soon after, and the Anglo-American relationship is badly shaken. This event is cited as one reason for the ensuing draw-down in Commonwealth forces. 1957 - The Soviet launch of Sputnik arouses great anxiety in the West. Many believe the United States is falling behind technologically. 1958 - The success of the counter-insurgency operation generally has restored order in northern Korea, but at the cost of much blood, gold, and public support. Sporadic attacks against the American military and soft targets continue. U.S. units begin returning home from Korea in larger numbers. 1960 - Weary of a decade of low-level conflict in Korea and fearing a "missile gap," Americans elect John F. Kennedy president over VP Richard Nixon. Troop withdrawals continue. 1961-62 - The failure of the Bay of Pigs operation leads to Castro's entrenchment in Cuba. Emboldened, the Soviet Union installs short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles on that imprisoned island. By the time this is uncovered by American overflights, the systems are operational. Late 1962 - The PRC uses the Cuban Missile Crisis to step up support of rogue elements in Korea. Violence escalates once again. My ASB story for the day.
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| Simon Darkshade | Oct 2 2013, 07:07 AM Post #5 |
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Nefarious Swashbuckler
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Interesting. One of the necessary elements for a viable long term insurgency is an open or permeable border with a supporting state and that is partially in place here. |
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| Delta Force | Oct 3 2013, 07:14 AM Post #6 |
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If the war breaks out again in the 1960s it could last longer as the DPRK and PRC would both be stronger. The war could quickly escalate if coalition forces decide to go after the PRC's nuclear program, especially since the Soviets are likely to remain neutral or even join the United States. I am writing an alternate history timeline in which such a war plays a major role and takes the place of our timeline's Vietnam War. |
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8:39 AM Jul 11