The Regimental Combat Team 31 (RCT-31), commonly referred to as Task Force Faith of the "Chosin Few", is a United States Army unit known for its role in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War where 90-95% of its force was killed, wounded, and/or captured on the eastern side of the reservoir.[1][2]
RCT-31 primarily consisted of infantry, artillery, and tank units from the 7th Infantry Division including the 31st Infantry Regiment, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 13th Engineer Combat Battalion, 73rd Heavy Tank Battalion, and the 15th Antiaircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. It was also augmented by KATUSA (also known as ROKs).[1]
The units of RCT-31 that were positioned at the Chosin Reservoir from 27 Nov–2 Dec 1950 consisted of 3rd Battalion/31st Infantry, 1st Battalion/32nd Infantry Regiment, A and B Batteries/57th Field Artillery Battalion, D Battery/15th Anti-aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion, and 750 KATUSA soldiers.[1][2]
"Task Force Faith" is a nickname coined by a U.S. Army historian in the 1960s, and the unit was not known by that name during the Korean War. Historians have subsequently also referred to RCT-31 as "Task Force Ovenshine" and "Task Force MacLean" to distinguish the various periods of command.
^ abc"31st Infantry Regiment SITREP September to December 1950" (PDF). Korean War Project.
^ abVallowe, Ray C. (2000). "A PHANTOM FORCE-LOST TO HISTORY TASK FORCE MAC LEAN - FAITH". Army At The Chosin Reservoir.
The Regimental Combat Team 31 (RCT-31), commonly referred to as TaskForceFaith of the "Chosin Few", is a United States Army unit known for its role in...
wide latitude in selecting a taskforce name, though often the name of the commander is used (e.g. TaskForceFaith; TaskForce Smith was named for the commander...
and North Korea during the Korean War. On July 5, 1950, TaskForce Smith, an American taskforce of 540 infantry supported by an artillery battery, was...
ignored. Later studies concluded that TaskForce MacLean/Faith had held off for five days a significantly larger force than previously thought and that their...
Confederacy 1,606 Union and 1,724 Confederacy Of the 2,500 soldiers in TaskForceFaith only 1,050 made it back. Of those only 385 were able-bodied 1,284 Union...
Regiment – COL Allan D. MacLean Regimental Combat Team 31 aka TaskForce MacLean/TaskForceFaith Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry Regiment Medical Company...
the 10th BCT was attached to the British 29th Brigade Group as a reserve force and would later participate in the attempted rescue of the Gloucestershire...
Independent 1st Guerrilla Battalion were covered by the 7th Fleet bombardment taskforce, which had USS Helena as their flagship. 39 of 5th Platoon, 2nd Company...
of North Korean forces into the south TaskForce Smith was deployed to the Korean front from Japan. TaskForce Smith consisted of U.S. Army officers and...
Joint TaskForce 7 consisted of Fast Carrier TaskForce 77 for fighter cover, interdiction, and ground attack; Royal Navy Admiral William Andrewes' Task Force...
located west and south of the Reservoir and U.S. army units named TaskForceFaith, east of the Reservoir.: 95 The UN plan was for the Marines to push...
S. Army: U.S. Navy: U.S. Air Force: U.S. Marine Corps: 1st Marine Division and so on. Deployment: 27 June 1950 (Air Force, Navy), 1 July 1950 (Army) First...
540-soldier TaskForce Smith, which was a small forward element of the 24th Infantry Division which had been flown in from Japan. On 5 July 1950, TaskForce Smith...
encounter between US and KPA forces. For the first month after the defeat of TaskForce Smith, 24th Division was repeatedly defeated and forced south by superior...
casualties and might have suffered much more without the U.S. Army's TaskForceFaith. Marines would continue a battle of attrition around the 38th Parallel...
to "ensure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved." During the 1954...
the 72nd Tank Battalion up the Mundung-ni Valley, and by tank-infantry taskforce action in the Sat'ae-ri Valley. When the division issued the operation...
of a moonless night. Each used a heavy preparatory artillery barrage to force the defenders to take cover in bunkers and to screen the approach of the...
by South Korean troops, partially recorded by a US Army photographer. TaskForce Smith, an advance element of the 24th Infantry Division was badly defeated...
Australian Air Force) North American F-86F Sabre (South African Air Force) North American Mustang IV (Royal Australian Air Force, South African Air Force) Supermarine...
Regiment. This taskforce was given the mission to clear out KPA forces in the mountainous region. At the same time, Eighth Army formed TaskForce Bradley under...
Army (ROK) troops lacked self-confidence and needed experience to develop faith in their own abilities, he instructed Byers to use ROK units in the assault...
easily supplied Sino-Korean border and that the Chinese withheld food to force the prisoners to accept the communism indoctrination programs. According...
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