US Seventh Fleet, Korea 1950-53: The First Cold War Naval Campaign

80 pages

Dr James Bosbotinis

In US Seventh Fleet, Korea 1950-53, Corbin Williamson, a professor and associate dean at the US Air War College, sets out to provide a concise overview of the contribution of particularly the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet, and sea power more broadly, to the defence of South Korea, following the North’s invasion in June 1950. Forming part of Osprey’s ‘Fleet’ series, several of which have been previously reviewed in The Naval Review, this book focuses on the strategic and operational factors guiding the roles and employment of principally US naval forces in the Korean War, under the broad headings of ‘The Fleet’s Purpose’, ‘Fleet Fighting Power’, ‘How the Fleet Operated’, and ‘Combat and Analysis’. In ‘the Fleet’s Purpose’, the author provides a succinct summary of the evolving strategic situation in Northeast Asia following VJ Day, including the immediate challenges of moving thousands of Allied personnel and former Japanese troops; command arrangements in the region; the Chinese Civil War; the onset of the Cold War and inter-Korean tensions; as well as the rivalry between the US Air Force and US Navy over the future of airpower.

This ably sets the context for the discussion of the Korean War. As Williamson highlights in his analysis of the US Seventh Fleet’s capabilities, it substantially built on the legacy of US naval power developed and employed to devastating effect against Japan in the Second World War, whilst also having to respond to particularly the introduction of carrier-borne jet aircraft. The discussion of command and control, communications, and doctrine is valuable, with the author drawing attention particularly to both interservice issues (namely, differences in the US Navy-Marine Corp and Air Force-Army close air support systems) and interoperability with allies. Regarding the latter, the author points to the influence of the “role that diverging perceptions and command styles could have on coalition naval operations.” The author also highlights that “Naval logistics in the Korean War were marked by two overriding characteristics: the long distance to American sources of supply and production and the proximity to…US bases in Japan”, a point with contemporary relevance given US-China rivalry and uncertainty around the US commitment to allies.

As Williamson ably discusses in ‘Combat and Analysis’, naval forces in the Korean War provided a critical contribution, encompassing carrier airpower, amphibious operations (including the famous Inchon landings and evacuating Allied forces from North Korea – such as the Hungnam evacuation), naval gunfire support, special forces and intelligence operations, as well as blockading North Korea. In addition, the US and Coalition navies had to be alert to the possibility of Soviet intervention and thus maintain readiness to meet any air or submarine threat. Moreover, as the author emphasises, “The Seventh Fleet’s operations…highlighted the continued utility of naval power”, in particular against the claims from certain quarters that nuclear weapons had made it “largely irrelevant.” US Seventh Fleet, Korea 1950-53provides a concise, ably written and engaging analysis of the roles and contribution of maritime power in the Korean War, and as is the norm from Osprey, the text is accompanied by excellent illustrations, photos, maps and diagrams. It is certainly recommended.