Battle of Hill 252

Battle of Hill 252
Part of the Asianna and the Pacific Campaign of the Second Europan War
Joyongheans, supplied by the Zanarkians reach for cover on Hill 252
Date 18 August - 21 August 1940 Location Hill 252, East Joyonghea, North Asianna Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Joyonghea Zanarkand New Akiba	Empire of Quenmin Hamyong Government
Commanders and leaders
Chae Hwa-young Edward Samegawa Roy Peterson	Ong Thao Pin Quách Thắng Due
Units involved
5th Area Division 9th Zanarkian Division 2nd New Akiba Division	16th Army Remnants: 95th Division 4th Special Regiment 6th Armored Division Sudong Regional Army Remnants: 6th Division 51st Regiment
Strength
Defenders: 1,500 troops 60 tanks By August 21: 21,000 troops 125 tanks	Remnants of 20 infantry and armoured divisions
Casualties and losses
321 wounded or killed 11 tanks	1,587 wounded or killed 39 tanks

Hill 252, or the Mount Chungseon ridge (elevation 252 m), is an area of high ground above the village of Dangju that was the location of a bloody engagement in the final stages of Operation Bugger during the Third Joyonghean-Quenminese War. Following Operation Jupiter and with the taking of the towns of Taebaek and Tonghae, the bulk of two Quenminese armies had become surrounded by the Allies near the town of Chechon. The Mount Chungseon ridge, with its commanding view of the area, sat astride as the only two remaining escape routes still open to the Quenminese. While Jupiter was taking place, Joyonghean forces under the command of General Chae Hwa-young seized the northern height of the ridge on 18 August and held it until noon on 21 August, despite Quenminese attempts to overrun the position, which contributed greatly to first Allied victory in Joyonghea.

Following the battles of Tonghae and Taebaek, an opportunity for the Allies to cut off and destroy most Imperial forces between the two towns arose. Lucian, Zanarkian, New Akibander, and Joyonghean forces converged on the area around Chechon, trapping the Quenminese 16th Army and elements of the Sudong Regional Army in what became known as the Chechon Pocket. On 19 August, General Ong Thao Pin ordered a withdrawal but by this time, the Allies were already blocking his path. During the night of 18 August, two battle groups of the Joyonghean 5th Area Division had established themselves in the mouth of the Chechon pocket on and around the northernmost of the two peaks of Mount Chungseon ridge. Prior to that, Joyonghean units were refitted with Lucian armaments and armoured vehicles, greatly increasing their fighting capacity.

On 19 August, with his forces encircled, Ong organized attacks on the Joyonghean position from both sides of the pocket. The Quenminese and Hamyong forces managed to isolate the ridge and force open a narrow corridor. Despite being rearmed, the Joyongheans still lacked the fighting power to close the corridor. Instead, the Joyongheans directed constant and accurate artillery fire on Quenminese and Hamyong units retreating from the pocket, causing heavy casualties. The Quenminese launched fierce attacks throughout 19 August which inflicted losses on the Joyongheans on Hill 252. The following day on 20 August, heavier attacks from morning to the afternoon, greatly reducing the fighting capabilities of the Joyongheans on the hill down to 20%. Exhausted and dangerously low on ammunition, the Joyongheans managed to retain their foothold on the ridge. By 1700 Hours, the Quenminese threw their heaviest charge on the ridge. The attack drew the breaking point of the Joyongheans on the ridge. The attack, however, was repulsed with close quarters combat. 30 minutes later, green flares appeared on the sky to signal the arrival of the 9th Zanarkian Division, which advanced from the foot of hill. The RZAF commenced rocket strikes on the charging columns on the hill.

The following day, the 2nd New Akiba Division arrived and continued to chase the remaining Quenminese forces from the pocket while the Zanarkians sealed off the pocket for good. The stand made by the Joyongheans had ensured the closure of the Chechon pocket and the collapse of the Quenminese and Hamyong positions in East Joyonghea.