Battle of Mt. Kimsan

Battle of Mt. Kimsan
Part of the Asianna and the Pacific Campaign of the Second Europan War
Troops of the 9th Zanarkian Division overlooking a burning village occupied by attacking Quenminese troops
Date 1 September - 17 November 1941 Location South Joyonghea, North Asianna Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Zanarkand New Akiba	Empire of Quenmin Hamyong Government
Commanders and leaders
Edward Samegawa Roy Peterson Simmon Denzel Crocker Hikaru Komaki S.H. Furokawa	Hồ Danh Sĩ Quốc Ong Thao Pin Quách Khánh Thắng Due Su Eun-gi
Units involved
9th Zanarkian Division Relief Force 7th Zanarkian Division 2nd New Akiba Division	79th Division 105th Division 4th "Steel Tiger" Division 5th Militia Force
Casualties and losses
2,257 wounded or killed 29 tanks	5,987 wounded or killed 57 tanks

The Siege of Mt. Kimsan (1 September - 17 November 1941) was the location of a 3 month siege that lasted for 3 months. The 500m tall hill overlooked more than a stretch of 150 kms of land. In addition, the mountain also gave a bird's eye view of the Port of Pusan, which was the Allied objective by January 1942. Following Allied defeats at the Chug-an Campaign and the nearly disastrous victory during the Southern Joyonghean Campaign, Lucian General Okita Hanamura requested Zanarkian General Edward Samegawa to break-off a portion of his army to try and hold Mt. Kimsan, which served as the natural barrier between the Allies and the Imperial forces. On the other hand, the mountain strongly required Imperial Marshal Hồ Danh Sĩ Quốc to force the Allies back to the Sea of Joyonghea. As a result, he sent Count Quách Khánh Thắng Due to take the mountain by any means. Samegawa ordered the desert rats of the 9th Zanarkian Division to take and hold the hill. The Zanarkians succeeded in overrunning the Quenminese defenders but Ho had successfully cut the defenders out of chance for reinforcements and supplies. What followed was 3 months of constant fighting around the area. Ho expected the Zanarkians to surrender but situation became worse as the Zanarkians continued to repel any enemy attacks. One of the elements of the 4th "Steel Tiger" Division was successful in a portion of the hill but were subsequently driven back by the following morning. By 10 November, Samegawa carried out Operation Gourding, which was an Allied counteroffensive aimed to force the Imperials into the Pusan Perimeter and relieve the defenders at the hill. By 17 November, the Zanarkians at Mt. Kimsan were finally relieved.

The siege had stalled Marshal Ho's plan to push the Allies to the sea by successfully controlling a hill crucial to the plan. The hill allowed the Allies to oversee enemy movements across the Pusan Perimeter. It also allowed for the success of Operation Gourding and put the Allied offensive back on track.