Operation Tomahawk
Operation Tomahawk
187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, 23–24 March 1951
One tool available to General Ridgway that could be used to trap and destroy part of the enemy forces was the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team (RCT). The escape of the enemy from Ch'unch'on led General Ridgway to look for another opportunity to use the 187th Airborne RCT. The new operation, code-named Courageous, would involve the U.S. I Corps, but a key element of the plan was the use of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team to seize the area around Munsan-ni and trap the enemy frontline units, setting them up for destruction (code-named Operation Tomahawk). A discussion on the preparations on this plan and the drop is presented. In addition, the action at drop zone south is described. The 2d Battalion action, consolidation on the drop zone, and the 4th Ranger Company at Hill 205 are elaborated upon as well. The capture of Hill 205 on 24 March ended the fighting around the drop zone. In general, Operation Tomahawk was a success, except for one key aspect; the enemy had not been caught in the trap.
Keywords: Operation Tomahawk, General Ridgway, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, Ch'unch'on, Munsan-ni, trap, 4th Ranger Company, drop zone, Hill 205, 2d Battalion
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