Nomads of the Battlefield: Ranger Companies in the Korean War, 1950-1951

Abstract

This study analyzes the creation, use, and subsequent inactivation of the U.S. Army Ranger Companies during the Korean conflict from October of 1950 to August of 1951. Army Chief of Staff, General J. Lawton Collins ordered the creation of the Ranger Companies of the Korean conflict. He wished to create 'Marauder' units to operate behind enemy lines, attacking their tank parks and assembly areas. This mission was developed as a response to the enemy's assault infiltration tactics launched against American rear areas during the early part of the Korean conflict. The first Ranger company to serve in Korea was a Provisional Unit formed in October of 1950, to test Collins' concept. Throughout the period of their existence the Ranger Companies acquitted themselves well as a fighter force, but were usually employed as just another company or as a sort of fore brigade for the division commander rather than in the raiding force role initially envisioned. Unconventional warfare.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 02, 1989
Accession Number
ADA211847

Entities

People

  • John G. Provost

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Amphibious Operations
  • Artillery
  • Combat Operations
  • Employment
  • Far East
  • Geography
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • New York
  • North Korea
  • Rear Areas
  • Small Arms
  • United States
  • United States European Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.