What tactics did Chinese forces use against United Nations troops at the Chosin Reservoir?

During the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, Chinese forces employed a tactical formula developed earlier in the Korean War to combat United Nations Command (UNC) troops. Their primary tactics included:

• Stealth and Nighttime Attacks: Chinese forces frequently utilized the cover of darkness to infiltrate positions and launch surprise assaults.12
• Ambushes and Encirclement: They sought to cut off supply lines and withdrawal routes, often ambushing counterattacking forces to isolate units.12
• Superiority in Numbers: By massing large numbers of infantry—such as the 150,000 soldiers of the Ninth Army Group—they attempted to overwhelm UNC defensive perimeters, artillery positions, and command posts.2
• Exploitation of Terrain: Chinese troops made extensive use of concealment and cover within the mountainous terrain to mask their movements and lure UNC forces into traps.1

Because the Chinese lacked significant artillery, trucks, and shells, they relied heavily on infantry tactics, mortars, and machine guns, often attacking in waves to penetrate defensive enclaves at locations like Yudam-ni, Hagaru-ri, and Kot’o-ri.2