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Battle of the Chosin Reservoir: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As Battle of the Chōsen Reservoir • Battle of the Changjin Reservoir
Date November 1950 - December 1950
Location North Korea
Participants China • United States
Context Korean War

Photos

Battle of the Chosin Reservior
Map of the Korean Peninsula showing troop movements and advances by United Nations Command forces during the Korean War from September to November 1950. Green arrows trace the northward advances from South Korea into North Korea, with key cities, rivers, and boundaries labeled, including the 38th parallel and major operations such as the X Corps landing at Inch'on and Pusan. Neighboring regions like Manchuria (China), the USSR, and Japan are also indicated.
Korean War: Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
Men of the 7th Regiment, U.S. 1st Marine Division, during the advance toward the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, early November 1950.
A U.S. Marine camp at Hagaru-ri, North Korea, during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, November–December 1950.
Map of the Korean Peninsula showing the Chinese and North Korean military advance during the Korean War from November 1950 to January 1951. Red arrows indicate major routes of the Chinese People's Volunteer Force and North Korean People's Army moving southward from the Yalu River border through North Korea toward South Korea, passing major cities such as Pyongyang and Seoul. Key locations, airfields, and surrounding countries, including China, the Soviet Union, and Japan, are also labeled.
Two side-by-side maps of the Chosin (Changjin) Reservoir area during the Korean War. The left map shows U.S. positions and multiple red arrows indicating the directions of Chinese attacks from November 27-29, 1950. The right map displays the U.S. X Corps withdrawal route southward from the reservoir, marked in blue, with main Chinese locations indicated in purple, covering December 6-11, 1950. Both maps include major terrain features, passes, villages, and elevation shading.
Men of the 5th and 7th regiments, U.S. 1st Marine Division, receiving an order to withdraw from their positions near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, November 29, 1950.
U.S. Marines unloading a transport plane at Hagaru-ri, North Korea, during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, December 5, 1950.
Korean War: Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
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Timeline

Korean War
Inchon landing
September 15, 1950 - September 26, 1950
Battle of the Chosin Reservior
Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
November 1950 - December 1950
Korean War, February 1951–July 1953
Battle of Kapyong
April 23, 1951 - April 25, 1951

Key People

Chesty Puller
Chesty Puller
United States Marine Corps officer