Korean Omega

[Raellus]

According to the v1.0 U.S. Army Vehicle Guide, there are approximately 15,400 U.S. troops based in Korea as of June, 2000.

AFAIK, canon makes no mention of the fate of these troops. If I'm wrong about that, I'd like to know.

Let's assume that I'm correct. From the existing descriptions of the fighting in Korea through the summer of 2000, it sounds like the PKA would have ceased to exist as a large, conventional military force. Considering the size of the fully-mobilized ROK military (even after sustaining massive casualties), and the relative paucity of Soviet forces in Korea, c. 2000 (4,000 troops and 19 MBTs listed in the v1.0, Soviet Vehicle Guide), it stands to reason that the ROK probably doesn't need (or want) all 15,400 of those American troops sticking around, consuming badly-needed supplies and such. The ROK would likely welcome, if not actively pursue, at least a partial evacuation of U.S. forces from the peninsula.

Assuming that is the case, where would those troops go? Is it possible that their arrival on the U.S. west coast in early 2001 might explain the seemingly inexplicable demobilization of the troops arriving returning from Europe care of Operation Omega? Perhaps troops returning home from Korea are committed to expelling the Mexican forces from California and the American Southwest.

Or, do the American troops remain in Korea past early 2001? If so, what are they up to (besides fighting the remains of the KPA and their Soviet allies)?

Discuss.

[The Dark]

Red Maple (Challenge #36) suggests that PCs may be 8th Army, allied Chinese, South Korean, or Australian veterans of the Korean campaign that attempted to sail back to the US and shipwrecked in Vancouver. That's the only possibly relevant mention of Korea in Challenge, and it takes place some time between August 2000 and January 2001.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by The Dark

Red Maple (Challenge #36) suggests that PCs may be 8th Army, allied Chinese, South Korean, or Australian veterans of the Korean campaign that attempted to sail back to the US and shipwrecked in Vancouver. That's the only possibly relevant mention of Korea in Challenge, and it takes place some time between August 2000 and January 2001.

Thanks for the clue, Dark. I checked it out and sure, enough, you're right. It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference. I'm impressed that you remembered it.

The puns on the other hand...

Originally Posted by Draq

I imagine, as in Europe, some would stay and some would go. Did I hear you say you were doing the long awaited Korean/south east Asia source book!?

I didn't not say that I was doing it.

[Olefin]

FYI - it says they are one of the ways you can get troops

The text as a whole for who might be the PC's (sorry for how its formatted - copied it right out of the preview)

Europe: The characters were evacuated
from Europe or found a way home on
their own. Upon arriving in North
America they moved steadily west, eventually
landing on Vancouver lsland
where they were recruited by the DRI.

Middle East: The characters decided
they wanted to go home, and after
searching around, found a vessel that fit
the bill. Their boat was wrecked or ran
aground off the west coast of Vancouver
lsland and the characters were subsequently
picked up by the DRI.

Korea: The characters were members
of the 8th US Army (or of allied Chinese,
South Korean, or Australian units), and
after leaving Korea by boat, were shipwrecked
on Vancouver island where
they were recruited by the DRI.


North America: The characters were never sent out of
North America. They may have served in the Pacific Northwest
theater of the war. After the collapse of the warring armies,
the characters found their way to Vancouver lsland where they were recruited

It also offers a tip that if you start a campaign there (i.e. begin your game there with completely new characters) then they would be from the 3rd Canadian Scottish Regiment which broke up just east of Vancouver, British Columbia in mid-2000

[Olefin]

FYI Raellus - while its not canon I know there were discussions Chico and others had (which may or may not have involved Frank Frey - I remember them but have no idea what thread they were in - anyone else remember that?) where the 3rd Army used fuel and ships they had to evacuate the 8th Army to Iran and use those troops and vehicles in order to win the war in Iran with the Soviets (at the least the Marine troops but not sure about the rest)

I could easily see a Korean Omega being very similar to the European Omega - i.e. most of them come home (to the West Coast)or possibly even being used in Texas (Satellite Down says the Canal is still open which means that the US still has troops there and is in control of it) but the remainder go to Iran

The perfect ones to go to Iran would be the Marines - 3000 troops and 20 tanks- that would give the Marines in Iran (7000 men and 11 tanks) a very effective force to be able to kick the Soviets out - basically would form a Marine Army out of I Amphib Corps and II Amphib Corps - or you could combine all the Marine units in Korea into one Marine division and thus have three effective units of 3000 or more

They would probably drop the 25th off in Hawaii - 600 troops - but bring the rest back which is a good sized force

i.e.

2nd Infantry - 2000 troops, 4 M1
7th Light - 500 troops (and better yet they are CA troops from Fort Ord) - possibly even put remnants of the 91st and 221st as well as militia into it to bring it up to a 1000 or so since they would be native Californian troops
26th Infantry - 5000 troops, 3 LAV-75 (or M8 AGS if you do second edition)
41st Infantry - 2000 troops
45th Infantry - 2000 troops
163rd Armored Cav - 300 troops, 4 LAV-75 (or again M8 AGS)

so thats 11,800 troops, 4 M1 and 7 light tanks - more than enough to either take back a good sized piece of Texas or CA

[Raellus]

Strategically, the transfer of at least some of the American troops in Korea to the Middle East makes some sense, but I have my doubts.

First of all, it would be an incredibly hard sell.

"Hey, I know you've been stuck here in Korea for 3-4 years, without a sniff of home, but now, instead of sending you back to the States, we're shipping you to Iran to fight the Soviets there."

"Uh, no."

I really think that desertion would be a big problem after such an announcement. I think a lot of American troops would rather stay behind in Korea and/or find their own way back to the U.S.A.

And wouldn't those troops be needed just as badly, if not more so, in CONUS? The RDF doesn't make it sound like the American forces stationed in the Middle East need reinforcements that badly.

All things considered, I think a return to the U.S.A. makes more sense on nearly every level, and it aligns better with canon than a transfer to Iran.

[Draq]

Originally Posted by Raellus

According to the v1.0 U.S. Army Vehicle Guide, there are approximately 15,400 U.S. troops based in Korea as of June, 2000.

AFAIK, canon makes no mention of the fate of these troops. If I'm wrong about that, I'd like to know.

Let's assume that I'm correct. From the existing descriptions of the fighting in Korea through the summer of 2000, it sounds like the PKA would have ceased to exist as a large, conventional military force. Considering the size of the fully-mobilized ROK military (even after sustaining massive casualties), and the relative paucity of Soviet forces in Korea, c. 2000 (4,000 troops and 19 MBTs listed in the v1.0, Soviet Vehicle Guide), it stands to reason that the ROK probably doesn't need (or want) all 15,400 of those American troops sticking around, consuming badly-needed supplies and such. The ROK would likely welcome, if not actively pursue, at least a partial evacuation of U.S. forces from the peninsula.

Assuming that is the case, where would those troops go? Is it possible that their arrival on the U.S. west coast in early 2001 might explain the seemingly inexplicable demobilization of the troops arriving returning from Europe care of Operation Omega? Perhaps troops returning home from Korea are committed to expelling the Mexican forces from California and the American Southwest.

Or, do the American troops remain in Korea past early 2001? If so, what are they up to (besides fighting the remains of the KPA and their Soviet allies)?

Discuss.

I imagine, as in Europe, some would stay and some would go. Did I hear you say you were doing the long awaited Korean/south east Asia source book!?

[Targan]

Operation Komega. I'm sure the allied troops would be keen to return home. The Korean campaign would have been particularly Seoul-destroying.

[Silent Hunter UK]

Originally Posted by Targan

Operation Komega. I'm sure the allied troops would be keen to return home. The Korean campaign would have been particularly Seoul-destroying.

That pun really Pyong-yangs.