A minor Korean War naval engagement that revealed a North Korean minefield near Haeju Bay days before the Inchon landing.
Key Facts
- Date
- September 10, 1950
- South Korean vessel
- Patrol boat PC-703
- North Korean vessel sunk
- 1 minelayer sailing vessel
- North Korean crew casualties
- All crew lost
- South Korean casualties
- 0
- Additional transports sunk (Sep 12)
- 3 small supply vessels
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
In the days preceding the Battle of Inchon, North Korean naval forces were actively laying mines in strategic coastal waters. A North Korean minelayer sailed into Haeju Bay in the Yellow Sea, likely to deny access to United Nations forces preparing for amphibious operations along the Korean coast.
On September 10, 1950, South Korean patrol boat PC-703 encountered the North Korean minelayer in Haeju Bay. After a brief engagement, the minelayer was sunk with no survivors. Two days later on September 12, PC-703 also intercepted and sank three likely unarmed North Korean supply transports in the same area.
Following the minelayer's sinking, PC-703 determined that the vessel had laid a minefield at the mouth of Haeju Man and reported the mines' location to command. This intelligence allowed UN naval forces to be warned of the hazard shortly before the large-scale Inchon landing operation commenced on September 15, 1950.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent