The Battle of the Bowling Alley was a key defensive engagement that helped UN forces hold the Pusan Perimeter during the early Korean War.
Key Facts
- Battle date
- August 21, 1950
- Location
- Narrow valley north of Daegu, South Korea
- KPA unit
- 13th Division, Korean People's Army
- UN reinforcements
- US 27th and 23rd Infantry Regiments
- Larger engagement
- Part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following a week of fighting, the Korean People's Army's 13th Division pressed against the Republic of Korea Army's 1st Division along the last defensible line north of Daegu. The KPA launched repeated massed night attacks supported by armor and artillery, prompting the UN Command to commit US Army reinforcements to bolster the ROK defenses.
For approximately a week beginning August 21, 1950, KPA divisions conducted nightly armored and infantry assaults through a narrow valley north of Daegu. UN forces, including US tanks, mines, entrenched infantry, and close air support, met each attack along well-prepared defensive lines. The fighting was fierce, with heavy casualties on both sides, particularly between KPA and ROK units.
The repeated KPA attacks ultimately broke and pushed back ROK forces, and the KPA continued pressing against the Pusan Perimeter. The North Korean advance was not ultimately halted in this engagement but was eventually undone when UN forces outflanked the entire KPA position during the amphibious landing at the Battle of Inchon.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent