Key Facts
- Dates
- 13–14 February 1951
- Duration
- 2 days
- Defending force
- US 23rd Infantry Regiment and French units
- Attacker
- Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA)
- Result
- United Nations Command victory
Strategic Narrative Overview
On 13–14 February 1951, multiple PVA units encircled and attacked the Chipyong-ni perimeter held by the US 23rd Infantry Regiment and attached French Battalion. The defenders held a tight perimeter against repeated night assaults. Relief forces broke through the Chinese encirclement on 15 February, and the combined defense and relief effort succeeded in repelling the PVA attack and stabilizing the central front.
01 / The Origins
By early 1951, the Korean War had entered a volatile phase following China's large-scale intervention in late 1950. Chinese People's Volunteer Army forces had driven UN forces southward, and in February 1951 the PVA launched renewed offensive operations in central Korea. The village of Chipyong-ni, held by US and French units of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, became a critical defensive position in the path of the Chinese advance.
03 / The Outcome
The UN defenders successfully held Chipyong-ni, inflicting significant losses on the attacking PVA units and forcing a Chinese withdrawal. The victory, alongside the concurrent Third Battle of Wonju, blunted the Chinese offensive in central Korea. The battle boosted UN morale, demonstrated the viability of holding defensive perimeters against encirclement, and contributed to halting the PVA's winter-spring offensive.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Paul L. Freeman Jr., Ralph Monclar.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.