This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (May 2023) |
Chinese spring offensive of 1951 | |||||||
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Part of the Korean War | |||||||
![]() Map of the offensive, showing the PVA/KPA gains | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Units involved | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
418,500[1] |
700,000[1]
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Casualties and losses | |||||||
UN sources: 15,769 total casualties[3]
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Chinese sources: 85-90,000 casualties (Chinese only)[6][7][8] UN estimate: 110,000 to 160,609 total casualties (both Chinese and North Korean)[9][3] |
The Chinese spring offensive (Chinese: 中国春季攻势), also known as the Chinese Fifth Phase Offensive (Chinese: 第五次战役), was a military operation conducted by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) during the Korean War. Mobilizing three field armies totaling 700,000 men for the operation, the Chinese command conducted their largest offensive operation since their Second Phase Offensive in November and December 1950. The operation took place in the summer of 1951 and aimed at permanently driving the United Nations Command (UN) forces off the Korean peninsula.
The offensive's first thrust fell upon the units of US I Corps and US IX Corps on 22 April but was halted at the No-Name Line north of Seoul by 30 April. On 15 May 1951, the PVA and Korean People's Army (KPA) commenced the second impulse of the spring offensive and attacked the Republic of Korea Army (ROK) and US X Corps in the east. Although initially successful, they were halted by 22 May. On 20 May, perceiving that the enemy were overextended the US Eighth Army counterattacked the exhausted PVA/KPA forces, inflicting heavy losses.[10]