"…America's first military action in Korea took place long before 1950. In fact, the United States fought a brief naval campaign against the Korean Joseon Dynasty 79 years before the U.N. mission to defeat the communist north.On June 1, 1871, a fleet of five U.S. warships, 500 sailors and more than 100 marines arrived at Ganghwa Island, just off the Korean mainland. Their mission was to establish diplomatic and trade relations with the then isolationist nation as well as to find any trace of the missing U.S. merchant ship the SS General Sherman.
The Sherman had gone missing in Korean waters five years earlier while carrying a load of trade goods. After a series of misunderstandings with locals, the crew of the armed merchant vessel found themselves in a standoff with Korean authorities. After tensions reached the breaking point, the Sherman ended up firing its guns directly into a Korean settlement. Soon afterwards, the locals retaliated by attacking the side-wheel steamer with fire ships. The American vessel caught fire and sank; the survivors were assaulted and killed by angry villagers.
Five years later, the Koreans were suspicious of this new fleet of vessels flying the Stars and Stripes. After initial contact with locals, the American naval vessels Colorado, Alaska, Palos, Monocacy, and Benicia steamed into the mouth of the Han River, an act the Koreans felt violated their sovereignty. In response, the fort on Ganghwa unleashed a 15-minute cannonade on the American ships, which resulted in some minor damage…"
Full article here
link
"…A total of 15 Medals of Honor were bestowed upon members of the shore party…"
Wow!.
Interesting if the war continue some more time.
Amicalement
Armand
looks at a fast-assembly naval kit for the Age of Sail.
