Clearing the Inchon-Seoul Highway - Korea (A Warhorse Campaign Series Modification)

[Sosa, South Korea]:[HIS]:[H2H]:[BB] As Colonel "Chesty" Puller's 1st Marines advanced along the Inchon-Seoul Highway, they met strong resistance near Sosa. A regiment of the NKPA 18th Division and elements of the 42nd Tank Regiment set up defensive positions and roadblocks west of Sosa. They also mined two areas along the Highway 2 and the Keongin-Seon RR between Sosa and Yeongdungpo. Major General Wol Ki Chan, the overall Seoul Defense commander, needed time to organize a stronger defense in Yeongdungpo. The NKPA forces at Sosa would fight a delaying action. The 18th Division's 122mm Howitzer Battalion, and also 120mm mortars of the 20th Regimental Mortar Company supported them.The Marines 2nd Battalion had advanced within 3km of Sosa during 17 September 1950. 3rd Battalion under Lt.Col. Thomas Ridge was to join the fight and form the right flank. On the morning of 18 September, Company B, 1st Tank Battalion moved forward with its M26 Pershing tanks. Ridge's 3rd Battalion, mounted on amphibious tractors, followed. They overcame roadblocks a kilometer west of Sosa, and by noon had taken the town. To the northeast, Hill 123 lay ahead. The NPKA defenders were bombarded by naval gunfire from the HMS Kenya. 3rd Battalion took the hill, but was then hit by heavy enemy artillery fire. Meanwhile 2nd Battalion advanced past Sosa only to encounter mines along the highway. Engineers cleared the mines and then an attack on Hill 72 followed. The 11th Marines, the division's artillery regiment, took Hill 72 under howitzer fire. F4U Corsairs helped. The next task was Hill 146. It was also strongly defended and overlooked another minefield along the highway...