Once the United States had called on the United Nations for its support in stopping aggression. and the Security Council had voted to resist the aggression by North Korea, no less than 10 nations responded by sending troops to serve in Korea by the end of 1950. Great Britain The first element to arrive was from America's staunchest ally, Great Britain. From Hong Kong the 27th Infantry Brigade, the Strategic Reserve Brigade of the United Kingdom, was dispatched to serve in Korea. At that time the 40th British Infantry Division, some seven battalions of infantry in all, was tasked with defending the Crown Colony of Hong Kong against a feared Communist Chinese assault. Remembering all too well the ease with which Hong Kong had falled in 1941 to the Japanese, the British were determined not to repeat the same mistake twice. The units there were well trained. However due to a reasonable fear that the Chinese might still attack Hong Kong, the 27th Infantry Brigade only took with it two battalions and the brigade headquarters. One battalion and all supporting elements were left behind in Hong Kong. The Brigade had with it the 1st Middlesex and the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Additional units were to be sent from Britain and the other Commonwealth countries, but for now it was known as the "Woolworth" brigade as "it was done on the cheap" due to its shortage of supporting arms. Its organization for COMMAND DECISION would be as follows: 27th INFANTRY BRIGADE (Experienced, Morale 9) BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 Jeep 1 Staff Radio Truck 1 Support Stand 1 Light Truck 2 INFANTRY BATTALIONS: each with; BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 Staff Radio Truck 1 Jeep 2 Support Stands 1 Medium Truck WEAPONS COMPANY 2 Recon Universal Carriers 1 3" Mortar Stand (DS) 1 Engineer Stand 2 Light Trucks 1 Vickers MMG Stand 2 3.5" Bazooka Stands 4 RIFLE COMPANIES; each with; 1 Command Stand 3 Infantry Stands Australia, New Zealand, and More British In October, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, joined the Brigade with the same TO&E as above, but should be rated as Veteran, Morale 11. When the Australians arrived, the Brigade was renamed the 27th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, and in early 1951 the force was joined by a Canadian Infantry Battalion, 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricals Canadian Light Infantry, the 60th (Parachute) Indian Field Hospital, and New Zealand's 16th Field Artillery Regiment to reach to reach full strength. Prior to the arrival of the New Zealand Artillery Regiment, artillery support was given to the Brigade by the US 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion. Consider each battalion of the 27th Brigade to have attached a US Heavy Mortar Company during 1950. Also in late 1950, a second British Infantry Brigade, the 29th, reached Korea. Three battalions of Infantry, the 1st Northumberlands, the 1st Gloucesters, and 1st Ulsters arrived along with a complement of supporting arms. The above command was filled by calling up reservists, most of whom were in their 301s, and who as WWII veterans had assumed that they were safe from recall to the colors. (A surprising number of them had seen German POW's during the late war.) In spite of that fact, they served with honor. and for COMMAND DECISION should be organized with the following: 29th INFANTRY BRIGADE (Experienced, Morale 9) BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 Jeep 1 Staff Radio Truck 2 Support Stands 1 Medium Truck 45th FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 FO Stand 1 Jeeps 1 Dingo Scout Car 2 Support Stands 1 Staff Radio Trucks 3 Medium Trucks 3 FIRING BATIERIES, each with; 2 25 lb Field Guns 2 Gun Crews (DS) 2 Quad Prime Movers 170th INDEPENDENT MORTAR BATTERY HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 FO Stand 2 Support Stands 2 Jeeps 3 Medium Trucks 3 BATTERIES, each with; 1 Gun Crew (DS) 1 4.2" Mortar 1 Medium Truck 11th LIGHT AA BATTERY 1 Command Stand 1 Jeep 3 40mm AA Guns 3 Gun Crews 3 Light Trucks 8th KINGS ROYAL IRISH HUSSARS: HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Centurion 2 Recon Cromwells 2 Daimler Scout Cars 1 Armored Recovery Vehicle 2 Support Stands 2 Medium Trucks 3 SQUADRONS. each with; 1 Command Centurion 3 Centurions 55th FIELD SQUADRON, ROYAL ENGINEERS 1 Command Stand 3 Engineer Stands 1 Dingo Scout Car 2 Medium Trucks 3 INFANTRY BATTALIONS: each with; BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 Staff Radio Truck 1 Jeep 2 Support Stands 2 Medium Trucks WEAPONS COMPANY 2 Recon Universal Carriers 1 3" Mortar Stand (DS) 1 Engineer Stand 2 Light Trucks 1 Vickers MMG Stand 2 3.5" Bazooka Stands 4 RIFLE COMPANIES; each with; 1 Command Stand 3 Infantry Stands BRITISH NOTES 1. The British statistics are the same as found in CD, with the following exceptions. AT Weapons: British Infantry Stands are considered to be equipped with the 3.5" Bazookas * They may only be used in any one Fire Phase during a game turn. The stands listed as being 3.511 Bazooka Stands however may be used In any CENTURION 45/15 14(20)/9 84mmTG-O, 1MG, H 1 MG ROF 2, 18 rounds Ammo 2" 5" 10" 15" 20" 25" 30" 40" APDS 9:24 9:24 9:21 7:20 5:18 3:17 2:16 1:15 AP 9:14 9:14 9:13 7:13 5:12 3:12 2:11 1:9 HE 9:-2 9:-2 9:-4 7:-4 5:-4 3:-4 2:-4 1"-4 United Nations Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand France Netherlands Belgium / Luxemburg Philippines Turkey Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Korean War Supplement To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1992 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com