Battle of Hwanggan

Battle of Hwanggan
Part of Korean War
Date July 23–29, 1950 Location North of Hwanggan, South Korea Result North Korean victory
Belligerents
United Nations  United States	North Korea
Commanders and leaders
John H. Michaelis	Lee Ch'ong Song
Units involved
27th Infantry Regiment	2nd Division
Strength
3,000	10,000?
Casualties and losses
53 killed 221 wounded 49 missing	3,000 6 T-34 tanks

The Battle of Hwanggan was an engagement between United States and North Korean forces that took place on July 23–29, 1950, on a road north of the village of Hwanggan in southern South Korea, early in the Korean War. The battle ended in a victory for the North Koreans after US troops were forced to withdraw south.

The US Army's 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, newly arrived in Korea, was moved to a road north of Hwanggan to block the North Korean Korean People's Army (KPA)'s 2nd Division, advancing following the Battle of Taejon. In an unusually good first performance, the 27th Infantry was able to delay the North Korean division for almost a week, inflicting heavy casualties on it while suffering few casualties of their own.

The North Koreans eventually were able to overwhelm the US forces with sheer numbers, capturing Hwanggan and pushing the American units further south. However, the action solidified the 27th Infantry's position as a valuable reserve unit for the US Eighth Army during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. The 27th distinguished itself in several critical battles, including the Battle of the Bowling Alley.