| Photo Caption Positions on the main line of resistance occupied by the Colombian Battalion, attached to the 24th Division, near Chup'a-ri overlooking the Kumsong Valley |
Summary
Fifteen foreign nations other than the United States and South Korea sent combat forces to serve in the United Nations Command in Korea during the Korean War. Five noncombatant nations provided hospitals or ambulance units. Approximately 150,000 foreign servicemen fought, and foreign casualties included 3,360 killed, 11,886 wounded and 1,801 servicemen missing in action. There were 1,376 foreign prisoners of war repatriated to 12 countries in 1953.
Foreign Ground Forces
Fourteen foreign nations sent ground forces to Korea. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom comprised the British Commonwealth Forces. Belgium, Luxembourg, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Thailand had battalion-sized units attached to U.S. Army divisions; Turkey deployed an infantry brigade.
Foreign Naval Forces
Eight foreign nations deployed more than 100 naval vessels to Korean waters, including carriers, destroyers, cruisers, frigates, landing ships, tankers and other utility craft. Foreign naval vessels were assigned by U.S. commanders to Task Force 77, the carrier strike force; Task Force 95, the blockading and escort force; Task Force 90, the amphibious landing force; and Task Force 96, the logistical support force.
Foreign naval vessels participated in the Inchon landing; the evacuation of United Nations ground forces from Nampo, Hungnam and Wonsan; shore bombardment of North Korea's coastlines; and patrols of the sea lines of communication to South Korea.
Foreign Air Forces
Australia's 77th Fighter Squadron was the first foreign unit to arrive in Korea on July 2, 1950. It was attached to the 35th U.S. Fighter Group.
South Africa's 2nd Fighter Squadron was attached to the U.S. 18th Fighter Group. It provided close air support to U.N. forces.
Australia, Canada, Greece and Thailand provided air transport units to the United Nations Command.
|
Foreign Forces Attached to the U.S. Army in the Korean War |
||
| Foreign Unit Designation | U.S. Army Unit | Month/Year |
| Australian 3d Battalion | 1st Cavalry Division | Oct 1950 |
| Belgium-Luxembourg Battalion | 3d Division 1st Cavalry Division 3d Division |
Mar 1951 Oct 1951 Nov 1951 |
| Canadian 2d Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (part of the 27th Commonwealth Brigade) | 1st Cavalry Division | Feb 1951 |
| Canadian 25th Brigade, Canadian Army Special Forces | 1st Cavalry Division | May 1951 |
| Colombian Battalion | 24th Division 7th Division I Corps (with 7th Division) |
Aug 1951 Jan 1952 Dec 1952 |
| Ethiopian Battalion | 7th Division I Corps (with 7th Division) |
Jul 1951 Dec 1952 |
| French Battalion | 2d Division IX Corps (with 2d Division) |
Nov 1950 Apr 1953 |
| Greek Battalion | 1st Cavalry Division | Dec 1950 |
| Netherlands Battalion | 2d Division | Dec 1950 |
| New Zealand 16th Field Artillery Regiment |
24th Division | Oct 1950 |
| Philippine l0th Battalion Combat Team |
25th Division
187th Airborne Regiment Combat Team 1st Cavalry Eighth Army 3d Division |
Oct 1950
Nov 1950 Dec 1950 Jan 1950 Mar 1951 |
| Philippine 20th Battalion Combat Team |
3d Division
25th Division 3d Division 25th Division |
Sep 1951
Oct 1951 Nov 1951 Apr 1952 |
| Thailand 21st Regiment | 187th Airborne Regiment I Corps IX Corps 1st Cavalry Division 3d Division 2d Division |
Nov 1950 Dec 1950 Jan 1951 Mar 1951 Mar 1951 Dec 1951 |
| Turkish Brigade | 25th Division | Nov 1950 |
| United Kingdom 27th Brigade | I Corps | Sep 1950 |
| 27th Brigade (with Australian Battalion and New Zealand Artillery Regiment | 24th Division | Oct 1950 |
| United Kingdom 29th Brigade | IX Corps 25th Division IX Corps 3d Division |
Nov 1950 Feb 1951 Mar 1951 Apr 1951 |
| 1st British Commonwealth Division | I Corps | Jul 1951 |
| Country | Army | Navy* | Air Force |
| Australia | 2 infantry battalions | 9 naval vessels | 1 fighter squadron 1 transport squadron |
| Belgium/Luxembourg | 1 infantry battalion | n.a.** | n.a. |
| Canada | 1 infantry brigade | 8 naval vessels | 1 transport squadron |
| Colombia | 1 infantry battalion | 6 naval vessels | n.a. |
| Ethiopia | 1 infantry battalion | n.a. | n.a. |
| France | 1 infantry battalion | 1 naval vessel | n.a. |
| Greece | 1 infantry battalion | n.a. | 1 transport battalion |
| Netherlands | 1 infantry battalion | 6 naval vessels | n.a. |
| New Zealand | 1 artillery regiment | 4 naval vessels | n.a. |
| Philippines | 1 battalion combat team | n.a. | n.a. |
| South Africa | 15 soldiers attached to British ground forces | n.a. | 1 fighter squadron |
| Thailand | 1 infantry battalion | 4 naval vessels | 1 transport unit |
| Turkey | 1 infantry brigade | n.a. | n.a. |
| United Kingdom | 2 infantry brigades | 50 naval vessels | n.a. |
* The number of naval vessels reflects main battle vessels only.
** Not applicable
|
Foreign Prisoners of War Repatriated in 1953 |
|
| Australia |
29 |
| Belgium |
1 |
| Canada |
32 |
| Colombia |
28 |
| Ethiopia |
0 |
| France |
12 |
| Greece |
3 |
| Luxembourg |
0 |
| Netherlands |
3 |
| New Zealand |
1 |
| Philippines |
41 |
| South Africa |
8 |
| Thailand |
0 |
| Turkey |
243 |
| United Kingdom |
977 |
| Total |
1,376 |
|
Dates of Service of Foreign Armed Forces in the United Nations Command by Country |
|
| Australia | Jul 1, 1950 to Feb 12, 1954 |
| Belgium | Jan 31, 1951 to Jun 15,1955 |
| Canada | Jul 30, 1950 to Sep 7, 1955 |
| Colombia | Jun 15, 1951 to Oct 11, 1955 |
| Ethiopia | May 7, 1951 to Jan 3, 1965 |
| France | Jul 22, 1950 to Nov 6, 1953 |
| Greece | Dec 9, 1950 to Dec 11, 1955 |
| Luxembourg | Jan 31, 1951 to Jun 15, 1955 |
| Netherlands | Nov 23, 1950 to Dec 6, 1954 |
| New Zealand | Aug 1, 1950 to Oct 6, 1954 |
| Philippines | Sep 19, 1950 to May 13, 1955 |
| South Africa | Nov 16, 1950 to Oct 31, 1953 |
| Thailand | Nov 7, 1950 to Jun 23, 1972 |
| Turkey | Oct 19, 1950 to Sep 4, 1953 |
| United Kingdom | Jun 30, 1950 to 1957 (date unknown) |
|
Foreign Casualties in the Korean War |
||||
| Country | Killed | Wounded | Missing | Total |
| Australia |
339 |
1,216 |
72 |
1,416 |
| Belgium |
101 |
336 |
5 |
442 |
| Canada |
312 |
1,212 |
32 |
1,556 |
| Colombia |
163 |
448 |
28 |
639 |
| Ethiopia |
121 |
536 |
0 |
657 |
| France |
262 |
1,008 |
19 |
1,289 |
| Greece |
192 |
543 |
2 |
737 |
| Luxembourg |
2 |
13 |
0 |
15 |
| Netherlands |
120 |
645 |
3 |
768 |
| New Zealand |
23 |
79 |
1 |
103 |
| Philippines |
122 |
299 |
57 |
478 |
| South Africa |
34 |
0 |
8 |
42 |
| Thailand |
129 |
1,139 |
5 |
1,273 |
| Turkey |
741 |
2,068 |
407 |
3,216 |
| United Kingdom |
746 |
2,533 |
1,157 |
4,436 |
|
Foreign Medical Units |
|||
| Country/Unit Designation |
Beds |
Medical Staff |
In-Patients |
| DENMARK Jutlandia Hospital Ship |
360 |
200 |
15,000 |
| INDIA 60th Field Ambulance Unit |
1,000 |
345 |
20,000 |
| ITALY Red Cross Hospital No. 68 |
150 |
131 |
17,041 |
| NORWAY Mobile Army Surgical Hospital |
200 |
106 |
14,755 |
| SWEDEN Red Cross Field Hospital |
450 |
160 |
900 |
| Photo Caption Soldiers from the Belgium-Luxembourg Battalion catch up on news from home. |
|
Estimated Number of Foreign Military Personnel who Served in the Korean War |
|
| Australia |
17,164 |
| Belgium |
3,498 |
| Canada |
27,000 |
| Colombia |
6,200 |
| Ethiopia |
3,518 |
| France |
4,000 |
| Greece |
5,000 |
| Luxembourg |
89 |
| Netherlands |
5,300 |
| New Zealand |
4,500 |
| Philippines |
7,420 |
| South Africa |
811 |
| Thailand |
6,500 |
| Turkey |
15,000 |
| United Kingdom |
60,000 |
Sources
Grey, Jeffrey. The Commonwealth Armies and the Korean War (1988).
Republic of Korea, Ministry of National Defense, 6. The History of the United Nations Forces in the Korea War (1981).
Sandler, Stanley, ed. The Korean War: An Encyclopedia (1955).
Summers, Harry. Korean War Almanac (1990).
Source: http://korea50.army.mil/history/factsheets/allied.shtml