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Another Day at the Beach

The attached publicity photograph depicts a vertical envelopment training exercise from the Pacific Missile Range Naval Missile Facility. The full scene details Marine helicopters overhead, amphibious vehicles, theatrical explosions, and Marine infantry storming the beach.

Series: Historical Photograph Files and Press Clippings Files, 1945-1977. Group 181: Records of Naval Districts and Shore Establishments, 1784-2000. (National Archives Identifier 295598).

#beach #Pacific Missile Range #Naval Missile Facility #vertical envelopment #training exercise #Navy #Marine helicopters #amphibious vehicles #explosions #infantry

Vertical Envelopment: The Beginnings of the Heliborne Air Assault

In 1946, the US Military began considering the practical applications of helicopters. The USMC formed its first experimental helicopter squadron, HMX-1, at the Marine Base at Quantico, Virginia in December 1947.

It was intended that the use of helicopters to insert troops and supplies ahead of a Marine Expeditionary Force would minimise the risk of losing a large force if it were attacked while massing at a beachhead. It was envisioned that Marine Corps heliborne troops could land inland and open up potential beachheads rapidly allowing landing forces to fan out as soon as they landed. This tactic was termed 'Vertical Envelopment' by the USMC. Marine Corps Commandant General Alexander Vandegrift supported the concept summarising the concept:

"With a relatively unlimited choice of landing areas, troops can be landed in combat formations and under full control of the flanks or rear of a hostile position. The helicopter's speed makes transport dispersion at sea a matter of no disadvantage and introduces a time-space factor that will avoid presenting at any one time a remunerative atomic target."

While the helicopter had been experimented with by a number of other US Military service branches it was the USMC which first began experimentation for combat operations. HMX-1, commanded by Colonel Edward C. Dyer, began training and experimentation with a variety of helicopters including Piasecki HRP-1s (see image #1), Sikorsky H-5s and later Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaws (see image #2). 1948 saw a number of field exercise incorporating the use of helicopters and the publishing of the first manual to look at deploying helicopters entitled: 'Amphibious Operations--Employment of Helicopters (Tentative)'.

Navy Sikorsky H-5 in action in Korea (source)

The limited lift capacities of the early helicopters, the Piasecki HRP-1 for example could carry only 6 men or 2,000 lbs of cargo, meant that the number of troops deployable was limited unless used in large numbers. However, the Sikorsky H-19 doubled this and was used extensively during the Korean War.

With the outbreak of the Korean War and the rushing of US troops to defend the Pusan Perimeter in August 1950, elements of HMX-1 squadron were dispatched to support US Marines fighting along the perimeter. Four helicopters of HMX-1 were initially deployed as observer and medical evacuation aircraft as well as on various transport missions. HMX-1 did not perform any 'Vertical Envelopment' operations during 1950-51 however, its role was seen as vital and the squadron was used as a cadre to train further helicopter crews. These trainee crews went on to form Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161 (HMR-161) who saw extensive action during the Korean War.

Between 1951 and 1953 the United Nations forces in Korea held a defensive line across the Korean Peninsular called the Jamestown Line. With the arrival of the fully trained and equipped HMR-161 in September 1951 preparations began for the USMC's first Vertical Envelopment operation. On the 13th September HMR-161 assisted a battalion-sized operation codenamed Operation Windmill I, flying 28 flights in just under three hours delivering 18,848 lbs of supplies and evacuating 74 seriously wounded troops. Later the same month HMR-161 launched its first combat air insertion mission during Operation Summit landing a company of 224 Marines on Hill 884. The operation began with the landing of a security element at the proposed landing zone followed by a two landing site preparation teams. Twelve helicopters then began ferrying in troops, five at a time, and supplies taking just over four hours to complete the insertion.

In October the most ambitious insertion yet was attempted during Operation Bumblebee with the twelve helicopters of HMR-161 transporting an entire battalion. In just under 66 hours almost 1,000 men were airlifted 15 miles to Hill 702. By the end of the war in July 1953, HMR-161 had transported 60,046 people and approximately 7,500,000 lbs of cargo.

HMX-1 and HMR-161 proved the concept of 'Vertical Envelopment' during their operations in Korea. The lessons learnt would be built upon by other militaries engaged in Algeria, Egypt, Africa and Vietnam. The first combat helicopter assault was completed during Operation Musketeer by Royal Marines' 45 Commando in November 1956 during the Suez Crisis.

Today, the HMX-1 squadron is famous for providing the Marine One helicopter which is at the disposal of the US President and his cabinet.

Sources:

Image One Source

Image Two Source

Image Three Source

Whirlybirds: US. Marine Helicopters in Korea, R.J. Brown (2003)

The Marine Helicopter And The Korean War, R.R. Propst (1989) (source)