The Battle of Dalushan Islands

The Battle of Dalushan Islands
1953	Communist victory
The Battle of Dalushan Islands was a battle fought between the nationalists and the communists for several islands and islets just off the coast of Zhejiang, China during aftermath of the Chinese Civil War in the post-World War II era; it resulted in a communist victory. On May 29, 1953, a battalion of the 179th regiment of the 60th Division and two companies of the 17th Public Security Division launched their assault on Da Lu Shan Dao ("Greater Deer Mountain Island"), Xiao Lu Shan Dao, ("Lesser Deer Mountain Island"), Ji Guan Shan Dao ("Rooster's Crown Mountain Island"), and Yang Yu ("Goat Islet") off coast of Zhejiang. At 6:00 PM, People's Liberation Army artillery bombarded Ji Guan Shan Dao and Yang Yu from Zhaitoujiao and Kanmen on the mainland. At 7:00 PM, the first assault wave successfully landed on the two islets. Afterward, naval gunboats approached Da Lu Shan Dao and Xiao Lu Shan Dao and bombarded the nationalist positions on the islands. At 9:00 PM, the battle ended with 53 nationalists killed and 186 captured, including the commander of the 42nd Column of the Anti-Communist Assault Army, He Zhuoquan. The nationalists also lost two junks, and eight radio sets along with code books. The communist victory ensured further isolation of the nationalist strongholds along the coast of Zhejiang, such as Dachen Archipelago and Yijiangshan Islands, and another nationalist threat to the communists' coastal sea lines of communication was eliminated. As for the nationalists, these islands and islets were simply too small to station the large number of troops required for any effective defence. They were also too far away from the nearest nationalist strongholds along the coast, so it was impossible to reinforce the local garrison in time.

1953

Communist victory

The Battle of Dalushan Islands was a battle fought between the nationalists and the communists for several islands and islets just off the coast of Zhejiang, China during aftermath of the Chinese Civil War in the post-World War II era; it resulted in a communist victory.

On May 29, 1953, a battalion of the 179th regiment of the 60th Division and two companies of the 17th Public Security Division launched their assault on Da Lu Shan Dao ("Greater Deer Mountain Island"), Xiao Lu Shan Dao, ("Lesser Deer Mountain Island"), Ji Guan Shan Dao ("Rooster's Crown Mountain Island"), and Yang Yu ("Goat Islet") off coast of Zhejiang. At 6:00 PM, People's Liberation Army artillery bombarded Ji Guan Shan Dao and Yang Yu from Zhaitoujiao and Kanmen on the mainland. At 7:00 PM, the first assault wave successfully landed on the two islets. Afterward, naval gunboats approached Da Lu Shan Dao and Xiao Lu Shan Dao and bombarded the nationalist positions on the islands. At 9:00 PM, the battle ended with 53 nationalists killed and 186 captured, including the commander of the 42nd Column of the Anti-Communist Assault Army, He Zhuoquan. The nationalists also lost two junks, and eight radio sets along with code books.

The communist victory ensured further isolation of the nationalist strongholds along the coast of Zhejiang, such as Dachen Archipelago and Yijiangshan Islands, and another nationalist threat to the communists' coastal sea lines of communication was eliminated. As for the nationalists, these islands and islets were simply too small to station the large number of troops required for any effective defence. They were also too far away from the nearest nationalist strongholds along the coast, so it was impossible to reinforce the local garrison in time.