US-UN-ROK side unifies Korea with conventional forces *despite* Chinese intervention - whatzit cost?

What would be the casualty price tag of the US unifying Korea after Chinese entry into the war

  • 0-5% net increase

    Votes: 1 2.0%
  • 5-10% net increase

    Votes: 1 2.0%
  • 10-25% increase

    Votes: 14 27.5%
  • 26-50% increase

    Votes: 9 17.6%
  • 51-75% increase

    Votes: 4 7.8%
  • 76-100% increase

    Votes: 9 17.6%
  • No amount of conventional effort could push the Chinese out of Korea

    Votes: 13 25.5%
  • Any US second attempt to occupy NK would cause WW3, even if the US is not initiating atomic war

    Votes: 2 3.9%
  • A US second attempt to occupy NK would not cause WW3 as long as the US did not start atomic war

    Votes: 15 29.4%

  • Total voters
    51
I do wonder though how considerable, and sustainable, the Chinese air assets were. Even with large numbers of airframes available, the training of Chinese pilots was far inferior to US, and air operational experience was weak.

That somewhat depends on precisely when the US decides to take the offensive. As a general rule, the later in the war it is, the better trained and more experienced the Chinese air force would be for... obvious reasons. While they never managed to match the USAF's capabilities, it nonetheless still means that the later in the war the US makes the decision, the more difficult it will be if the Chinese respond by releasing additional air units.

This extends to the ground forces as well. In the early-war period, the Chinese suffered from logistical disorganization which hampered their forces fighting effectiveness. The later in the war it is, the more entrenched and better supplied the Communists are.
 
Are you implying they could have reduced their losses by going back on the operational offensive and keeping things mobile?
Quite possibly, I know there are all sorts of arguments about the terrain and overcoming the entrenched Chinese, however giving up the key advantage of a Western army's mechanisation does not appear to be gaining anything.

(Armour clearly can be used in the Korean Peninsular en masse)
 
How about another amphibious landing, on the other coast?

lot of beach here
ae6e1aa6-18c8-46e2-ac74-de9f269fa3de-011819-North-Korea-resort_Online.png


OTL, Operation Tailboard was to have been the counterpoint to the Landing at Inchon
Turned out, landing at Wonsan wasn't needed.

So why not give it a try in 1951 after things went back to the 38th?

It wasn't a tough nut, compared to opposed WWII landings done by the Marines and Army.

Make it an Anzio, done better, target: Pyongyang, and trap the Communists. Replay of 1950, but this time, bagging the Chinese 'Volu divisions
 
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