korean war question ; trainbusters

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Talquin

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Question for some of you gents.

I know during the korean war that there was a trainbusting group. If your ship destroyed a train you were in. A point for every train destroyed. I assume it was a unofficial group or status but does anyone know if there was a symbol or insignia for being part of a ship that had destoyed a train?
 
The reason I ask is because I met a shipman from the Haida. I saw him every two months when he came to get a new prepaid card for his phone.
 
I worked with several Korean War era Navy vets during the 70s and 80s, and most spoke of the Tribals being used to shoot up land based targets of oppurtunity(most famously Trains).
Possibly all the Destroyers that rotated to the conflict had similar tasks. HMCS Crusader destroyed 4 of the total 8 train kills claimed by Canadian Destroyers under UN command. They usually ran in close to shore at night to shoot up korean coastal railways and their bridges and tunnels. Many of these ships rotated to Korea for 2 or 3 tours during the conflict.
As in the Gulf Crisis(3 warships) in 1990 , it was the Navy who were called upon first to send contingents to the respective conflicts. I believe Canada sent three Tribals in mid- summer 1950, to Korean waters. :canadaFlag:
 
Train busters

It wasn't only the Navy that busted trains. Both SMELLIE and I are quite aware of a fine old American Gentleman who flew in old WWII U.S. B-26 twin engine attack aircraft in Korea. Over 50 missions, at night, low level down in the mountains, by themselves, attacking trains, trucks, and North Korean supply routes.

Being an Aeronautical Engineer by trade, when the Koreans started hiding their trains in tunnels upon hearing an aircraft, he helped develop a method of skipping 500 pound delay fused bombs into the tunnel entrances. If you think about this, if you are coming in low level, and drop high, left, or right, there is a chance of missing the tunnel entrance, and the bomb could explode when it hits solid rock, while your aircraft flys over the position, even though supposedly delayed action fused. If you are too low, the bomb bounces back up, and hits your aircraft. Add to this, the proximity of the mountains where the tunnels were built, and there is a good chance of piling the aircraft in.

Not conductive to a long life span for sure! The Unit lost over 82% of the original squadron due to crashes or enemy action.

And there was a guy I met at Camp Perry back in the 60s - he was part of an armoured unit at Remagen, and claimed that their Shermans shot up a German train on the other side of the Rhine River. Another trainbuster - for sure.
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Funny, you know, but I also knew a fellow with the same initials as our American friend, who did that same stunt with a B-25, in Belgium: flew the thing down the main street of the town, below roof height, dropped a 500 with a delay fuse on the road, skipped it up a flight of stairs, through a doorway and down a hall, where the thing exploded, taking out the local Gestapo contingent. There were prisoners in the jail, which was on the street side of the building. Easy to see how the same trick could be used for trains. Hard part would be finding a pilot and crew with enough guts to do the job; the Belgian job had a high building at the end of the bomb run, the runs in Korea ended in mountains.

Lots of train-busting in War Two. We had a local fellow who did in quite a number with Spits and a Hurribomber. Typhoon was the best-known trainkiller, that and the Marauder.
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Was the pride of Ontario place. I think she is in Hamilton now. Shame I did not get to see her before they sent her out East and then to Hamilton.

cyclone said:
The pride of Ontario Place ;) , when I was a young lad ! :canadaFlag:
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I thought the Athabaskan was sunk in December of 1944 off of France or do I have the wrong ship ?

irkedtadpole said:
The Museum at Esquimalt has a "Trainbuster" Certificate, i think it was for Crusader or Crescent...
Nope looked my pictures, it was HMCS Athabaskan, issued by CTF 95
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Nabs said:
Was the pride of Ontario place. I think she is in Hamilton now. Shame I did not get to see her before they sent her out East and then to Hamilton.



I thought the Athabaskan was sunk in December of 1944 off of France or do I have the wrong ship ?
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Current ship is HMCS Athabaskan II.

You're right...the original Tribal Athabaskan was sunk as you stated...still much controversy over whether or not it was a Brit MTB or a German Schnellboot which got 'er.

Haida picked up some survivors before she had to scoot, as dawn was approaching.

BTW...Athabaskan was sunk 29 Apr 1944.
 
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Whoops, dropped the ball on the date. Don't know why I was thinking December, '44 but maybe that was another engagement.

I didn't know they made a second Athabaskan but I guess it should have been expected as she was a good ship from what I have read.
 
I'll ask my Dad about it Talquin. He served on the Haida during that time. Hard to say if he'll remember or not. He's getting up in years now. If I find anything out, I'll post here or send you a P.M.
Al
 
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