S6: Barring coastal communication, there was only one good lateral route of communication across the peninsula due to the terrain.  How does terrain affect communication and therefore tactical movement?  How did it influence U.S. and ROK forces once they crossed the 38th parallel?  What did the terrain in Korea affect communications compared to previous wars (WWII)?

Greatest influence on communication between major units and tactical movement in Korea were the immense mountain ranges, particularly the ones located north of the 38th parallel. The U.S. forces chose to use their vehicles to make a speedy push towards the border. The Chinese exploited this decision by moving almost exclusively through the mountain ranges and between American Units. When an ambush would start the U.S. soldiers were almost always surrounded and therefore could not get in contact with the major unit moving through the passageway in the valley adjacent to them. This kind of “frontless war” was then, unconventional (today, very normal) and not alike the war fought in Europe or even the Pacific half a decade earlier. This caught the Americans off guard and any chance for communication methods used in WWII were lost as the Chinese continued to fully envelop and surround U.S. forces.