The Commonwealth Armies and the Korean War: An Alliance Study (War, Armed Forces and Society)

The Korean War marked an important point in the development of Commonwealth defence co-operation. World War II had accelerated the loosening of such ties, and the immediate post-war period confirmed the process. Militarily the Commonwealth retained a capacity to interact effectively on the battlefield even when the political inclination was waning. This is a study of alliance relations, both between the national forces of the Commonwealth countries involved and between the Commonwealth armies and the Americans. It focuses on problems of command, administration, logistics, finance and manpower, as well as operations. It concentrates upon the co-operation, or otherwise, of forces in the field and the policies directly affecting them, in the belief that the military effectiveness of allied forces is the real test of success in coalition warfare.