Shortly after the Chang & the KMT withdrew to Taiwan and a few smaller islands (Quemoy & Matsu), the PLA attempted to take one of the smaller islands. They got ashore, but that’s about it. Their supply ships got interdicted and the entire invasion force was rounded up for lack of food, water and ammunition.
Admittedly the PLA improvised the whole thing. But on the other side the KMT forces were pretty demoralized and they still managed to defeat the enemy.
Seaborne and Airborne invasions are tricky things. The little things can lead to disaster.
Post of the thread.
An amphibious assault remains as the most complicated and risky military operation.
From post World War I through World War II, to Inchon in Korea, the United States Marine Corp developed and refined the doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures for amphibious assault.
Our Marines remain as the most capable amphibious assault force in the world. But I doubt any Marine today would recommend a deliberate, full-scale, amphibious assault without a significant increase in the size of the Corps and our amphibious lift capability as well as extensive preparation of the battlefield, including air, surface, subsurface, and cyber superiority (preferably supremacy).
You need significantly superior forces attacking the landing zone, and you need to be prepared to accept far higher casualties than the defender.
Never say never, as few thought Inchon would be possible or successful.
But an amphibious invasion is far more likely to end up like the Gallipoli Campaign or the Bay of Pigs invasion than be successful.