ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 663 21 August 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0483) 19 August 1950
| Name: | SONG UNG HO (宋應浩) (송응호) |
| Rank: | Pvt |
| Age: | 18 |
| Organization: | 13th Div, 23rd Regt, Signal Co, 2nd Plt, 2nd Sqd |
| Duties with Unit: | Radio operator |
| Occupation: | Post Office Wireless operator |
| Education: | 3 yrs Middle school |
| Address: | P’YONGAN PUKTO, HUNCH’ANG GUN, HUCH’ANG MYON, UN-RI, #66 (平安北道 厚昌郡 厚昌面 雲里 六六番地) |
| Date & Place Captured: | 18 Aug 50 at point 27 km N of T’AEGU on T’AEGU-SANGJU Road |
| Interrogator: | Sgt HAYASHIDA |
Subject states that order of battle information given a US officer on the night of 18 Aug 50 was in error due to confusion in his own orientation. Subject was very cooperative and is of normal intelligence. Information contained herein is considered fairly reliable. Subject states that he saw a surrender leaflet in INCH’ON and had been contemplating surrender since then.
Military History:Date of induction: 7 Mar 50
Training:
7 Mar 50-17 May 50: Sinuiju Democratic Young Men’s Training center as member of communications company, 23rd Regt. Training received included dismounted drill, radio operator’s training (transmitting and receiving) and political indoctrination. Training did not include and other military training or radio repair work.
Radio training: Morse Code, operations of “Pam-5” transceiver. Proficiency attained, 80 letters per minute (transmitting and receiving). No training was received in coding or decoding, however, subject noticed that N. Korean codes were in 5 letter groups; no other information available. Code books were used.
Tactical Movements:
22 Jun 50 - 13th Div departed SINUIJU - men told they were going on maneuvers.
25 Jun 50 - 13th Div crossed 38th parallel north of MUNSAN - passed through MUNSAN, UIJONGBU and arrived SEOUL on about 29 Jun 50. 23rd Regt proceeded to INCH’ON and remaining elements of division proceeded south. Route of march unknown.
3 Aug 50 - 23rd Regt departed INCH’ON and via SUWON, CHONGJU and MUNGYONG, arrived SANGJU on about 7 Aug 50. The 19th and 21st Regt’s were also in SANGJU, the location of division artillery unknown.
19th, 21st and 23rd Regt’s crossed NAKTONG River at NAKTONG-NI, date or order of crossing unknown. Disposition of division or Regt’l Afty unknown. No units of 13th Div had been committed to battle prior to crossing NAKTONG River. After crossing the NAKTONG River, the 13th Div (artillery units unknown) proceeded along TAEGU-NAKTONG-NI highway.
In the vicinity of HAJANG DONG (1140-1470) on about 15 Aug 50, subject observed one regt of 15th Div marching southward into the mountains south of HAJANG DONG. On 17 Aug 40, the 23rd Regt was deployed immediately East of the highway. The 19th Regt was to the north, distance unknown, of the 21st and 23rd Regt’s. One unidentified regt of the 15th Div was on the right flank of the 13th Div.
After crossing the NAKTONG River, the elements of the division had to cross an open street about 500 mortars wide. While crossing the area, heavy MG fire ended a large number of casualties. Prior to crossing the river the strength of each regt was 2,500 men. After three engagements, the strength of the 21st and 23rd Regts was down to about 500 men each. The 19th Regt had not been committed to battle after the initial assault by the Regt in crossing the 500 meter open area. The strength of the 19th Regt on 17 Aug 50 was about 2 battalions (hearsay).
On 17 2100K Aug 50, the 21st and 23rd Regts attacked S. Korean positions north of KUMHWA-DONG (1150-1460). The battle lasted until 0400, 18 Aug 50. During the battle, the attackers sustained heavy casualties. Prior to the attack, the strength of the 21st and 23rd Regts was about 500 men each. After the battle, the strength of each of the Regt’s was about 200 men. The surviving elements of the Regt’s retreated north, location unknown. The 19th Regt was not committed in the engagement.
PW states that during the retreat, he deserted and was captured by Americans. Reason for deserting was that subject was a Surrender Leaflet in INCH’ON which one of his friends had given him and had been contemplating desertion since them. PW had planned to join this brother in S. Korea, residence unknown.
Personalities:| Name: | CHANG, PYONG YOL (장병열) |
| Rank: | Lt |
| Age: | 23 |
| Position: | CO, Signal Co, 23rd Regt |
| Name: | T’AE PAEK YOL (태백열) |
| Rank: | Lt Col |
| Age: | 40 |
| Position: | Regtl CO, 23rd Regt |
| Name: | LEE, CH’UN MAN (리춘만) |
| Rank: | Maj |
| Age: | 30 |
| Position: | Political Officer, 23rd Regt |
Russian: A Russian officer advisor to the 23rd Regt accompanies the 23rd Regt to the 38° parallel but has never been seen since. No other information available.
Chinese: No information
N. Koreans from Manchuria: Subject heard that a division from Manchurian arrived in N. Korea after this outbreak of the war. No details are available.
Capabilities of Unit:Morale: The morale of the men was extremely low because of the high casualties sustained by the organization during a period of one week, and because of the lack of food and rest. The lack of artillery and aerial support also had much to do with the low morale.
Equipment: The 23rd Regt brought 6 x 45-mm AT Guns across the river (method of transportation across river unknown) but by 17 Aug 50, only 3 were left. After the air attack of 16 Aug 50, there were also 5 x 76-mm Howitzers and an undetermined number of 120-mm Mortars with the Regt on 17 Aug 50. The equipment was in good condition. There was very little ammunition left. None of the guns had been fired since crossing the NAKTONG River.
Communications: The 23rd Regt has no radio equipment at present since the last set was surrendered to American troops by PW. All infantry regiments have A “LKM-5” radio sets and about 40 “TAN-43” and “YNH-43” (both Russian) field telephones. “PBM-5” radio sets were allocated one to each Regtl and Bn CP’s. Distribution of field telephones unknown.
“PBM-5” Radio Sets:
Total Weight 21 kilograms
Transmitting Battery: 200 volts, 24 hr charge span, dry cell Receiving Battery: 80 volts, 24 hr charge span, dray cell Battery Weight: 14 kilogram or 16 kilograms, interchangeable Range, voice w/fixed antenna: 15 km
, code w/fixed antenna: 30 km
, voice w/30m antenna: 30 km
, code w/30 m antenna: 50 km
“PBM-5” sets used for inter-CP communication only. Regtl Signal Company does not have any connection w/Regt artillery. Regtl Artillery has its own signal men.
Strength, Regtl Communication Company T/O & E:CO: Lt
Ex Off: Lt
1st Sgt: M/Sgt
(1st Plt) Switch Board Plat
Plt Ldr: Jr Lt
Sqd Ldr: 2 Sgts
Operators: 18 pvts and opls
2 Switch boards “KAN” type
(2nd Plt) Radio Plt
Plt Ldr: Jr Lt
Sqd Ldr: 2 Sgts
Operators: 17 pvts and opls
4 “PBM-5” sets
Present strength - 30 men
(3rd Plt) Telephone Plt
Plt Ldr: 1 Jr Lt
Sqd Ldr: 5 Sgts
Operators: 30 pvts and opls
15 “TAM” field telephones
Personnel Weapons:
Tokarev pistol - 5
M1891-30 rifle - 55
M1938 Carbine - 19 (radio platoon only)
Replacements: The 13th Div has not received replacements since leaving N. Korea.
Armor:The 23rd Regt was assigned 5 x T-34/85 tanks after crossing the NAKTONG River. Source of tanks unknown. By 17 Aug 50, 3 tanks were destroyed by aircraft, in each ease, the gas tanks and rubber tired on the bogie wheels were barned. The remaining 2 tanks retreated with the infantry.
Artillery:The 23rd Regt had 3 x 45-mm AT Guns, 5 x 76-mm Howitzers and an undetermined number of 82-mm Mortars 17 Aug 50. Present disposition unknown.
Signed TARKENTON/WALKER
