ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1156 17 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - LDI - 0866) 15 September 1950
PERSONAL DETAILS:| NAME: | CHO, Sangyong (趙尙榮) (조상영) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 2953 |
| RANK: | Jr Lt. |
| AGE: | 24 |
| DUTIES: | Plat Ldr |
| ORGN: | 15th Div, 50th Regt (Code 781), 1st Bn, 82mm Mortar Co, 3rd Plat. |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Tailor |
| ADDRESS: | PYONG AN PUKTO, SINUIJU SHI, CHONG SONG DONG, #2 (平安北道 新義州市 靑松洞 二番地) |
| DATE & PLACE CAPTURED: | 12 1200K Sep 50 at KANCHON (乾川) 2 Km E of YONGCHON by ROK Force |
| INTERROGATOR: | H. N. |
Cooperative and seems sincere.
T/O & E OF PW’S UNIT:15th Div, 50th Regt, 1st Bn, 82mm Mortar Co, 3rd Bn:
3rd Platoon:
(a) Personnel
(1) 3 sqds
(2) 6 men each in 1st & 2nd sqds, 5 men in 3rd sqd.
(3) Total 18 men
(b) Equipment and ammunition
(1) 3 x 82mm M1937 Mortars, 12 rds per mortar
(2) 17 x M1891/30 rifles, 75 rounds per rifle
(3) 1 x pistol
(4) 2 x grenade per man
(5) 1 x horse cart
82mm Mortar Co.
(a) Personnel
(1) 3 x 82mm Mortar Plat
(2) total of 60 men
1st Bn
(a) Personnel
(1) 3 x Rifle Cos, 150 men each
(2) HMG Co, 65 men
(3) Mortar Co, 60 men
(4) total of 600 men
(b) Equipment:
(1) Rifle Co: 12 x LMGs, 3 x HMGs, and 120 rifles
(2) HMG CO: 9 x HMGs, 50 rifles
DISPOSITION OF ABOVE UNITS:50th Regt Hq was located at YONGCHON, 9 Sep 50
15th Div Hq was located at YONGCHON, 9 Sep 50
ESTIMATED STRENGTH OF ABOVE UNITS:| UNIT | ORIG. STRENGTH | PRES. STRENGTH |
| 15th Div | 10,000 men | Unknown |
| 50th Regt | 2,000 | Unknown |
| 1st Bn | 600 | 300 men |
| 82mm Mortar Co | 60 | None |
15th Div CG: One star Gen PAK, SONG CHOL (박성철)
50th Regt CO: Col, KIM PIL SON (김필선)
1st Bn, 50th Regt CO: Maj, KIM SANG HAK (김상학)
82mm Mortar Co, 1st Bn CO: Sr Lt CHE, YUN SIK (최윤식)
PERSONAL AND UNIT HISTORY:Inducted 6 Aug 48 at HAERYONG. Received training with 2nd Div, 4th Regt, at HAERYONG and HAMHUNG Apr 50
Assigned to 15th Div at HAERYONG during Apr 50. While travelling from HAERYONG to KYUNCHON, the following places were passed.
| PLACE DEPARTED | DATE | MODE OF TRAVEL | PLACE ARR. | DATE |
| HAERYONG | 22 Jun 50 | Train | KUMHWA | 26 Jun 50 |
| KUMHWA | 26 Jun 50 | Marched | CHUNCHON | 27 Jun 50 |
| CHUNCHON | 27 Jun 50 | Marched | HONGCHON | ? |
| HONGCHON | ? | Marched | ICHON | ? |
| ICHON | ? | Marched | CHANGHOWON NI | ? |
| CHANGHOWON NI | ? | Marched | UMSONG | ? |
| UMSONG | ? | Marched | KUMCHON | ? |
| KUMCHON | ? | Marched | KUNWI | ? |
| KUNWI | ? | Marched | YONGCHON | 9 Sep 50 |
| YONGCHON | 9 Sep 50 | Marched | KYUNCHON | 9 Sep 50 |
Unit suffered heavy losses at YONGCHON on 9 Sep 50. PW's company was annihilated and while looking for Bn Hq, PW was captured at KYUNCHON on 12 Sep 50 by ROK Forces.
ARMOR:
2 x SU-76 observed near YONGCHON on 8 Sep 50
ARTILLERY:13 x 76mm Field Guns, 7 x 122mm Howitzers and 4 x 120mm mortars observed in YONGCHON on 082200 K Sep 50. Arty pieces were drawn by trucks (5 observed) and horses.
FOOD AND AMMO SUPPLIES:No food supply arriving. Troops were living off the land.
Ammunition was transported by horse carts. The source and route were unknown.
REPLACEMENTS:Approx 700 N Koreans (ages from 16 to 25) joined the 50th Regt at YONGCHON on 9 Sep 50.
Prior to battle the assembly point for the unit was always specified. They were always told to meet at the place during night (usually 2000 hrs).
It was possible to join other NK Units when separated from parent unit during combat. They were always sent back to parent unit after the operation.
ENEMY INTENTIONS:The objective of the 15th Div was YONGCHON.
Rumored that CCF will help NK Army.
MORALE:Morale was very low due to air strikes and artillery fire.
KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER UNITS:Heard that the 5th Div was located in the POHANG Area.
CAPTURED EQUIPMENT:Small number of US M-1 Rifles and carbines were being used by the 15th Div.
MISCELLANEOUS:PW states that guerrillas (no. unknown) attached to Div Hq were used to obtain information by going behind the UN Lines and spying. Other details unknown.
For the A C of S, G-2:
SAKAMOTO
