ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1471 29 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0901) 24 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CH’OE Chong Bae (崔正培) (최정배) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 4616 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 18 |
| DUTY: | None |
| UNIT: | 849th Replacement Unit, Engineer Co, 4th Plt, 1st Sqd (directly attached to Ministry of Defense) (保衛部道爲增强部陜工兵中隊) |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | YAKMOK (若木) located 6 km NW of WAEGWAN across the NAKTONG River |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 21 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | P’YONGAN NAMDO, P’YONGWON GUN, DOKSAN MYON, TAKNI, #4 (咸鏡南道 平原郡 德山面 擢里 四番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | MORI (FEAF) |
PW was in good physical condition, talkative and cooperative although he was not able to remember exact dates or distances. He was a member of the MINCH’ONG (民靑) Communist Youth Organization, but stated that he had been compelled to join. PW surrendered to US forces with a Safe Conduct Pass when sent on a mission from his unit. Further interrogation not recommended.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
| 19 Jul 50: | Inducted in NKPA. Assigned to Ministry of Defense, 849th Replacement Unit, Engineer Co, 4th Plt, 1st Sqd at P’YONGYANG. Received two days dismounted drill and rifle marksmenship. |
| 30 Jul 50: | Departed by truck with 849th Unit for KANGDONG (江東). Arrived same day. Received 10 days mine training. Received PPsh M1941 SMG and 140 rounds of ammunition. |
| 10 Aug 50: | Arrived NAMCH’ON with 849th Unit by rail for NAMCH’ON (南川). |
| 14 Aug 50: | Arrived NAMCH’ON late at night via P’YONGYANG and SARI-WON. Departed same day by truck. |
| 15 Aug 50: | Crossed the 38° parallel. |
| 16 Aug 50: | Arrived SEOUL. |
| 17 Aug 50: | Departed SEOUL with 849th Unit by rail. |
| 22 Aug 50: | Arrived TANYANG (丹陽) via YANGP’YONG (陽平), WONJU (原州). |
| 23 Aug 50: | Departed TANYANG by truck with 849th Unit. |
| 2 Sep 50: | Arrived YAKMOK (若木) via YECH’ON (醴泉), KUMCH’ON (金泉). Attacked by US P-51 type aircraft on three occasions. Three casualties including 849th Unit Arty Btry CO and NCO of unit supply plt. A truck loaded with AT shells was exploded in the aircraft attack. |
| 21 Sep 50: | The 849th Unit received orders from the 105th Armored Div to counterattack advancing US forces. The Engineer Bn was ordered to place AT mines in roads approx 2 km SE of YAKMOK. PW and 10 others were sent on this mission but instead of setting the mines they surrendered at a point 2 km NE of the NAKTONG River. |
Unit Organization and Strength:
1. Original organization and strength: The 849th Unit (400 men) consisted of 45mm AT Gun Bn (180 men), AT Rifle Co (70 men), Engineer Co (120 men) and a HMG Plt (30 men).
2. Last known organization and strength: The unit had three casualties and eleven deserters including PW as of 21 Sep 50.
Equipment:
45mm AT Gun Bn - equipped with 7 x 45mm M1942 AT Guns.
AT Rifle Co - equipped with 7 x 14.5mm PTRD-41 AT rifles.
HMG Co - equipped with 4 x MAXIM HMG M1910 on SOKOLOW Mount.
Engr Co - had eight men equipped with M1938 carbine and 22 men with PPs M1943 SMG in each plt. The Co also had approx 100 AT and anti-personnel mines.
On 21 Sep 50, when the unit received orders to counterattack the US forces, all members of the Engineer Co received an F-1 defensive hand grenade and an RG-42 offensive hand grenade.
Description of AT mines:
Case - Unpainted wooden box, 50 x 50 x 25 cm. No markings or numbers.
Content - A yellow crystalline explosive called TORI (possibly TROTYL, TNT). This explosive was approx 40 kg in weight and made to fit into the above box snugly.
Fuzes - A small aluminum cylinder, 1 cm in diameter and 3 cm long, - pressure type fuze. PW stated that the fuze would detonate the mine if run over by a truck. This mine was covered with 3 cm of dirt when set.
Description of anti-personnel mine:
Case - An unpainted wooden box 20 x 10 x 10 cm. No numbers or markings.
Content - TORI. This crystalline explosive was made to fit the above case.
Fuze - Pressure type fuzes were employed.
The 849th Unit was activated in P’YONGYANG 19 Jul 50 as a replacement unit. On or about 1 Sep 50 the unit was assigned to 105th Armored Div.
Disposition:
The 105th Armored Div Hq was located 4 km W of road, 16 km N of YAKMOK and 6 km S of KUMCH’ON (金泉) as of 10 Sep 50. The Hq was located in approx 10 wooden barracks stop low hill on the W side of the northward curving mountain road approx 3 m wide. PW was sent to this Hq on 10 Sep 50 with his Engineer Co CO on a liaison mission. Two (2) T-34 type tanks were observed here.
Communication:
Truck roads were in fair condition. Bridges were destroyed and trucks crossed river by making detours through fords. Most RR bridges were destroyed and RR could not be used. There were two (2) liaison men (Jr Lts) (少尉) in the unit to make direct contact with the 105th Armored Div. Field telephones were also used to contact Div Hq.
Personalities:
849th Unit CO: KIM Kyong Mo (김경모), Col (大佐), age 32. PW believed that CO was from MANCHURIA.
Engr Co CO: LEE Tong Ni (이동니), Capt (總尉), age 30.
Engr Co, Asst CO: KIM Hyong Jin (김형진), Lt (中尉), age 25.
Engr Co, Plt ldr: KIM Pong Jun (김봉준), Jr Lt (少尉), age 23.
Culturual Officer: KIM Man Sik (김만식), Lt (中尉), age 25.
Morale and Propaganda:
Morale and spirit of majority of troops was low due to lack of experienced soldiers and supplies.
4. GENERAL:The units of the 849th Unit had the following Code names:
Engineer Co - SONAMU (소나무) or pine tree
HMG Co - TAEDONGGANG (대동강) or TAETONG River
AT rifle Co - TURUMI (두루미) or stork
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
