ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1512 30 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0931) 28 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | SIN, Nak Kyun (申落均) (진낙균) |
| RANK: | Sr Sgt (上士) |
| AGE: | 36 years |
| DUTY: | Asst Plt Ldr |
| UNIT: | 5th Div, 12th Regt, Ordnance Section |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| OCCUPATION: | Carpenter |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | YANGDUK-Tong (陽德洞) 3 km W of P’OHANG-Dong |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 20 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | CH’UNGCH’ONG-NAMDO, NONSAN-Gun, NONSAN-Myon, SANG-Dong-Ni (忠淸南道 論山郡 論山面 上東里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG NAMDO, CH’ONGJIN-City, O HANG-Ni (咸鏡南道 淸津市 澳項里) |
| INTERROGATOR: | KAJIWARA (DAFC, FEAF) |
PW lacked formal education, but knew how to read and write. He was taught Ordnance Work in the NKPA Army and seemed to know his job. He was cooperative, but seemed confused at times and often contradicted himself
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:a. Chronology:
12 Mar 49 - Volunteered for the NKPA at HAMHUNG (咸興). Received 10 days basic training then received training in maintenance of small arms. He then worked in the small arms ordnance shop until 12 Apr 50.
15 Apr 50 - Arrived at NANAM (羅南) by train and repaired rifles in the ordnance shop. Promoted to Sr Sgt.
20 Jun 50 - The entire 5th Div, departed NANAM.
25 Jun 50 - Arrived in WOUSAN by train.
2 Jul 50 - 5th Div arrived YANGYANG (襄陽) by train.
3 Jul 50 - PW arrived in KANGNUNG (江陵) by truck. The main element of the 5th Div had marched to KANGNUNG and engaged ROK troops. The battle lasted about 3 days before the 5th Div could secure KANGNUNG.
O/a 10 Jul 50 - PW's ordnance team of 5 men arrived by truck in P’YONGCH’ANG (平昌).
O/a 18 Jul 50 - PW arrived SAMCH'OK (三陟). Heard that the 5th Div was fighting in YONGDOK. Ordnance team was ordered to join the Division at YONGDOK (盈德).
O/a 30 Jul 50 - Arrived YONGHAE (寧海). Here PW repaired rifles from the 12th Regt, 5th Div. PW was there about a month and during that time they repaired between 5 to 10 rifles, LMG, PPsh Submachine gun, HMG per day. Most of the rifles came in with broken trigger housing, broken stocks and broken front sights. PPsh SMGs usually had faulty trigger housing and the HMG usually had punctured water jackets. Heard that t.he 12th and 11th Regts of the 5th Div were at a point 8 km W of YONGDOK. Heard that the 10th Regt was some place south of YONGDOK as a road block duty.
O/a 30 Aug 50 - PW’s ordnance teem arrived in CH'ONGHA and tried to regain contact with the 12th Regt.
O/a 10 Sep 50 - PW's ordnance team marched to a point about 20 km W of P’OHANG-DONG. At that tine the entire 5th Div was fighting in and around P'OHANG-DOHG.
20 Sep 50 - At YANGDUK-Tong (良德洞) Ordnance team was ordered to guard 5 truck loads of 120-mm, 76-mm, 45-mm and 82-mm ammunition. They were ordered to guard the ammunition at all cost, but ROK troops overran the town and PW surrendered. He feared that he would be shot by his own officer for abandoning the ammunition if he should escape to his Regt.
Equipment:
Tank Bn - The tank Bns originally had 16 x T-34 tanks, but at time of PW's capture there were only 2 x tanks.
Other Intentions:
5th Div’s objective was to occupy P’OHANG-DONG.
Personalities:
5th Div CO: KIM, Ch'ang Dok (金昌德); Maj Gen
CO, Ordnance Team: KIM, Pyong Sop (金炳燮) (김병섭); Lt
Morale and Propaganda:
The 12th Div was composed of poorly trained troops. PW stated his ordnance team in the rear constantly heard of the 5th Div’s setbacks and consequently their morale was low. Saw UN leaflets on the UH INCH’ON Landing as well as Safe Conduct Leaflets. He realized that the NKPA was losing the war and he wanted to surrender at the first opportunity.
4. GENERAL INFORMATION:Although PW was in the ordnance team and one of their duties was to assemble new equipment, he stated they did not receive new equipment after leaving North KOREA.
PW states that small arms used by the NKPA were good; however the troops fail to take proper care of their weapons. Most of the arms that came in for repairs were rusted and have broken stocks and sights caused by rough handling. He believes that the trigger housing in the M1891/30 rifle easily became loose and falls apart. In the PPsh Tommy gun the spring in the bolt quickly lost its strength and has to be replaced. Those which came in for replacement of the bolt spring had fired only 500-1000 rounds.
For the Commanding Officer;
WEELDREYER
Executive
