ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1782 10 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1062) 7 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE, Ch’ang Bok (李昌福) (이창복) |
| PW NO: | None |
| RANK: | Lt (中尉) |
| AGE: | 26 |
| DUTY: | Rifle Repairman |
| UNIT: | 2nd Div Arty Regt, Ordnance Repair Section |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | POUN (報恩) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 1 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, MYONGCH’ON-Gun, HAGO-Myon, T’O WON-Ni (咸鏡北道 明川郡 下古面 土垣里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | MANCHURIA MUTANCH’ANG, MULENG HSIEN, PAM IENT’UNG (滿洲 (東北) 牡冉江 穆稜縣 八面通) |
| INTERROGATOR: | MORI (FEAF) |
PW talked freely and was cooperative. PW was rifle repair technician in NKA and was quite familiar with the capability of the Russian M1910/30 rifle.
PW was not a member of the North Korean Labor Party. No further interrogation recommended.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
1 Aug 48 - Volunteered for the NKA at SINUIJU (新義州). Assigned to 1st Div, 1st Regt, 2nd Bn, 4th Co, HMG Plt.
3 Apr 50 - Transferred to 2nd Div, Arty Regt, Repair Section at P’YONGYANG. Commissioned Lt (中尉) as a rifle repair technician.
25 Jun 50 - Crossed 38° parallel with 2nd Div, arrived CH’UNCH’ON and advanced southward. Passed through ANSONG, CHINCH’ON (鎭川), CH‘ONGJU and POUN.
20 Aug 50 - Arrived HWANGGAN (黃澗) with 2nd Div (approx 10,000 men including reinforcements). Engaged in rifle repair for 5 days. Also repaired captured US M-1 Rifles and Carbines.
25 Aug 50 - Departed HWANGGAN on foot. 5 days combat.
5 Sep 50 - Arrived KUMCH’ON (金泉). Engaged in rifle repair work for 2 days.
9 Sep 50 - Arrived KOCH’ANG (居昌). After one day stay, departed on foot with unitsof 2nd Div (approx 300 men).
10 Sep 50 - Departed KOCH’ANG (居昌) with the 300 men on foot.
22 Sep 50 - Arrived HYOPCH’ON (狹川). The 300 men were delayed enroute as a battle was taking place along the NAKTONG River Line. PW joined main portion of the 2nd Div here.
25 Sep 50 - The 2nd Div was disorganized at HYOPCH’ON due to intense air attacks and advance by US troops. No orders were given for future regrouping. The 5,000 men of whom majority were South Koreans departed individually. PW with fellow officer headed north on foot. Passed though HAMYANG, NAMUON (南原), CH’ONGAN (靑山) along mountain trails.
1 Oct 50 - Arrived POUN (報恩). Surrendered to the POUN Defense Unit (報恩白衛隊) with a UN Safe Conduct Pass.
Unit Organization and Strength:
The 2nd Div (Code No 235) consisted of the 4th, 6th, 17th Rifle Regts, 2nd Div Arty Regt, 76-mm Gun Bn, 45-mm AT Gun Bn, Engr Bn, Signal Bn, Medical Bn, Training Bn, Transportation Co and a Recon Co.
The 2nd Div Arty Regt (Code No 247) consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Arty bBns, a Command Co, and a rear Section.
The rear Section consisted of an Army band Plt, Medical Plt, Fuel Supply Section, Clothing Supply Section, Intendance Section, Ration Section and a Repair Section.
As of 25 Sep 50, when the 2nd Div became disorganized at HYOPCH’ON, the strength of the Div was approx 5,000.
Equipment:
At the time the Div Route, 25 Sep 50, at HOYPCH’ON 29 x 76-mm Guns and 10x 122-mm Guns remained in the 2nd Div. Ammunition was sufficient. PW believed that these guns were abandoned when the unit retreated.
Two thirds of disorganized personnel carried rifles, SMG or Carbines when departing from HYOPCH’ON.
Personalities:
CG, 2nd Div - CHOE, Hyon (崔賢); Maj Gen (少將); Age 40.
Remarks: was CG 38° parallel Security Guard Brigade at HAEJU. Formerly officer in USSR Army.
CO; 2nd Div Arty Regt - MA, T’ong Gyol (馬東結); COl (大佐); Age 32.
Morale and Propaganda:
Morale of 2nd Div’s troops was quite low due to lack of experienced men, food, rifle ammunition, and the intense air attacks.
PW found a Safe Conduct Pass leaflet o/a 29 Sep 50. He surrendered with the leaflet.
NKA Propaganda were as follows:
1. The Korean People must fight the US Colonial Policy in South KOREA.
2. The USSR and CCF had offered assistance to the NKA but KIM, IL Song (金日成) rejected the offer. His reason was to prevent a third World War.
3. The present war is a Civil War between the korean people.
4. The Japanese Army is fighting for the ROK Forces.
4. GENERAL:PW observed approx 3,00 US PsW on 18 Aug 50 at HWANGGAN (黃澗). The US PsW were observed on the roadside in groups of 100, 600, or 1,000. Approx 60% of the PsW were Caucasians, 20% Negroes, and 20% Orientals.
PW held conversation in Japanese with 5 to 10 of the Oriental US PsW and asked the following questions:
Q. What is the strength of the US Forces in South KOREA at present?
A. There are a large number of US troops in South KOREA. They came over by Divs, one Div per ship.
Q. Have you ever been to KOREA before?
A. Two PsW answered yes.
Q. Did you come from JAPAN?
A. Yes
Q. Are you a Japanese?
A. Yes
The Oriental PsW spoke fluent Japanese and English. The PsW wore fatigues but due to darkness PW was unable to observe any insignias.
PW heard from the guard in charge of the PsW that the US PsW were to be sent to P’YONGYANG.
PW stated that a separate PW enclosure was used for ROK PsW.
Characteristics for the M1910/30 Rifle:
a. The wooden prtion around the barrel was thin therefore the gun barrel was easy to keep cool. The barrel did not get bot even after firing 20 rounds of rapid fire.
b. The gun barrel was long and maximum range was 3,000m
c. The metal hook which connected the firing pin, trigger and the spring was very weak and was the part that most frequently needed replacing. It was replaced once a month on the average.
d. The spring attached to the follower was weak and at times did not push the cartridge to chamber.
e. On the average, 2 duds occurred per 10 rounds fired. The duds were either old or damaged by weather.
Strategic Information:
a. P’YONGYANG SMG Mfg Plant: (obs: 1 Jun 50 - 10 Jun 50)
Location: 1 km W of the P’YONGYANG RR Station and 2 km S of a EW dirt road 7 m wide. The TAEDONG River was approx 3 km SW of the Plant. An AAA Regt area was on the W side of Plant.
Plant Area: The plant covered an approx 1,000 x 1,000 m area enclosed by a concrete wall 2 m high.
Layout: Exact layout, unknown. There were approx 40 x 2-story reinforced concrete buildings, 25 x 15 x 20 m, with saw-tooth type roofs. PW was not able to enter any of the buildings. Ten test firing ranges were located near the SE corner of the Plant area.
Product: Main product of this plant was the PPsh M1941 SMG (7.62mm). PW observed that ammunition for the SMG and 76-mm Howitzer and Gun shells was produced here. PW did not observe or hear of any rifle ammunition being produced at this plant.
Production: PW watched the finished SMG being tested at the 10 firing ranges. He estimated the production to be roughly 300 SMG per 24 hours. The firing range was used daily from 0800 to 1900.
Labor: The Plant was operated 24 hours per day, on three eight hour shifts, 6 days epr week. PW was unable to estimate number of workers as workers were leaving and entering Plant constantly.
PW observed several Russian supervisory officers (Col) at Plant. This plant was operated by the North Korean Industrial Ministry.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
