ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1900 16 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1125) 12 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | P’YO, Kwang Son (表光善) (표광선) |
| RANK: | Sr Lt (大尉) |
| AGE: | 27 |
| DUTY: | Div Ass’t Ord Off |
| UNIT: | 5th Div, Arty Supply |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School (3 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Primary School Teacher |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 20 km N of HYONDONG-Ni (1190-1569) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 1 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HWANGHAE DO, AN AK-GUN, YONG SUN-MYONG, YUSUN-NI #564 (黃海道安郡龍順面兪順里五六四番) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG-PUKTO, NANAM, KUNGA CHOK-SUKSA (咸鏡北道羅南市軍家旅宿舍) |
| INTERROGATOR: | KAJIWARA (FEAF) |
PW was formerly in MANCHURIA and entered KOREA 4 Aug 49. He claims his family was persecuted by the communists over since the reds dominated MANCHURIA and wants it understood that he has no love for communism. PW was cooperative and seemed to be quite familiar with NKA weapons.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:
Chronology:
12 Jul 46 - Inducted into the “Volunteer” All Korean Army in MANCHURIA. The “Volunteer” Army was part of CCF, but was organized with the purpose of future service in NK.
4 Aug 49 - PW’s MANCHURIAN division, the 164th Div composed of Koreans entered KOREA. Arrived NANAM. They brought small arms, 81 mm Mortar, and 6 US made 2 1/2 ton 6x6 trucks. No Arty pieces were brought. At NANAM (羅南) the MANCHURIAN 164th Division was redesignated the 5th NKA Div. The divisions former Japanese small arms were replaced with SOVIET made arms. Arty and ammunition was also received. The division was completely re-equipped.
15 Jan 50 - Sent to P’YONGYANG Ordnance Technical School was received 3 months ordnance training. He became a Sr Lt upon graduation.
15 Apr 50 - Rejoined the 5th Div at NANAM and became the assistant Arms supply officer for the division and was responsible for familiarizing troops with weapons.
1 Sep 50 - PW was in SEOUL to obtain rifles and other small arms for the 5th Div which was then in P’OHANG-DONG. The GHQ supply was supposed to receive small arms from P’YONGYANG by 30 Aug 50; however, when PW arrived at GHQ supply in SEOUL no ammunition or arms were available. Waited for 7 days in SEOUL, but seeing that no arms were forthcoming, departed to join his division.
21 Sep 50 - Arrived at a point 12 km E of YONGDOK (盈德) where he met some troops from the Arty Regt of the 5th Div who were retreating.
1 Oct 50 - Arrived at a point about 20 km N of HYONDONG-NI where he saw the futility of the situation and surrendered.
Equipment:
As Div Ass’t Ordnance Officer, it was the PW’s duty to train the troops in the technique of operating and maintaining various weapons in the Division.
THE ORIGINAL TABLE OF EQUIPMENT OF THE 5TH DIV WAS AS FOLLOWS:
(a)12 120 mm (1938) Mortars in the Div. 4 in each regt
(b) 60 82 mm (1941) mortars in the division
(c) 12 76 mm (M1927) Howitzer in the division with 3 in each regt
(d) 24 76 mm (M1942) field gun in the division
(e) 12 122 mm (M1939) Howitzer in the Division
(f) 48 45 mm (M1937 42) AT Gun in the division - 12 in each regiment with 12 in the division anti-tank Bn.
(g) 18 12.7 mm ShK (M1938) MG in the division. 6 in each regt.
(h) 16 SU-76 in the SP Bn of the 5th Div.
(i) PPsh M1946 Tommy gun was carried by all squad leaders.
(j)All officers carried TT (M1933) Pistol.
(k) DD LMG one in each platoon.
(l) 12 MAXIM (M1910) HMG, in each HMG Company of each Bn.
(m) All rifle men carried M1891/30. Rifle with 100 rounds ea.
(n) 6 14.5 mm AT Rifle in each regt.
Weapon Training Problems:
M1891/30 Rifle: No problem in handling this rifle, no windage on sight, only elevation. Rifle was durable and easy to handle.
PPSH (1941) Tommy gun - Operation of this weapon was simple. but maintenance of trigger housing was difficult.
DP LMG - No problem in operating this weapon.
MAXIM HEAVY MG - This weapon was very difficult to operate. There was 24 different parts on this weapon that had to be adjusted to get the maximum effectiveness out of the piece.
1200 MM (1938) MORTAR - Very simple to operate. The only difficulty was in correctly adjusting the firing pin. The mortar could be fired by either using the lanyard or by dropping the shell on the preset firing pin. This adjustment gave troops trouble.
82 mm (M1941) - Very simple to operate and maintain.
76 mm (1927) HOWITZER - This weapon has a recoil mechanism operated by both oil and compressed air. The oil and air had to be correct.
76 mm (1942) Field gun - Same problems as the 76 mm Howitzer
45 mm (M1942) (M1937) - The automatic brooch on the piece was difficult for an average NKA arty man to comprehend.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
