ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1901 16 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1126) 12 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE, Kun Ch’un (李根春) (이근춘) |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (少尉) |
| AGE: | 25 |
| DUTY: | Plt ldr |
| UNIT: | 105th Armored Div, 15th Armored Regt, Intendance Plt |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Locomotive Engineer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | PAEBANG (排方) (1010-1540) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 30 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HANGYONG PUKTO, NAJIN Gun, NAJIN Myon, TONGWON-Ni, #872 (咸鏡北道羅津郡羅津面東元里八七二) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | NAGAO (FEAF) |
PW was very cooperative and spoke without any restraint. He was captured by members of the Local Security Organization.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
15 Apr 49: Pw was drafted into the NKA at P’YONGYANG and received his basic infantry training there. He was attached to the 105th Armored Div, 15th Armored Regt, Intendance Plt.
8 Sep 49: The 15th Armored Regt moved to NAMCH’ONJOM (南川店). PW was promoted to Sgt (中士) and became a sqd ldr of the Intendance Plt in charge of the laundry section.
25 Jun 50: The 15th Armored Regt departed NAMCH’ONJOM. PW was attached to the food supply section.
8 Aug 50: The 15th Armored Regt arrived in POKSONG DONG (福星洞) area via MUNSAN (汶山), SEOUL, TAEJON and KUMCH’ON. The 105th Armored Div Hdq was located in KUMCH’ON and the 15th Regt, Intendance Plt received food from the provision dump in KUMCH’ON.
27 Aug 50: The platoon leader of the Intendance Plt was wounded and evacuated to a rear echelon hospital. Therefore, PW was commissioned to Jr Lt (少尉) and became the platoon leader.
25 Sep 50: The combat units started a general retreat and the PW started marching together with his plt after receiving orders to rendezvous at TAEJON on 26 Sep 50.
28 Sep 50: The Intendance Plt of the 15th Armored Regt, 105th Armored Div, arrived in TAEJON but they were unable to contact other units of the 105th Armored Div. Therefore, they entered the mountain west of TAEJON and PW disbanded his platoon of 8 men.
30 Sep 50: PW disguised himself and attempted to return to NK but was captured by members of a Local Security Unit in PAEBANG (排方).
Unit Organization and Strength:
1. Original organization and strength: The 15th Armored Regt of the 105th Armored Div was composed of three (3) Tank Bns, SMG Co, Maintenance Co, Sig Plt, Recon Plt, Engr Plt, Medical Plt and Intendance Plt. A Tank battalion was composed of three (3) plts. Plt consisted of 5 men and a Bn was composed of 70 men. The total strength of the 15th Armored Regt was 400 men.
2. Last known composition of unit: As of 25 Sep 50, the total strength of the 15th Armored Regt was 250 men and 60% were replacements.
Equipment:
The 15th Armored Regt was equipped with a total of 40 x T-34 tanks. A plt of 5 men operated a tank and a Co had 3 tanks. One battalion had 11 to 13 tank and a Co had 3 tanks. Regt had 6 x trucks, 1 jeep and 4 motorcycles. As of 24 Sep 50, the 15th Armored Regt possessed 7 tanks but they were destroyed during the retreat near WAEGWAN. They received 6 new tanks at KUMCH’ON 25 Sep 50, the 15th Armored Regt had no trucks or motorcycles. Composed of 250 men but 30% of the men were not armed.
Unit History:
The code number of the 15th Armored Regt was 203 and the APO number was 4038. The 15th Armored Regt sustained the heaviest losses after crossing the NAKTONG River near WAEGWAN. PW counted 15 x T-34 tanks destroyed by enemy aircraft in this general area on 18 Sep 50. He believes that the 15th Armored Regt sustained a total loss of 70 to 80 tanks and more than 90% was lost through enemy air action.
Intentions: As of 28 Sep 50, PW arrived in TAEJON and heard that the 15th Armored Regt Hdq proceeded north for CH’UNJU. Further details unknown.
Personalities:
The 15th Armored Regt CO was Col (大佐) CH’OE UL Sop (崔已涉). He was about 25 years old, 5’7“ tall, and weighted approximately 160 pounds.
Morale and Propaganda:
The morale of the troops were excellent when the unit was making rapid advances during the early stages of the war. Especially the morale was boosted and maintained at a hight level with repeated promises of aerial support by the NK Air Force. However, along with the increase of air activities by US Air forces, the troops gradually realized their false hope of waiting for the promised air support and their morale fell rapidly. PW said US propaganda leaflets were very effective in the enlightening the troops of the hopelessness of continuing a losing war.
4. GENERAL:The Intendance Plt of the 15th Armored Regt, 105th Armored Div, was able to supply the regiment wit ha sufficient supply of rice which was drawn from the division supply depot. Bean paste and salt were adequate. Fresh meat and tobacco were received occasionally. However, they were unable to obtain other rations after the war started due to the disruption of the supply line.
The regular clothing ration was one set of summer uniform a year and one set of winter uniform every 2 years. All tank crews received an extra set of black fatigues. After the war started only one set of summer uniform was issued to all the troops.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
