ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1988 24 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1152) 15 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | SO Chong Son (徐宗善) (서종선) |
| RANK: | Sr Sgt (上士) |
| AGE: | 21 |
| DUTY: | Gunner (S.P.G.) |
| UNIT: | Ind Sp Gun Bn, Attached to 6th Div |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | CH’UNGJU (忠州) (1090-1570) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 2 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | P’YONGAN-PUKTO, CHOSAN Gun, PAN-Myon, PANMAK-Tong, #90) (平安北道楚山郡板面板幕洞九0番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | S/Sgt Lee (FEAF) |
PW was very cooperative and intelligent. Answers were given without hesitation. Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
2 Dec 49: Inducted into the NKA at P’YONGYANG, and sent to the P’YONGYANG Mechanical School. Graduated with a class of 40 in Feb 50 and promoted to Sr Sgt. School program consisted of 3 hrs per week of political lectures, 2 hrs of physical training, 4 hrs of close order drill and 39 hrs of SP gun maintenance and tactics.
15 Feb 50: All the gunners, drivers, and commanders were picked from PW’s graduating class to form the Ind SP Gun Bn. The rest of the personnel were assigned to the Bn from other units. PW was assigned as gunner to the 1st Co. The Bn received sixteen (16) new SP guns and departed by train arrived at SINUIJU 16 Feb 50 and reported to the 6th Div CG.
25 Apr 50: The Div departed by rail and arrived at SARIWON 26 Apr 50. PW’s Bn then trained with the SP guns up to 20 Jun 50.
20 Jun 50: Departed by rail and arrived at KUMCH’ON that night and prepared for combat.
26 Jun 50: The 6th Div crossed the 38o parallel and fought its war down to KAESONG (開城). It arrived at the HAN River 27 Jun 50. Since it was blown up by ROK forces, Div spent 4 days trying to cross in order to make its way to SEOUL. The Div returned to KAESONG.
2 Jul 50: Div headed east and down to UIJONGBU and entered SEOUL from the N entrance, 4 Jul 50. 6th Div then departed for the S leaving the Ind SP Gun Bn behind.
7 Jul 50: PW’s Bn departed under its own power and passed through SUWON (水原), CH’ONAN (天安), NAMSAN (南山), KWANGJU (光州) and arrived at MOKP’O (木浦) on 19 Jul 50.
20 Jul 50: Departed and arrived at KWANGJU 21 Jul 50.
22 Jul 50: PW’s Bn headed for CHINJU to join the 6th Div, but at POSONG (宝城) met a road block set up by a NKA Rifle Bn. The Rifle BN received news that some ROK tanks were headed that way, so a fire fight between PW’s Bn and the Rifle Bn took place through mistaken identity. Two of the SO guns were damaged and PW was wounded and hospitalized in POSONG.
15 Sep 50: Discharged and with a five man crew was ordered to pick up another SP gun at NAMWON (南原). Arriving at NAMWON, PW was told to go to OSU-RI (五水里) to pick up the SP gun. At OSU-RI PW waited till 25 Sep because of the shortage of guns. There heard about the INCH’ON (仁川) invasion. PW then received orders from the 6th Div supply officer to head N because the Div had retreated and arrived at CH’UNGJU 2 Oct 50, Realizing that the situation was hopeless, he surrendered on 2 Oct 50 to the ROK Police.
Original Organization and Strength:
Ind SP Arty Bn consisted of three (3) Cos, 1 repair plat, 1 Sig Plat and as mess section. Its total strength was 150 men. Actual battle strength 150 men.
Last known composition of unit:
40 men, mostly senior officers and NCOs.
Equipment:
Ind SP Arty Bn had 16 x SU-76 SP guns. Each Co consisted of 5 x SU-76’s. 1 SU-76 is used by Bn CO. The SU-76 crew consisted of 1 driver, 1 gunner, 1 ammo loader, and 1 commander. Ammo consisted of 5 AT projectiles (Heat) fuzes, 25 shaped charge projectiles, and 30 anti-personnel rounds.
Fuel: Capacity 400 liters of diesel oil. Engr oil capacity was 20 liters. Fuel capacity was good for approximately 90 hours. Speed 60 km per hr and very maneuverable.
Maximum Performance of a Su-76:
It could ascend a grade of 30o, and descend a grade of 35o. The 76mm gun from the horizontal could be elevated 15o, and could be lowered 5o. It could traverse 30o.
It could span a 2 m wide ditch with ease. IT could be operated in water up to 80 cm. It would knock down trees 25 cm in thickness.
SU-76 tactics:
When in battle, it directly supported infantry, with Div heavy artillery supporting them in turn. In formation, the Bn CO is usually at the head of the column with Company Co’s slightly ahead of their units.
Personalities:
Name: CH’ANG Chon Hyon (장천현)
Rank: Lt Col
Age: 31
Height: Approx 5’5“
Weight: 124 lbs
Positions: CO, Ind SP Gun Bn
Remarks: Married with 2 children. A graduate with honors of the P’YONGYANG Mechanical School. He was given command of the newly formed Inf SP Gun Bn as Lit Col. Col CH’ANG likes to drink liquor.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
