ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2831 10 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1255) 5 January 1951
| PW NAME: | SUN, Chen Kuan (孫振冠) |
| PW NUMBER: | 700101 |
| RANK: | Capt (大尉) |
| AGE: | 21 |
| DUTY: | Bn Political Leader (營政治敎■部) |
| UNIT: | CCF 3rd Field Army, 9th Army Group, 20th Army, 60th Div, 180th Regt, 3rd Bn |
| EDUCATION: | 6 yrs Primary School - 3 yrs Junior School 1 yr Senior Middle School |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | Vicinity of KOT’O-RI (古土里) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 9 Dec 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | CHINA, NINGPO, CHEKIANG (■波浙江) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | CHINA, SHANGHAI, KEHAIKOLU, KUEIAN-LI #21 (中國 上海 格海克路 師安里 二一號) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Lt KIM (ATIS) |
PW was intelligent. PW’s cooperation during interrogation was poor but progressively improved as hearings progressed. Recommend PW for further interrogation. Reliability - Fair.
a. Chronology:
Mid Nov - Arrived CHIAN (輯安) and crossed YALU River by pontoon bridge to MANP’OJIN (滿浦鎭) with CCF 9th Army Group comprising the 20th, 26th and 27th Armies.
O/a 1 Dec - Arrived KOT’O-RI (古土里) where 20th and 26th Armies engaged elements of US 1st Marine Div. The 27th was also given mission of attacking 1st Marines but their actual scene of operations were somewhat north of KOT’O-RI in CHOSIN (長■) RESERVOIR operation.
9 Dec - Surrendered to US 1st Marines in KOT’O-RI area.
b. Unit Organization and Strength:
Squad: 12 men including leader and assistant leader.
Platoon: Platoon leader and assistant and 3 squads (rifle). Sometimes a 4th Sqd is attached to platoon as 60mm Mortar Sqd.
Company: Co Hq: Co Commander
Assistant Co Commander
Political Leader
Assistant Political Leader
1 Cultural Officer
1 or 2 Medics
1 Bugler
1 Barber
3 Runners
Supply Section: 1 Supply Officer (equal to Plat Ldr)
1 Supply Sgt
1 Mess Sgt
10 - 12 KPs
Company Strength: 3 Rifle Platoons (2 to 3 LMGs per platoon)
Battalion: Hq: 1 Bn Commander
1 Assistant Bn Commander
1 Political Leader
1 Assistant Political Leader
1 Bugler
1 Secretary
2 Horse Attendants
Administration Section: 1 Supply Officer (equal to Co CO)
1 Food Supply Officer (equal to Plat Ldr)
1 Personnel Officer (equal to Plat Ldr)
1 Ordnance NCO
Medics: 1 or 2 Medical Officer (equal to Co CO or Plat Ldr)
1 or 2 Medical Aid Men
1 Medical Supply Man
Mess Section: 1 Mess Officer
1 Mess Sgt
3 KPs
Communications Section: 1 squad of 12 runners
Bn Strength: 3 Rifle Companies
1 Heavy Weapons Co
(2 HMG Plats - 1 HMG per sqd or 3 guns per plat)
(1 82mm Mortar Plat)
(2 Mortar Sqds - 1 sqd of bearers)
Regiment: Regt Hq: 1 Regt Commander
1 Assistant Commander
1 Political Leader
1 Assistant Political Leader
Regt Strength: 2,000 - 3,000 men (3 Bn)
Attached Troops: 1 Arty Battery having 6 Japanese model 92 Howitzers
1 Guard Co
1 Signal Co of 2 Platoons
1 Plat - Signal
1 Plat - Messengers
Division: Hq: 1 Div Commander
1 Assistant Div Commander
1 Political Commissar
1 Assistant Political Commissar
Strength varies between 8,000 - 12,000 men depending on number and type of attached troops. Usually in neighborhood of 10,000 men per Division.
Strength As Of 9 Dec 50:
PW’s 180th Regt suffered approximately 50% casualties in operations between 1 - 9 Dec 50. Approx half of these casualties were through frost bite and trench foot, remainder from air and artillery attacks.
c. Code Names and Numbers:
20th Army: ICHANG UNIT (宜昌) until Nov 50. After arrival in KOREA in mid Nov 50, known as the “23 Unit (二三部隊).”
60th Div: Numerical designation was reversed and other divisions within the 20th Army were referred to accordingly after arrival in KOREA. i.e.: 06 Div (Sic).
180th Regt: Regimental numerical designations are also reversed during combat. i.e.: 081 Regt (Sic).
d. Personalities:
3rd Field Army: CG: CHEN, Yi (陳■) Age 30
Ass’t CG: SU, Yu (■■) Age 40
Field Army Hqs not in KOREA
| 20th Army: | CHANG, I Hsaing (張■■), about 45, CG. In command since 1945 of troops which in Jun 48 became the 20th Army. |
| YU, Ping Hui (兪炳輝), Army Chief of Staff, 20th Army, about 30. Believed to be a native of FUKIEN (福建) or KUANGHSI (廣西). About 5 ft, stocky build, formerly CG of 60th Div. | |
| CHEN, Shih Fu (陳時夫), Political Commissar of 20th Army, about 44. Became ill in spring 1950 and was left behind in CHIANGSU-SHENG (江蘇省). | |
| TAN, Yu Ming (譚右銘), Vice Political Commissar, 20th Army, about 31. Assigned present position in late 1949. Formerly Political Commissar of a division in 27th Army. | |
| 60th Div: | PENG (FNU) (彭 FNU), Div CG, about 38. Believed to be a native of CHIANGSU-SHENG (江蘇省). |
| YANG, Chia Pao (楊家宝), Political Commissar of 60th Div, about 37 or 38. Believed to be a native of CHIANGSU-SHENG (江蘇省). A Communist of many years who worked himself up thru the ranks. | |
| CHU, Fang (■放), Assistant Political Commissar of 60th Div, 33. Believed to be a native of vicinity of CHENCHIANG, CHIANGSU-SHENG (江蘇省鎭江). Trained at SHENHSI-SHENG, HSIENAN (陝西省成安). | |
| TSAI, Chun Fah (蔡春汎), Chief of Staff of 60th Div, 34 - 35. Native of SHANGHAI. Became CCF member 1937 - 38. |
Regt Personalities:
178th CO - WANG, Yu Kuei (王友貴) Acting CO
C/S - YAO, Hsing (■興)
Political Commissar - YANG, Cheng (楊誠)
Assistant Political Commissar - CHU, Pa Sheng (朱怕生)
179th CO - CHANG, Chih Jen (張至仁)
e. Equipment:
Rifles: Model 38, Japanese.
LMG: US Bar Gun
Also: CZECH Bren Gun
Also: LMG of Canadian Manufacture
Also: A few Japanese LMG. Model and type not identified.
HMG: US Water-cooled MG
Japanese Model 92 HMG
Chinese copy of MAXIM type HMG
Also a few HOTCHKISS HMG
Mortars: 60mm Mortars (US and Chinese made)
82mm Mortars (All Chinese made)
f. Communications:
Platoon to Company by runners.
Company to Battalion by runners.
Battalion to Regiment: Runners, mounted couriers, and field telephone of about 12 miles. Field phones are US made, captured from CNA.
Regiment to Division: Mounted couriers and field phones when possible. Also radio (CW). Range unknown.
g. Disposition: (8 - 9 Dec 50)
The 58th, 60th and 89th divisions of 20th Army were deployed over the north and south approaches to KOT’O-RI (古土里). Mission was to cut off US forces evacuating KOT’O-RI and to prevent US task forces in the south from making contact with the trapped US elements.
26th Army also participated in this operation from the northern approaches to KOT’O-RI.
27th Army was engaged in the CHOSHIN (長津) Reservoir operations.
PW stated 20th Army failed to accomplish battle mission because of superior US fire power. US tanks and air attacks enabled retreating US troops to make contact with their own forces to the south.
h. Replacements:
No replacements since coming to KOREA.
i. Morale:
High upon arriving in KOREA. However, due to severe weather conditions, high incidence of frostbite and trench foot and frequently inadequate rations, troop morale soon deteriorated.
j. Intentions:
At time of crossing into KOREA, troops were informed their mission was to prevent US forces from reaching and crossing the Yalu River. However, after crossing into KOREA, there was no mention as to limitations on the drive south.
k. Former CNA Troops:
60th Div of 20th Army was composed of approx 80% former CNA troops. Many of them captives from armies of Marshals TANG, An Pao (唐安波), TU, Yueh Ming (杜白明), PAI, Chung Hsi (白宗禧) and CHANG, Fa Kusi (張發奎).
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
