ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 2910 17 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1302) 1 January 1951
| PW NAME: | CHAO, Ch’ao Ch’en (趙朝臣) |
| RANK: | Unknown |
| ORGN: | CCF 39th Army, 116th Div (Code, NANHAI PU) (南海部), 18th Regt (code, 41), 1st Bn. |
| DUTIES: | Runner |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| AGE: | 22 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | SSUCHUAN-SHENG, PACHUNG-HSIEN, CHAOCHIAKOU (四川省 ■中縣 趙家溝) |
| DATE and PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 010700 Jan 51 at an unknown area |
| INTERROGATOR: | H. N. |
PW was cooperative but in many instances was unable to give the names of locations. Information seems fairly reliable.
PW was inducted into the CNA Jul 45 at SSUCH’UAN SHENG (四川省).
PW was captured by the CCF 39th Army during Aug 49 at KWANGHSI-SHENG (廣西省) and was assigned to the 39th Army, 116th Div, 18th Regt, 1st Bn.
39th Army arrived at SHENYANG (瀋陽) during June 50.
39th Army conducted maneuvers in the SHENYANG area until Sep 50.
Entire 39th Army entered KOREA through SUPONG (XE 6479) 20 Oct 50.
39th Army engaged UN Troops at UNSAN (YE 3928) and KUJANG-DONG (BV 4517) (date unknown).
39th Army marched through mountainous terrain until in reached MAPYONG o/a 20 Dec 50.
O/a 25 Dec 50, the 39th Army marched 12 Km West of MAPYONG.
During the period 25 Dec 50 to 29 Dec 50 the 39th Army prepared for the offensive.
During the night of 29 Dec 50, the 39th Army moved to an unknown place 4 Km North of the 38th Parallel.
311730 Dec 50, the 39th Army attacked Southward.
312000 Dec 50, the 18th Regt, 116th Div was disorganized due to UN artillery fire.
PW was dispatched to the company commanders of the 1st Bn, 18th Regt, 116th Div with the order to assemble the troops and attack Southward immediately.
PW was captured by the ROK 6th Div while trying to locate the companies of the 1st Bn, 18th Regt, 116th Div on 010700 Jan 51 at an unknown place.
The 39th Army was composed of the 114th, 115th, and 116th Divisions.
The 116th Div was composed of the 16th (code, No 39), 17th (code, No 40) and 18th (code, No 41) Rifle Regts and 1 Mountain Gun Bn.
The 18th Rifle Regt was composed of 3 Rifle Bns and 1 Mortar Co.
The 1st Rifle Bn was composed of 3 Rifle Cos and 1 Machine Gun Co.
| 1st Bn, 18th Regt: | Original | Present (31 Dec 50) |
| Personnel: | 550 | 360 |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| 81mm Mortars | 2 | |
| HMGs | 6 | |
| LMGs | 18 | |
| SMGs | 15 (100 rds per) | |
| Automatic Rifles | 33 (150 rds per) | |
| 60mm Mortars | 6 (60 rds per) | |
| US 1903 rifles | 15 (80 rds per) | |
| Handgrenades | 4 per man | |
| 18th Regt, 116th Div: | ||
| Personnel: | 3,000 | 2,000 |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| 81mm Mortars | 6 | |
| Mt Gun Bn, 116th Div: | ||
| Personnel: | Unknown | |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| Mt Guns (US make) | 9 | |
Losses in personnel were caused chiefly through UN Air strikes.
One Korean interpreter was with the 1st Bn, 18th Regt, 116th Div.
PW was told by his Bn Commander on 301900 Dec 50 at a place approx 12 Km West of MAPYONG (believed to be approx 200 Km SW of PYONGYANG) the following statement:
“The 50th, 39th, and 40th Armies are lined abreast with the 39th Army in the center, 50th Army to the West, and 40th Army to the East. The 38th and 42nd Armies are located to the East of the 40th Army. The zone of responsibility of each army was 12 Km wide. The offensive will start at 311700 Dec 50 with the five armies attacking.
We outnumber the UN troops 4 to 1.”
On 300300 Dec 50. PW observed an Independent Artillery Division near the 38th Parallel. PW heard that this unit arrived here on 300300 Dec 50.
PW observed 2 artillery pieces of this unit. The artillery pieces were similar to 122mm howitzers. Unit designation and further information were not available.
After firing a 30 minute artillery barrage on an unknown are the 39th Army moved southward at 311730 Dec 50. 312000 Dec 50, the 18th Regt, 116th Div was disorganized due to UN artillery fire.
Five days food ration was carried by each man of the 39th Army when the unit advanced south 311700 Dec 50.
CHAO, Wan Chang (趙完章)
Bn CO, 1st Bn, 18th Regt, 116th Div
PW states that numbers are usually used to designated the commanders.
Commanding officer 1st Bn, 18th Regt, 116th Div was number 110.
The CO of 18th Regt, 116th Div was number 100.
PW could not offer any information as to how or when casualties are replaced.
The source of replacements and system of replacing losses was unknown.
PW did not know anything of units being withdrawn for the replacement of casualties.
Food was procured locally.
No ammo supply was received by 18th Regt, 116th Div, 39th Army since entering KOREA 20 Oct 50.
Morale of the troops with 18th Regt, 116th Div was generally low due to the intense cold and because of forced night marches.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
