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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3099　1 February 1951

FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MISD-0218)　20 January 1951

Prisoner was cooperative during interrogation but appeared confused and had a poor memory. Information is considered only fairly reliable. No further interrogation is recommended.

The NKA 7th Ind Regt was redesignated the 39th Unit at HWACHON (CT8717) 4 Jan 51. The 7th Ind Regt was organized at KARYOJU (CT2991) about the middle of Oct 50, and was composed of approximately 600 NKA stragglers. O/a 10 Nov 50 it passed through INJE (DT2003) and o/a 25 Dec 50 arrived at MAEBONG Mountain (DT3931) where it engaged the enemy 010400 Jan 51. Contact was broken at 0600 hrs when the enemy withdraw. PW heard from his Bn CO that the 14th NKA Div was deployed 4 Km W of their unit at that time. After the engagement the 7th Regt returned to HWACH’ON, with a force reduced to approximately 400 men. This was due mainly to enemy artillery fire encountered at MAEBONG Mountain. Other factors were enemy air attacks, desertion, and illness.

On 5 Jan 51, the 39th Unit departed HWACH’ON and arrived at YANGU (DT1218) on 060500 Jan 51 and departed on 061700. It passed through INJE on 7 Jan 51 and after taking unknown mountain trails, it arrived at OTAN-NI on 151600 Jan 51.

171200 Jan, PW and 30 men were sent on reconnaissance from OTAN-NI (CS7228). The reconnaissance team was to report back to OTAN-NI by dusk of the following day.

171300 Jan, it arrived at a location approximately 4 Km ENE of YOJU, where its men were deployed on hills and houses in the area to observe the enemy and to rest there for the night. On the next day at 1000 hrs, an enemy patrol of approximately 20 men was observed approaching their position on the hill. Thereupon the 30 men reconnaissance group immediately scattered since discovery would be dangerous due to the close proximity of a large number of enemy in YOJU village, and the superior weapons of the 20 men enemy patrol. PW in descending the hill was captured, 181100 Jan 51 by troops of the 21st RCT.

The 39th Unit consisted of 2 Bns, each of which were composed of 3 rifle companies and one mortar company. PW’s company consisted of 90 men, although strength of the other companies were unknown. There were 10 to 12 men each in the rifle platoons and 30 men in a HMG platoon. Attached to the company was also a supply unit of 20 men and a medical unit of 10 men. The mortar company in PW’s Bn consisted of 10 men.

PW heard from his Bn CO that the 39th Unit was under the II NKA Corps. Also from the same source, heard that the II Corps and 39th Unit CPs had come together with the 1st Bn to OTAN-NI. As of 171200 Jan 51, the 39th Unit was still stationed at OTANI-NI.

PW observed 4 or 5 CCF troops armed with M-1 rifles and carbines in OTAN-NI village 15 Jan 51. He heard from his Bn CO that a Div of CCF troops arrived in the vicinity of OTAN-NI 12 or 13 Jan 51.

Mission of the 39th Unit was to infiltrate by mountain trails to TAEJON and after capturing it, occupy the city.

After TAEJON was secured, it was their further intention to conscript men from the city, adding to those conscripted on the way, and create a 39th NKA Div, using the 39th Unit as the cadre.

The 39th Unit was armed with Russian rifles (50 to 60 rounds per rifle), PPSH SMGs (70 rounds per gun), M-1 rifles (100 rounds per rifle), and US carbines. The 1st Bn had one mortar (caliber unknown). No shells were observed for the mortar.

The HMG Plat in PW’s Co was in designation only and the men all carried M-1 rifles instead.

3 Jan 51, after the 39th Unit engaged the enemy at MAEBONG Mountain, those equipped with M-1 rifles received 100 additional rounds each.

For the AC of S, G-2