ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3658 1 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS S.R. - 029) 22 February 1951
| PW NAME: | HO, Cheng Chuan (何成全) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63NK700379 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 19 |
| DUTY: | Barber |
| UNIT: | CCF, 4th Field Army, 13th Army Group, 39th Army, 116th Div, 248th Regt, 1st Bn, 2nd Co, Hq |
| EDUCATION: | 3 yr Primary School |
| OCCUPATION: | Barber |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | KOLANGPO-RI (高浪浦里) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 24 Dec 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | MANCHURIA, LIAOTUNG-SHENG, LIAOYANG-HSIEN, WANGCHIA-HSIANG (滿洲 遠東省 遠陽懸 汪家鄕) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Lt WU (ROK) |
Cooperative and intelligent. Good memory. Reliability, good.
a. Security:
(1) Air attack security measures:
(a) Earth covered foxholes
(b) Natural cover (trees, rocks, etc.), camouflage and no movement.
(c) Anti-aircraft guns.
Whenever a place is captured and occupied an anti-aircraft battalion is placed 2 km from the occupied position.
(2) Ground attack security measures:
(a) Night attack (Sic)
(b) A guard company is placed 1 km from enemy and 2½ km from unit’s position with orders to hold at all costs. If the enemy is strong, the main body of CCF retreats - if not too strong, the main body of CCF will advance to join the guard company.
(3) Tank attack security measures:
(a) Upon a tank attack, 3 men are sent against each tank. The 3 men are each armed either with a "Bangalore torpedo” (dimensions 46” long x 2” dia x 10 lb in weight), a mine similar to the “Magnetic anti-tank bomb” (dimensions about 4 3/4” diameter x 1½” thick x weight unk), packaged dynamite weighing either 5 lb, 10 lb or 15 lb, or an explosive mixture in a bottle similar to a “Molotov cocktail.”
(b) There are 3 anti-tank men attached to each plat of each Rifle Co.
Anti-tank artillery and bazookas are no longer used because of ineffectiveness against US tanks.
b. Marched exclusively at night from 1700 to 0600.
c. Routes taken:
No enemy near: main roads
Enemy near: trails
Attack: cross country
d. Unit marched in:
Main road: 2 files, 1 on each side of road with personnel 70 cm apart.
Trails: 1 file personnel 70 cm apart.
e. Halts on marches are 1 or two rest stops of 10 minutes each. Security measures are use of natural covering (Trees, rocks, etc.) and remaining quiet and motionless.
a. Security:
(1) Air attack security measures:
(a) Earth covered foxholes
(b) Natural covering (trees, rocks, etc.)
(2) Ground attack security measures:
(a) A plat is placed midway between enemy and bivouac area as guard.
(3) Tank attack security measures:
(a) Upon knowledge of a tank attack, 3 anti-tank men conceal themselves on the line of tank approach and attack rear tanks if more than 2 tanks are attacking.
(b) 1 stationary sentry per plat is posted 100 m apart around the bivouac area.
(c) Men sleep in foxholes immediately after breakfast at 0630 until supper at 1800. Only 2 meals per day.
(d) No shelter is used.
(e) Grass or tree branches over foxholes are used as camouflage.
a. Assembly areas are used. Indirect and protected routes are taken to them. Area generally is 5 km away from bivouac area and 2 km from line of departure.
b. Single file, all men an arm’s length apart, is used in movement to the assembly area.
c. One hour in advance of H hour assembly area is reached.
d. Assignment and instructions are given to the various units.
e. Column of files, arm’s length apart, are used in moving out of the assembly area. These formations are later changed to diamond formation at the line of departure. A squad 100 m ahead of the company acts as point.
a. The attacking force is divided into 3 sections and each section is given a different objective. The enemy is hit from the front and from the flanks.
b. Depth of objectives for companies is 100 m, battalions is 1 km, Regt is 2 km and Div is 10 km. (Sic)
c. If objective is reached before daylight, pursuit is continued without stopping. At daylight, regardless of whether objective is reached or not, the CCF goes into hiding.
d. If attack fails, CCF retreats to make further plans.
f. When troops stop they deploy to the flanks and dig in.
a. The unit conducting probing attacks is ordered not to break into the enemy defensive line and to hold themselves 1 km apart from enemy (sic).
b. A very strong unit is used. Against a division, a battalion is used and against a battalion, a plat is used.
c. Probing forces return to their original unit after completion of mission.
d. These missions are proceeded by artillery fire of about 2 hours duration.
a. Daylight patrols are divided into 3 groups; one to the rear of the enemy lines, the second into the enemy occupied zone, and the third to the immediate front of the enemy. All these patrols collect information on enemy strength, situation, and intentions.
Regimental patrols have the following equipment:
1 walkie-talkie
1 whistle
1 pistol
1 SMG
a. Whenever a co halts, 14 guards go on duty about 100 m apart.
b. An OP is set up in front of the defensive position. These positions are all different according to the terrain. Usually on the first high hill in front of the defensive area.
a. Riflemen dig in in an L shaped foxhole about 120 cm deep. Another hole in the side is dug as an air raid shelter. Mortars were dug in in a round hole 120 cm deep x 2 m diameter, with as many side holes as men manning position.
b. Types of weapons:
| Model 38 rifle | Water cooled HMG | 120 mm mortar |
| Canadian LMG | 81 mm mortar | 75 mm field gun |
c. Against one battalion of enemy, a division is utilized. One Regt to the front and the other two Regt on the flanks (sic).
d. Troops are ordered not to fire until the enemy reached the effective range of their weapons.
a. “Tank Killers” - three men to a plat. Upon tank’s approach, one of this group would throw packaged dynamite under the tank. This was done only at night.
b. No mine fields were used.
a. No ambushes are organized.
b. CCF has no anti-tank weapons adequate to destroy US heavy tanks.
c. Complete encirclements were ordered. No hole is left in the encirclement.
a. No fighter ever acted in support of ground units.
b. Approx 120 mm anti-aircraft guns are used.
a. Two meals a day, everyday. When rice, which had been brought from CHINA was exhausted, kaoliang, millet and rice were collected from Korean peasants. There was enough food.
b. There was enough ammo. Ammo was resupplied just before combat. Trains were used to transport ammo to the nearest rail head. From there, trucks carried it as far as possible. After that, it was carried on the backs of soldiers along trails to the front. All transportation was done at night. Ammo was usually stored under small concrete bridges if possible.
c. Quilted jackets and trousers were adequate. When worn out clothing is repaired by the weaver. Cloth is sometimes carried to repair the uniforms.
d. Only recon troops used civilian clothing.
a. Each Regt had a radio. Type and range, unk. Radio seemed to be reliable.
b. American made field phones were used. The telephone switchboard was in Regt Hq. There was sufficient wire.
c. Runners carried written or verbal messages. While marching, mounted messengers were used.
d. Whistles are used between sqd as a signal to advance or retreat. When distances between plat becomes too great bugles are used. Flares are used to concentrate fire on certain positions.
a. Usually a private does not receive any definite period of training. PW received no training.
b. Officers receive approx 6 - 12 months political training and pvt from 1 - 3 months.
CCF did not give any military basic training because recruits usually had previous training either in the military or public security units. Captives of the CCF needed only political training (sic).
a. No diseases were observed.
b. In CHINA, PW unit took immunization shots once a week against cholera and typhoid fever (sic).
Discipline is well maintained but by force. Hard labor is usually the punishment given.
The attitude of Korean civilians toward the Chinese was very good
CCF use Korean civilians as guides.
For the Commanding Officer:
ROBINSON
