ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3664 1 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS S.R. 029) 22 February 1951
| PW NAME: | WANG, Wen Ping (王文斌) |
| RANK: | Squad Leader (班長) |
| AGE: | 27 |
| DUTY: | LMG Operator |
| UNIT: | CCF 3rd Field Army, 50th Army, 149th Div, 55th Regt, 3rd Bn |
| EDUCATION: | 3 years Primary School |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 20 miles north of SEOUL |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 4 Feb 51 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | CHINA, YUNNAN-SHENG, PINGI-HSIEN, HSINHO-HSIANG (中國 雲南省 平■縣 新和鄊) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pvt ZANE (ATIS) |
Physical condition - good. Intelligence, cooperation and memory - fair. Reliability - Fair.
a. Security against air attack - Daytime: Scatter and take cover. If snowing, outer garments are reversed to white side for camouflage. At night, marches are continued.
b. Generally, PW’s unit started to march at about 1300 hours, after the evening meal. Rest, halts, depend upon terrain and situation. One or two hours before daybreak, troops dig their foxholes, while the cooks prepare breakfast. They sleep in the foxholes during day.
c. PW’s unit took main routes most of the time because airplanes have difficulty in spotting them at night.
d. PW’s unit moved in a file on either side of a road and in single file in rough terrain and over trails.
a. Security against air attack - Foxholes covered with branches, grass, and earth. Sometimes, shelter in farm houses. No one was allowed to go out without proper authority.
b. Security ground attack - One sentry from each platoon, are posted according to the terrain and situation. There are no definite distances.
c. They sleep after they finish their breakfast which is one hour before daybreak. Rest until 1500 1600 hours and eat at about 1700 hours.
a. Assembly areas are used only when troops depart or are under attack by enemy. The assembly areas are selected by company leader who send messages to notify the respective platoons.
b. Multiple columns are used in movement to assembly areas
a. To find out the enemy location.
b. PW’s company used two squads in probing.
c. They returned to their own unit upon completion of mission.
a. Company leader selected high ground for observation post.
b. No OP’s set up along lines of march. They used North Korean civilians as their guides.
c. OP’s are not set up in front of defense position. Due to number of air attacks, OP’s are not practical for CCF.
a. Foxholes are used in a defense position.
b. Riflemen, 6 LMG and 2 mortars formed a straight line. The two mortars located in the middle of this straight line, 3 LMG on each flank are set up in support of the riflemen. Types of weapons in PW’s Company.
Rifle M 38
LMG CZECHOSLOVAKIAN
Mortars 60mm
Company leader located in the middle of the defensive line to give command.
c. Each soldier used pick or shovel to dig their foxholes.
d. The depth of the foxhole about 1½ ft. Mortarman’s foxhole is about 2½ ft.
e. When a company is engaged in combat, two other companies are located about a mile to the rear.
a. PW’s unit used dynamite and dynamite tubes to attack enemy tanks. Dynamite is paper-wrapped, forming a package about the size of a carton of cigarettes. One man in each platoon carries 15 catties (about 20 lbs) of dynamite. Platoons have two dynamite tubes, length - about 4 ft, diameter - 1 inch. In a platoon, one man is assigned to carrying two such tubes.
b. When a company set up a defensive line, one platoon was to the front, while the other two were echeloned to the rear so that the three formed a triangle. Two mortars are placed in the middle of the triangle. Three squads in the first platoon are again formed into a triangle with 2 LMG’s in the middle and rifleman on two flanks of the first platoon, while assistant company leader and company political director were to the rear with #2 and 3# platoons.
PW called that SHAN SHAN TZU. (三三色) defensive tactics.
Weapons used in PW’s Company
Rifle M 79
Mortar 60mm
LMG
CANADIAN Style
c. Shovels and picks are used in erecting fortifications. Each platoon has about 10 shovels and 5 picks. Every soldier digs his own foxhole.
d. Reserve is located about 2 or 3 miles behind. Its mission is to stand by to help in advance or act as rear guard in the event of withdrawal.
e. At certain times troops are ordered not to fire.
f. PW unit had dynamite tubes and dynamite sacks as AT weapons. Dynamite tube: Length about 4 ft, diameter about 1 inch. Two ends are round.
More dynamite tube can be added in the end. Trip wire at the other end of the tube, covered by a wooden cover. Issued in ANTUNG (安東). Dynamite wrapped in yellow wax paper. Weight about 7 - 8 catties (1.3 lb per catty). Two dynamite tubes in each platoon.
Dynamite mostly placed on main roads or bridges. Dynamite tubes are hung on tank.
The purpose of encircling is to annihilate the enemy.
a. When PW left ANTUNG, 4 catties of biscuit and about 12 catties of rice were rationed to every man. Every soldier gave a ration of rice to the cooks, who prepared the food for them. PW said he is getting enough to eat since he arrived KOREA.
b. Each rifleman had 70 rounds of ammunition and four hand grenades. Each LMG had 500 rounds of ammunition. Each 60mm mortar 25 rounds. There was no way for resuppling troops since PW unit arrived in KOREA.
c. Cotton jacket, cotton trousers, cotton pile cap, cotton overcoat, rubber shoes and cotton gloves. There were means of replacing lost or worn out clothing.
d. Civilian clothing used in CCF by reconnaissance troops sent from Regt and higher Hq.
a. Radio is used only from Division level up. Each Division has one radio, called 300 type, made in US. Formerly belonged to CNA; rectangular shape 2½ X 1½ X 1 ft. Their range approx 15 - 20 miles. Capable of 2-way voice transmissions.
b. Wire used by CCF captured from CNA. It is reliable and in sufficient quantity but is heavier than wire used by UN troops in KOREA. When available, use UN wire.
c. Runners are used to carry messages over short distances. Daily reports are written by company secretary with company and political leader’s seals. There are four runners in a company but only two are used at a time to carry messages. Verbal messages are employed when urgent. Runners are employed up to distances of a mile.
d. Bugles were not used by PW unit since entering KOREA. Small whistle is used by either company leader or political leader for emergency signals.
e. When CCF advanced to TAEDONGGANG (大同江), bridges were all destroyed by UN Forces. Soldiers were compelled to wade the river. As a result, many of them suffered from frozen feet and legs.
a. PW was formerly a member of CNA. CCF inducted him without further military training except three months of political indoctrination.
b. No training was conducted in forward areas in KOREA.
a. Beside frozen feet, intestinal disorders were common.
b. PW received one inoculation in KOREA but did not know type.
a. Violations and infractions of regulations and other misdemeanors were punished by requiring offender to appear before troop meetings for criticism and ridicule.
b. There are only few desertions in CCF units. PW company had only one desertion. Deserters apprehended a third time face firing squad but first and second offenses are dealt with before a mass meeting.
a. When CCF entered KOREA, the attitude of Korean civilians toward the Chinese was only fair. Initial CCF successes later stimulated greater confidence among Koreans.
b. During night marches, each battalion used two Korean civilians as road guides. Guides were changed every night.
For the Commanding Officer:
ROBINSON
