ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3673 1 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS S.R. 029) 22 February 1951
| PW NAME: | FU Chun Ch'ing (德春淸) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63NK700183 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 24 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | CCF, 3rd Field Army, 9th Army Group, 26th Army, 78th Div, 234th Regt, 3rd Bn, 8th Co, 1st Plat, 2nd Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | 2½ yr Primary schooling at FUKIEN. |
| CIVILIAN OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | HAMHUNG |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 17 Dec 1950 |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt A.A.LIU (FEAF) |
Intelligent, cooperative. Reliability fair.
a. Security Measures
(1) Air Attack
March only at night.
(2) Ground Attack
8th Co marched with the 1st platoon on one side of the road; the 2nd platoon on the other side; the 3rd platoon, in the middle of the road, 20 to 30 meters to the rear of the 1st and 2nd platoons and the light mortar platoon, in the middle of the road, 20 to 30 meters to the rear of the 3rd platoon. A squad of 14 men was sent 50 to 100 meters to the front of the company as advance guard. 3 men, 2 armed with rifles and one with SMG M-3 were the point. 1 man armed with a light machine gun and the squad leader armed with a SMG M-3 marched in the middle of the road, 5 paces to the rear of the point. The rest of the squad (9 men) armed with rifles marched in 2 files, one on each side of the road, 3 paces to the rear of the squad leader with 3 paces between the men. The men of the 2 files marched in staggered formation.
(3) Tank Attack
Upon the approach of tanks personnel disperse and hide using natural concealment. When the tank or tanks are within range the men attack using hand grenades and dynamite.
b. Marching started at sunset and ended at dawn.
c. Marching was mainly over main roads.
d. Verbal messages relayed from front to rear and vice versa. Runners were used between platoons.
e. On long marches 2 halts of 20 minutes were taken. Security detachment of 3 or 4 men furnished by the advance guard was posted 30 meters to the front of the advance guard.
a. Security measures
(1) Air Attack
1 or 2 man foxholes in which men remained during attack.
(2) Ground Attack
(a) Foxholes are dug 3 or 4 paces apart so as to form a perimeter.
(b) 2 sentries from each platoon are posted 40 meters outside the platoon's bivouac area and 20 to 30 meters apart.
(c) During an attack the men remain in their foxholes and repel the attack.
(3) Tank Attack
Remaining in foxholes and attacking tanks with grenades and dynamite whenever tanks come within range.
b. 2 sentries from each platoon, one at each post are posted 40 meters outside the bivouac area and 20 to 30 meters apart. Bivouac areas are usually selected in hilly or mountainous area.
c. Sleep from dawn until dusk. Meals are sometimes eaten at dawn and usually at sunset. One meal per day is usual.
d. No shelters used.
e. Foxholes are camouflaged with grass and branches.
a. Assembly areas are used. Areas are reached by marching in column of files by squads. Bivouacs areas are 4 kilometers away from the assembly area and 200 meters from the line of departure.
b. Column of files are used in movement to assembly area.
c. Area is reached 1 hour in advance of H-hour.
d. General preparation for attack, disposition of troops, inspection of weapons and ammunition, and final orders, takes place in the assembly area.
e. Column of files, are used in moving from assembly area to the line of departure. This formation is changed to the "as skirmishers" formation at the line of departure. 3 men from each squad precede the squad column and serve as scouts up the LD. The scouts are 5 paces ahead of the column.
a. Only infantry are used in the assault. One company is used for the frontal attack. The main body is divided into 2 groups which attack the flanks.
b. Depth of Objectives
Companies: 70 to 80 meters.
c. When objective is reached it is made secure. The area is cleared of enemy, checked for prisoners and wounded and all wounded are sent to the rear. Dead are left. If sufficient time remains before dawn, the company reorganizes and then continues the attack without further definite objective. At dawn, the company retires 4 kilometers to the rear and bivouacs in hilly or mountainous area if possible. Before continuing the attack, after the objective is reached, reorganization takes place. Leader casualties are replaced, weapons are checked and ammo replenished.
d. In the attack, 1 company of a battalion attacks while the other 2 companies are held in reserve. If the attacking company fails, the 2nd company is sent to reinforce it. If the 2 companies fail, the 3rd company is sent to the attack. If the attack fails when the whole force attacks, a retreat 4 kilometers to the rear is called.
e. Shallow holes, 30 centimeters deep and 40 centimeters wide and 1 meter long, are dug by each individual whenever a halt is made.
a. Each attacking company sends a squad; that is, each battalion sends one platoon on the probing mission.
b. Probing forces, after completion of mission, join the attacking force in the attack.
c. Missions are neither preceded nor accompanied by pre-planned supporting fire.
No daylight patrols are used.
a. OP are set up for each battalion at the flanks of the assembly area and lines of march.
b. Flanks of the lines of march have observation posts.
c. No OP are set up in front of defensive positions.
a. Connecting zig-zagging trenches, 50cm wide x 1m deep, are dug completely around the defense positions. Foxholes are sometimes used.
b. Infantry personnel are placed in the trenches. Heavy machine guns and the 60mm mortars are placed on the flanks. 82mm mortars are placed to the rear and within the defensive perimeter.
a. Dynamite is used against tanks whenever they get within range.
b. Mines are used, usually buried in roads.
a. Each soldier was given a bag containing sliced steamed bread ("mantao"), crackers and fried soy beans, sufficient for 5 days when he crossed the YALU River. Rations are prepared in MANCHURIA. (Ration was adequate while it lasted).
b. There was sufficient ammunition. Ammunition is transported to the 20th Army supply dumps by trucks, carts and Chinese civilian laborers. Division draws ammunition from the army dump and distributes it to the regiments and so on, down to the companies using civilian laborers as means of transportation.
c. Padded cotton trousers, jackets and overcoats are issued and worn by each soldier. Clothing is adequate. There is no way to have the clothing replaced at the front.
d. Civilian clothing used by spies only.
a. (Hearsay) Regimental level and higher have radios.
b. Telephones are used on the battalion level. The lines are fine strand wire. Rubber or a material similar to friction tape is used for insulation. Reliability - unknown.
c. Runners are used. Both written and verbal messages are carried. Runners are used up to distances of 200 meters. (Sic)
d. Whistles and flares are used. At the start of an attack the flares are first fired, then the whistles are blown. At the end of an attack only the whistles are blown.
a. Total of 6 months: 3 months in the CNA and 3 months in the CCF.
b. Normal training period for the CCF was 1 year.
c. Training included problems in actual firing. Each man fired 3 rounds. Training included overhead firing of supporting weapons.
d. No training was conducted in either forward or rear areas in KOREA.
e. There was sufficient ammunition for training.
Total of 13 men in the 8th Co of the 3rd Bn (5 feet and 8 hands) had frostbite and were sent to the rear.
Large number of troops conceal themselves from air attacks by lying motionless.
a. Discipline is maintained by:
1st - Gentle method; reasoning.
2nd - Harsher method; scolding.
3rd and final method - imprisonment.
b. There were many desertions. There were 3 desertions in the 8th Co of the 3rd Bn in MANCHURIA.
Only a small number of Korean civilians were encountered in KOREA. Their attitude: indifferent.
CCF did not use Korean civilians. (Sic)
For the Commanding Officer:
ROBINSON
