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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 748　26 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS)　18 August 1950

Unit: 13th Div, 23rt Regt, 3rd Bn, Mortar Company.

Mortar Company consisting on 60 EM and 2 1st Lt and three 2nd Lt. The 3rd Battalion of 23rd Regiment had 5 companies. 3 were infantry companies, 1 mortar company and 1 HMG company. All EMs in infantry companies had M1891/30 rifles and one DP light machine gun.

The Machine Gun Company had six 82MM M1937 Mortar. The Machine Gun Company supposed to have 12 but source had no idea of exact umber.

Besides the PW’s unint (Mortar Company) there were 3 infantry companies and 1 Heavy Machine Gun Company. Within the infantry company there was a platoon of machine gunners equipped with Maxim Heavy Machine gun M1910.

Table of Organization: 3rd Battalion of 23rd Regiment, 600 men and officers. Mortar company, 60 EMs and 5 officers.

PW said he saw a Russian officer attached to 23rd Regiment as a military advisor to the North Korean Army.

PW was conscripted in North Korean Army on 3 May 1950, in SHINGISHA. Received basic training from 3 May to 18 June 1950. During the period he did close order drill, rifle drill and calisthenics. No live ammunition was used except one day for 2 hours. However, only 3 rounds were fired.

Upon completion of basic he was sent to NANSAN on 19 June 50 on train and stayed overnight. The unit hiked to RENSEN and arrived 24 June approximately 2100 hours. Remained here for 1 month in RENSEN. Took basic training again where trained for mountain combat and instructed how to use the 82MM M1937 mortar.

Hiked on 24 June for approximately 8 km and rode on trucks which were sent from some trucking company in the neighborhood of KEJI. 60 EM and 5 officers and all the heavy equipment, six 82 MM M1937 Mortar, 60 M1891/30 rifles and personnel equipments were put on one truck, following morning they arrived in JINSEN. The unit passed KEIJO during the night.

(Note: Had rifles of “A” model similar to M1891/30 rifle but not listed in Army Pamphlet No. 30-2.)

IN JINSEN the entire Mortar Company performed guard duty. PW was assigned to guard port area. The unit remained for 10 days. They traveled on 2 trucks from JINSEN vis SEISHU and RAKUDO-KE, with 6 Mortar and 7 EM. The rest of the unit personnel traveled on train toward their objective. Company commander was killed in air attack, so platoon leader took his place as a company commander. He was also killed after 2 days by air attacks.

When PW’s unit departed TAKUDO they had 10 rounds of ammunition per mortar and 40 rounds per riffle. 5 days later they engaged in battle with South Korean troops on the south of RAKUDO River. About 15 km south of RAKUDO River PW was all by himself after squad leader was killed and the entire unit was shattered. After crossing a few hills he was captured by some 20 soldiers of the 11th Regiment of South Korean army in SOKU-DON.

Source of Supplies: Regimental supply area unknown to PW. Ammunition was issued to individuals and replaced when exhausted. They were brought by trucks but source unknown. Food supply unknown.

PW’s company was to patrol JINSEN are for indefinite length of period but after 10 days they were ordered to head for TAEGU to join 3rd Battalion.