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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 964　11 September 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0715)　5 September 1950

On 3 Sep 50, the 2nd Bn of 6th Regt advanced eastward toward CH’ANGNYONG (昌寧) with the support of 2 x T-34 type tanks to attack US Forces from south while the 6th Regt attacked from the east. They met heavy artillery tire and aircraft at tack at a point 4 km W of CH’ANGNYONG (1140-1390). The 2nd Bn lost contact with the 6th Regt forces, lost their 2 tanks and were forced to retreat approximately 2 km westward. The 2nd Bn was surrounded by 15 Forces supported by 5 tanks and 58 members of this Bn (2nd) surrendered to the US Forces without any fighting.

The 2nd Div was composed of the 6th, 4th and 17th Regts, a 122-mm M1910/30 Howitzer Regt, Communication Bn, Training Bn, Engr Bn, Medical Bn, Recon Co, AT Co, AA Co, PPsh M1941 SMG Co, and an Armored Unit.

The 6th Regt was composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd HMG Co, Transportation Co, Mortar Co, Engr Plt, AA Plt, Supply Plt, 76-mm Arty Sqd and a Medical Unit.

The 2nd Bn was composed of the 4th, 5th and 6th Cos.

The 6th Co was composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Plts.

The 1st Plt was composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sqds.

The 2nd Sqd was composed of 10 men.

PW received 2 weeks of basic training at P'YONGYANG and with 31 men was sent to the 2nd Div as replacement. Approx 20% of the personnel of the 2nd Div were well trained and experienced combat with the Chinese Communist Army and were assigned to duties in rear areas.

PW’s own unit, the 2nd Div, was located 7 km W of CH’ANGYONG and 12 km E of the NAKTONG River as of 3 Sep 50. The 17th Regt of the 2nd Div was located adjacent to and N of the 6th Regt and the 4th Regt was located adjacent to and N of the 17th Regt.

Other units: Army Hqs, located in mountains at the end of a 5 m wide dirt mountain road 10 km SE of SAMGA (1110-1380). PW was sent to this army Hqs on route to the 2nd Div when they failed to locate the Div Hqs o/a 28-29 Aug 50.

A Lt Gen (name U/K) was in charge of this Army Hqs, which was said by a motorcycle unit M/Sgt, to be in charge of the 7th, 9th 2nd, 3rd and 15th Div’s, and also a motorcycle side car unit.

15th Div, located N of WAEGWAN

3rd Div, located S of WAEGWAN

The 15th and 3rd Divs are to attack WAEGWAN from the N and S. (PW heard after entering the PW Camp in PUSAN, the 13th Div would also participate in this attack of WAEGWAN and hit from directly W). This was heard from an officer of the 3rd Div on 24 Jul 50.

9th Div, located approx 8 km S of PUGONG-Ni, E of the NAKTONG River, and was blocked by US Forces on the E. On 2 Sep 50, fire signals were exchanged between the 9th and 2nd Div on the night 2 Sep 50 and they crossed the NAKTONG River at the same time.

7th Div, located 8 km E of UIRYONG as of 29 Aug 50. When PW lost his way en route to the 2nd Div, he met a driver of the 7th Div Staff and was told where the 7th Div was located and also shown the way to the Army Hqs.

Motorcycle Side-car Unit, located in vicinity of MASAN as of 29 Aug 50. Also while finding the way to 2nd Div Hqs, PW met a member of a motorcycle side car unit repairing the motorcycle and was told of the above location. The three members of the motorcycle unit were equipped with 1 x DP LMG and 2 x PPsh M1941 SMG.

Horse Cavalry - None observed

Troops of other Nationalities: PW heard that a Russian Army Officer was assigned to the 2nd Div as a Military Advisor but did not enter S Korea with 2nd Div. Further details, unknown.

Artillery: 122-mm artillery emplacements were located 4 km E of the NAKTONG River, S of the road which led to CH’ANGNYONG and 76-mm artillery emplacements were located 12 km SW of CH’ANGNYONG (1140-1390). The artillery units advanced with the infantry units to support their advance.

45-mm AT Guns were located with infantry units.

AA Guns were located in the vicinity of the 122-mm Artillery emplacements and also at Div Hqs (number undetermined).

AA Guns: AA Guns were riot fired during the daylight and only at night to escape strafing.

Roads - The condition of dirt road, 5 m wide between KUMCH’ON to T’AERYON-Myon (大連面) 24 km S of HYONPUNG) was fair, but road from T’AERYON-Myon to NAKTONG River was poor. When roads were destroyed by US aircraft they were soon repaired by NKPA engineers.

Bridges - All large bridges ware partially destroyed but all RR bridges were repaired up to YONGDONG.

Road bridges were repaired by NKPA engineers with wood or built up with sand bags.

Ammunition, gas and equipment of the units were kept in drainage ditches along the road and were well camouflaged with grass. Ammunition and equipment were also stored in drainage pipes in hills.

PW heard that supplies were sent from RUSSIA by ship to CH'ONGJIN and from there to YONGDONG via SEOUL by night trains. The trains were kept in tunnels during daylight.

Supplies were transported to the front line from a storage depot at YONGDONG by trucks and civilian laborers. Exact location of supply dump was unknown.

Airfield observed at a point 8 km E of the P’YONGYANG RR Station. Aircooled single engine type aircraft with conventional type landing gears were observed taking off and landing on this field daily during May and Jun 50. The aircraft had red star markings but further details as to numbers and type of aircraft was unknown.

Although the 6th Regt lacked food and rest, they were said to be the strongest unit of the 2nd Div by military authorities. Their motto was "advance or die" and soldiers were encouraged and educated by the veterans who had combat experience with the CCF. Two or three veterans were assigned to a squad and were highly respected by others and even by officers.

At P'YONGYANG, PW heard from a laborer who worked with the NKPA Supply troops that supply was brought to CH’ONGJIN from Russia by ship or by RR via HOERYONG. From CH’ONGJIN, the supplies were transported to SEOUL, where the NKPA Supply Hqs in S Korea was located, via HAMHUNG, P’YONGYANG and SARIWON. From SEOUL, the supplies were sent by rail to KUMCH’ON, where the advanced Supply Hqs was located. Sent from KUMCH’ON to the SANGJU-ANDONG, via WAEGWAN and CHINJU Areas by truck.

PW observed many empty trucks and ox-cart conveys entering KUMCH’ON and returning toward the front lines with full loads of supplies when his Regt passed through KUMCH’ON. During the nights when his unit marched along the KUMCH’ON-TAEGU Highway they were passed more than 10 times by these supply conveys which consisted of 30-40 trucks. PW also observed a large amount of supply, being loaded onto truck from ditches and RR tunnels at a point 2 km SE of KUMCH’ON.

Food was obtained in occupied areas but supply was usually very short.

Ammunition - They were each given 100 round of ammunition just after they crossed the NAKTONG River.

Equipment - Rifles were given to replacements just after they crossed the NAKTONG River and these rifles were believed to be taken from both the NKPA and ROK casualties.

To attack PUSAN via CH’ANGNYONG.

2nd Div (Unit 235) CG; Maj Gen - name unknown.

Remarks: Heard that CG served in Russian Army as M/Sgt and speaks good Russian but poor Korean. Became member of NKPA executive in Aug 45. Heard CG was transferred to P’YONGYANG.

6th Regt CO - KIM, Ik Hyon (평양) - Col

Remarks: Heard that CO served in Russian Army as S/Sgt and speaks good Russian.

2nd Bn CO - HWANG, Sung Bok - Maj

Remarks: Worked at CH’ONGJIN RR Station prior to 15 Aug 50. Graduated NK Military Academy located 6 km SW of P’YONGYANG. Wounded seriously at CHINCH’ON located N of CH’ONGJU in middle of Jul 50.

6th Co CO - HAN (fnu) - Capt

Remarks: Born in KANGWONDO. Graduated NK Military Academy, wounded seriously at CH'INCH'ON in mid-July 50.

1st Plt Ldr - Unknown - 2nd Lt

Remarks: Surrendered with prisoner.

Anti-ROK Propaganda - ROK with President RHEE is now part of American Empire and therefore it is the duty of the NKPA to free these suffering S Korean people. The NK Police and Communist sympathizers are actively indoctrinating the S Korean people daily.

Sabotage - Riots occured among students at P'YONGYANG stating that the “living standard of S Koreans is much better” in Sep 48 (hearsay). Security Police took care of such riots. The agitators of such riots were arrested by NK Police and have been missing ever since they were arrested.

Men were told by CO never to have a S Korean cook their rice as it might be poisoned.

PW heard that 50 men of the 3rd biv ate poisoned apples at an orchard E of the NAKTONG River.

Radio Broadcast - None

Leaflets - None observed. Men were prohibited frail reading leaflets aircraft dropped in refugee areas.

Espionage - At KUMCH’ON, PW talked to a NK Secret Police Agent who was dressed as a farmer and armed with a pistol. PW heard from this agent that his duty was to mark the reactionaires and large land owners of S Korea by entering the S Korea territory disguised as a refugee. No distinct badges or marks were observed but the agents seem to have close contact with the units in the area.

Source of Equipment: Ammunition for M1891/30 rifle was manufactured at the P’YONGYANG Machinery Mfg Plant (former Japanese arsenal) located 2 km W of the P’YONGYANG main RR station. PW worked in this plant from Sep 48 to Mar 49.

Other items of equipment were from RUSSIA and quality of this Russian equipment was good.

1. What weapons were most feared? Artillery fire in front line and aircraft attacks in rear areas.

2. Why is Russia not helping NK as the US is helping the ROK?

They were always told that Russian aircraft. would come to help them tomorrow and are already patrolling the coast just out of PUSAN.

3. Why only old equipment and no new equipment?

They also received new equipment.

4. What do you know of American PsW? Observed approx 50 US PsW at a point 16 km W of CH’ANGNYONG walking and all tired out. Some had on headgear and were guarded by 2NKPA men with PPsh SMG. PW read in paper that there were 2,000 US PsW.

5. Is there any Special Unit in N Korea handling US Air Force pilot? Unknown.

For the Commanding Officer: