ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2023 25 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI - 1126) 18 October 1950
PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | OM, Chong Yop (嚴楨葉) (엄정엽) |
| RANK: | Colonel (大佐) |
| AGE: | 29 |
| DUTY: | Commanding Officer, Technical Section |
| ORGANIZATION: | Mechanized Regt (603 Unit, also called Motorcycle Regt) |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School 6 years |
| OCCUPATION: | Synthetic Oil Refinery Laborer |
| ADDRESS: | HAMNAM HAMJU GUN, CHUJI MYON, SHINGYONG RI (咸南 咸州郡 朱池面 新庚里) |
| DATE AND PLACE CAPTURED: | 041300 K Sep 50 KINEIMYON (vicinity) near WONJU (DS0833) |
| INTERROGATOR: | T.M.O. |
Information seems reliable. Recommend further interrogation on North Korean mechanized tactics. PW has been separated from his unit since 27 Sep 50.
T/O & E AND STRENGTH OF: 603rd Mechanized Infantry Unit (As of 4 Oct 50)The 603rd Mechanized Regiment was activated on 27 Mar 50 at PYONGYANG and fully equipped on 10 Apr 50. The unit received brand new motorcycles, trucks, armored cars, and weapons from RUSSIA between Mar 50 Apr 50.
The 603rd Mechanized Regiment Headquarters consisted of approximately 60 officers and men. The headquarters was composed of the Cultural, Staff, Supply, Artillery & Motorized Sections. The unit was composed of 4 x Motorcycle Battalions, 2 x Artillery Battalions (120 mm Mortar & 45mm AT Gun Battalions), and 1 x Armored Car Battalion. Each Motorcycle Battalion was composed of 3 x Motorcycle Companies, 1 x 82mm Motorized Mortar Company, and 1 x HMG (jeep mounted) Company. Each Motorcycle company was composed of 3 x Platoons and each platoon was composed of 3 x squads.
The motorized 80mm Mortar Company was composed of 3 x platoons and each platoon was composed of 3 x squads.
The HMG (jeep mounted) Company was composed of 3 x platoons and each platoon was composed of 3 x squads.
The 120mm Mortar Battalion was composed of 4 x companies, each company was composed of 3 x platoons, and each platoon was composed of 3 x squads.
The 45mm AT Gun Battalion was composed of 4 x companies, each company was composed of 3 x platoons, and each platoon was composed of 4 x squads.
The Armored Car Battalion was composed of 3 x companies, each company was composed of 3 x platoons, and each platoon was composed of 3 x squad.
REMARKS: The unit was composed of 3,500 troops. Present strength believed to be 500 troops. 90% of the troops were armed with automatic small arms (LMG & SMG).
603RD MECHANIZED UNIT, HEADQUARTERS:
(Headquarters was composed of 60 men & officers)
603RD MECHANIZED UNIT, CULTURE SECTION:
REMARKS: One NCO (clerk) was attached to each officer.
603RD MECHANIZED UNIT, STAFF SECTION:
REMARKS: Each Section had one NCO as a clerk.
603RD MECHANIZED UNIT SUPPLY:
REMARKS: Each Section had one NCO Clert.
603RD MECHANIZED UNIT, MECHANIZED SECTION:
BREAKDOWN OF 603RD MECHANIZED UNIT:
REMARKS: Breakdown of 120 mm Mortar Bn, 82 mm Mortar Bn, 45 AT Gun Bn, and Armored Car Bn are similar to that of the Motorcycle Battalion.
| Motorcycle Platoon | original (All present strength and Equipment are unknown) |
| A. Personnel: | |
| 1. EM | 40 |
| 2. Officer | 1 |
| 3. Total | 41 |
| B. Equipment & Ammo: | |
| 1. Motorcycle | 12 |
| 2. DP LMG | 12 (5 x 47 rds Magazine per) |
| 3. SMG | 40 (2 x 72 rds Magazine per) |
| 4. Pistol | 1 (16 rds) |
| 5. Grenades | 2 per man |
| Motorcycle Company | |
| A. Personnel: | |
| 1. EM | 144 |
| 2. Officer | 6 |
| 3. Total | 150 |
| B. Equipment & Ammo: | |
| 1. same as above | |
| 45mm AT Gun Battalion | |
| A. Personnel: | 250 |
| B. Equipment & Ammo: | |
| 1. 45mm AT Gun | 16 (50 rds per) |
| 2. SMG | unknown |
| 3. US M1 Rifles | unknown (100 rds per) |
| 4. US M1 Carbines | unknown (100 rds per) |
| Remarks: Unit lower than battalion unknown. | |
| Armored Car Platoon | |
| A. Personnel: | original |
| 1. EM | 13 |
| 2. Officer | 1 |
| 3. Total | 14 |
| B. Equipment & Ammo: | |
| 1. BA-64 (Armored Jeep) | 5 |
| 2. SMG | 14 (140 rds per) |
| Armored Car Company | |
| A. Personnel: | |
| 1. EM | 40 |
| 2. Officer | 5 |
| 3. Total | 45 |
| B. Equipment & Ammo: | |
| 1. BA-64 (Armored Jeep) | 17 or 18 |
| 2. SMG Approx | 40 (140 rds per) |
| 120mm Mortar Battalion | |
| A. Personnel: | |
| 1. EM | 185 |
| 2. Officer | 15 |
| 3. Total | 200 |
| Remarks: Unit lower than battalion level unknown. | |
| B. Equipment & Ammo: | |
| 1. 120mm Mortar | 16 (50 rds per) |
| 2. GAZ 2½ ton trucks | 15 |
| 3. Wireless Transceiver | unknown |
| 4. Field Telephones | unknown |
| Armored Car Battalion | |
| A. Personnel: | 150 |
| B. Equipment & Ammo: | |
| 1. BA-64 (Armored Jeep ) | 54 |
The 603rd Mechanized Unit on 25 Sep 50 lost 60% of its of its personnel and equipment at CHINDONG. On 26 Sep 50, the unit retreated to CHINJU and on 27 Sep 50 retreated to ANUI, where the whole unit was caught on the road by US aircraft and tanks. At ANUI, the unit lost all of its equipment, and what few troops were left in the unit, dispersed into the mountains on their own.
The 7th Division is reported to have retreated to ANUI o/a 28 Sep 50. The PW believes that the troops dispersed into the mountains near ANUI.
PERSONAL & UNIT HISTORY:Inducted on 30 Sep 46, at PYONGYANG, with 800 others and sent to the Security Police School. Between Sep 46 to Sep 47, the PW received basic infantry training and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. In Dec 47, the PW was transferred to the 2nd Div, 6th Regt. On 20 Sep 50, he was transferred to the 15th Tank Regt for the purpose of studying all types f military to the rank of Major and assigned to the 2nd Bn of the 15th Tank Regt.
On 30 Mar 49, the PW was transferred to the Technical Bn of the 105 Tank Brigade (15th Regt was deactivated to form the 105 Tank Brigade on 28 Mar 49).
On 30 Jun 50, the PW was transferred to the Brigade Technical Staff.
In Mar 50, he was transferred to the newly activated 603rd Mechanized Unit as the Chief of the Motorcycle & Armored Car Section. The 603 Unit was stationed at SADONG (BU 4523). Between Mar 50 to 17 Jun 50, the unit received tactical training in preparation for war.
On 4 Oct 50, the PW's group of 25 was discovered near WONJU and attacked by ROK Forces. 11 were taken PW and the remainder were killed.
FOOD & EQUIPMENT:Negative. Supply was completely cut off since 27 Sep 50. In Mar and Apr the NK Government received several hundred motorcycles and armored cars from RUSSIA.
PERSONALITIES:CHUN, Moon Sup (전문성), Sr Col, CO, 603 Mechanized Unit
LEE, Son Won (이선원), Col, 603 Mech Unit, Culture Chief, 603 Mech Unit Hqs.
YU, Yong Ku (유용구), Col, Chief of Staff, 603 Mech Unit Hqs.
KIM, Il Yon (김일연), Col, 603 Mech Unit Supply Officer, 603 Mech Unit Hqs.
KIM, Jin Su (김진수), Major, CO, 603 Mech Unit, 1st Bn.
CHONG, Jun Sop (정준섭), Major, CO, 603 Mech Unit, 2nd Bn.
SO, Myong Kun (서명근), Major, CO, 603 Mech Unit, 3rd Bn.
SO, Yong KU (서용구), Major, CO, 603 Mech Unit, 4th Bn.
CHONG, Chun Hwa (정준화), Major, CO, 603 Mech Unit, 7th Bn.
PAN, Ho Sang (방호상), Maj Gen, CG, 6th Div.
YU, Gyong Su (유경수), Maj Gen, CG, 105th Tank Brigade
KIM, Tae Ryong (김대령), Col, CO, 105th Tank Brigade, 109th Regt.
CHOE, U Sik (최우식), Col, CO, 105th Tank Brigade, 107th Regt.
CHOE Ui Suk (최윤석), Col, CO, 105th Tank Brigade, 203th Regt.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
