ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3624 27 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS Special Report 022) 15 February 1951
| PW NAME: | CHAO, Hung Shong (周洪生) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 25 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 41st Army, 150th Div |
| EDUCATION: | 3 years |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 100 miles N of SEOUL |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 17 Jan 51 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | SZECHUAN-SHENG, TAR-HSIEN, CHOUCHAISHANG (四川省 達縣 周家鄕) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pvt ZANE |
Fairly cooperative. Reliability of information furnished - fair to poor.
a. Security Air Attack:
In day time, while marching, the whole unit scattered and laid down on the ground. Sometimes the bugler gave alarm to his unit, but most of the time they laid in mountain holes which they dug about one hour before daybreak. At night they just keep on marching.
b. At about eight o'clock in the evening they start to march. On occasions they have five minute rests after two hours of marching. This depended upon the distance of their destination. In daytime they laid in the foxholes in the mountains.
c. They followed main roads since they always marched at night, but when they are near their destination they take to trails or cart roads.
d. They move in two files on the main roads and separate their units if there are different roads to the same destination. Used field telephones from Bn up. Below Bn, mounted messengers and bicycles as means of communication.
e. They halt according to the condition of the road. On good roads they halt for about ten minutes; after 2 hours of walking if roads are rough, they halt every hour. During halt periods, two sentries are sent out about 100 ft to the front of their unit.
a. Security Air Attack:
In day time every man dug his own fox hole, used tree branches and bushes as cover and camouflage.
b. Ground Attack:
One man in each platoon was sent out as sentry. Located about a hundred feet away from his unit.
c. Each platoon was about 50 ft apart in a triangle formation. A sentry was posted about 60 ft in front of his whole unit, which was facing the enemy.
d. One hour before daybreak they start to dig their own fox holes up in the mountains, close to farm houses, while the cooks were preparing their rice in the farm house. They ate in the farm houses. Slept until dark and ate in the same place before they continued their marching.
No assembly areas were used.
a. Two or three men formed a team to harass the enemy.
b. Bn was used to besiege Co strength of the enemy attack sustained until they surrender or withdraw.
c. In case of heavy casualties other units were incorporated as replacements.
d. If the attack fails, they slightly withdraw until larger reinforcements come.
e. They dig in when they stop.
a. Platoon is normally used.
b. Draw back to his unit.
c. These missions are preceded and accompanied by preplanned supporting fire.
a. In a Co three or more men patrol; sometime a platoon is used. Size of patrols is dependent upon the Co leader. Their missions are to question or seek out civilians who are closest to their unit for information and to fire on the enemy upon contact.
b. Rifle fire is used to give signals. Such signals are frequently changed.
OP are set up along lines of march only from Bn up.
a. Fox holes are commonly used by riflemen. Zigzag trenches are used by Bn and up. Dugouts were commonly covered with tree branches, grass etc as camouflage.
b. If a Co sets up a defensive line, each platoon is deployed around the enemy in a triangular shape. Six riflemen in the front, in a zigzag deployment. Three machine guns were placed about 15 ft behind these riflemen and additional riflemen were placed behind the machine guns. Two 60 mm mortars or 82 mm mortars were placed 15 ft behind the last riflemen.
c. Picks and shovels are used in erecting fortifications. Riflemen, machine gunners dig their own fox hole except zigzag trenches which are dug by the Engineer Bn or Co.
d. Zigzag trenches are about 6 ft deep; fox holes were about 1 foot.
e. Each Co has two mines, two dynamite tubes and two dynamite boxes.
Mines:
Round shape, diameter 8 in, thickness 1½ in. Pressure type. Used against tanks and troops vehicles.
Dynamite Tube:
Length is 3½ ft, diameter is about 2 in. Pull string type, similar to grenade. Used against bridges, tanks, buildings etc. Made in CHINA. Weight is about 6 lbs. Issued in SHINYEECHOU (新義州). Eight men in PW Co were assigned to this explosive sqd (炸藥班).
Dynamite Box:
Cubic rectangular shape same as a rifle ammo box. Made of wood. Dynamite is placed inside of the box.
Purpose:
To assist dynamite tubes to give more explosive power.
f. Riflemen formed zigzag position, covered by machine guns in the rear. Riflemen advanced when covered by machine guns fire.
g. When a Co is in combat, two other companies are left as reserves. Their mission is to attack the enemy if the assault Co can not hold.
h. Troops do not have orders to withhold fire at certain times, unless they capture their objective.
a. PW Co used mines or dynamite tubes to destroy tanks. Mostly placed in main roads and bridges.
b. Dig a rectangular shaped hole about 4 ft deep, 4 ft wide. Length is according to width of road. Covered with earth, branches and grass. Dynamite is sometimes emplaced in the hole.
c. Mines are emplaced in bridges. Grenades are used to attack in case the tank is slowed down.
Encircle the enemy until they surrender and give up their arms.
Fighters sometime act in support of ground units. In P’YONGYANG and KYONGSONG (京成) PW was told by his Co that Chinese Airforce will come to help the ground unit.
a. Each soldier has ½ catty of biscuit, 20 pieces of salt flavored bread, diameter about 5 in; 3 catties of rice. Each sqd has two cans of meat, about 4 in high and 4 in round, made in SHANGHAI, CHINA.
b. Each rifleman carries 100 rounds of ammo. Each Co has six 60 mm mortar or 82 mm mortars. Each mortar given 8 rounds of ammo. 9 LMG in one Co. Each has 500 rounds of ammo. When the Co requires replenishment of ammo, Co orders his secretary to write a list of needs and sends a message to Bn Ordnance Section. Bn forwards requisition to Regt, from Regt to Div. Div Ordnance Section directs Engineer Co to sent ammo by horse-cart.
c. In ANTUNG (安東) MANCHURIA, each man was issued:
1 Cotton made jacket, light green, inside white
1 Cotton made trouser - light green, inside white
1 White colored T shirt
1 Light green, pile lined hat, made of cotton
1 Cotton made overcoat
1 Dark green rain coat
1 Dark green gloves made of cloth, lined with cotton
PW said it was adequate for them.
d. No civilian clothing is used, except for reconn troops.
a. Only div and up have radio communication.
b. Hand generator wire is American made; CCF obtained it from CNA. Wire is sufficient for Bn and up.
c. Four runners in a Co. They carry written messages only. Up to two or three miles distance, used runners to carry messages.
d. One bugler in a Co. Duty - sound reveille, mess call, taps, assembly, to contact other units, to advance upon the enemy and to cease fire. Flares are carried by buglers. Purpose - alarm and give warning to other units, to signal CCF aircraft.
a. Only three and half months political instruction. PW formally was a member of the CNA so CCF gave him no military training.
b. No training conducted in forward areas in KOREA.
a. No disease in PW unit except for colds.
b. Many immunizations were given in MANCHURIA before coming to KOREA. After they crossed the YALU River more than ten shots were given to each man.
c. None in PW Co had frozen feet.
a. Violations of orders in war time punishable by death. Misbehavior or bad conduct subjects a man to public criticism and ridicule by his fellow soldiers and leaders. Public apologies are required. Other punishment takes the form of little, or no food and clothing and solitary confinment.
b. Deserters, when apprehended are required to explain their action before troops and punished as cited in Par 18-a above.
Korean civilians were told by ROK troops that CCF have no discipline; that they rape and steal everything. After the NKA interpreters explained to local inhabitants that such were ROK lies, the Koreans offered CCF rice. CCF left them with a receipt which would entitle them to pay lower taxes in the future.
Sometimes CCF used Korean civilians and road guides.
There are no CCF units serving with NKA but NKA units are under control of CCF high command.
There are no advisors with NKA but PW saw in ANTUNG (安東), NKA received both military and political training by CCF officers.
For the Commanding Officer:
ROBINSON
