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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3663　1 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS Special Report 029)　22 February 1951

Cooperative. Intelligence, memory and physical condition - fair. Reliability - fair.

a. Security against air attack: Troops camouflaged with rice straw, grass or tree branches, as available. In snow, outer garments are reversed to the white side. Buglers are assigned to sound air alarm upon sighting enemy aircraft. In regimental movements, an advance force of company strength is usually sent out one mile to 1½ miles ahead of main body. The company fire power is augmented with the addition of two HMG.

b. Unit started before sunrise for daylight march. Until arrival in P’YONGYANG (平壤), unit marched during daytime. On night marches, unit started immediately after sunset.

c. While on daylight marches, unit usually followed mountain paths or trails, 2 - 3 miles away from main road. On night marches, unit usually followed main roads.

d. PW unit moved in single column.

e. Ten minute halts at hourly intervals. On occasions, 30 minute halts were made at three hour intervals - at which times, one or two sentries were posted near high ground, 300 - 500 meters away from resting area. One squad did sentry duty.

a. As security against enemy attack, unit put three riflemen and one bugler on high ground within a mile of bivouac area.

b. Each platoon posted own sentry group of three riflemen and one LMG approx ½ mile away from platoon OP.

c. Troops slept in the open or in foxholes. Breakfast at 4:30 - 5:00 AM. Evening meal at 5:30 - 6:00 PM.

a. Assembly areas are used and are approx ½ mile away from bivouac area and 2 - 4 miles removed from line of departure.

b. Movement to assembly area, in PW unit, was usually single file.

c. Unit assembled at least three hours in advance of planned action.

d. Usually Battalion Commander addressed troops for 10 - 20 minutes.

e. Units moved in single file out of the assembly area, and at a distance of approx 1 - 2 miles away from line of departure unit deployed in line. PW unit sent scouting squad approx 150 - 200 meters in advance of main force.

a. Company leader and platoon leaders led respective units in attack.

b. After reaching an objective, PW unit continued pursuit without any special preparation.

c. If the attack fails, unit retreats 7 - 10 miles behind line of departure.

d. The troops immediately dig in when the retreat is halted.

a. Probing forces are ordered to determine enemy strength and are expected to return within three hours to original position without occupying objective even if enemy withdraws.

b. Normally two companies, strengthened by one weapons platoon, were used as a probing force.

c. Probing force leads the other units after completing probing mission and participates in following action.

d. No pre-planned supporting fire used for probing action.

a. Daylight patrols are used. Patrol force is normally a rifle platoon and its mission is limited to reconnoitering enemy without engagement. Patrols usually function from 5 - 8 hours and within a radius of 5 miles from main force.

b. A rifle platoon is normally used on night patrols. Night patrols have the special duty of watching for enemy approach besides checking on enemy action and situation. Patrols carry on without time limit and within 2 - 3 miles radius from main force.

c. No special preparation is made for patrols. Normal rifle company provides patrols.

d. No special instructions are given to patrols in the event they encounter enemy ambush except to fight if necessary.

a. Set up an observation post 500 - 700 meters away from assembly area on high ground.

b. Set up an observation post in front of defense position 200 - 300 meters ahead of foremost platoons.

a. Troops dig foxholes approx 60cm wide, 100cm long, 120cm deep with connected shelter, 50cm long, 50cm deep. Machine gun crew dig half-moon shaped foxholes approx 80cm wide, 120cm deep, 100cm radius and cover it with logs and dirt with fan-shaped loophole (gun part), 80cm wide.

b. PW unit used no special weapon in defense. In company defense, two platoons and one squad of a 3rd platoon take up positions on the line and the remaining two squads remain 200-300 meters in the rear, protecting Company CP. Each platoon digs approx 150-250m long communication trench. Company CP located on high ground approx 200 - 300m in front of foremost company. Each company buried 3 - 5 mines at approx 200 - 300m in front of foremost company. Each company set 2 x 6mm mortars at approx 100m behind leading company. PW unit camouflaged foxholes with grass or tree branches.

c. All the foxholes and machine gun shelters were dug with shovels and picks. No civilians used to erect fortifications.

d. Normal depth of battalion defensive position was approx 1,000m and 600 - 700m long in line.

e. A rifle platoon, with two light machine guns, was used as screening force when a company was retreating. Mortars and heavy machine guns were not used as cover.

f. PW unit started counter-attack when enemy attack showed signs of weakening without any special pre-plan.

g. In a company, one reserve platoon located approx 200 - 300m behind foremost platoon. In battalion, one reserve company located approx 700 - 800m behind foremost company.

h. PW unit was usually ordered not to fire until enemy approached within 200m.

a. PW knows of no special antitank weapon except TSA-YAO (炸藥) (dynamite tube). Saw it for the first time on the southern outskirts of SEOUL in Jan 51. However, PW has been told nothing about its use.

b. PW company sent out two men to attack enemy tanks. Each carried clusters of ten hand grenades bundled together. They camouflaged themselves with grass or tree branches and awaited enemy tanks on the flanks of main road, approx 1½ miles from Company CP.

a. PW unit ate rice only until arrival in P’YONGYANG. Company received rice from Bn Hq and purchased vegetables at Korean markets, paying North Korean currency. Since passing P’YONGYANG, company ordered to prepare their provisions by themselves. Company usually sent out 8 - 9 men to requisition daily food. PW unit requisitioned 70 - 200 catties of rice per day from Koreans, giving them a receipt in return. But for salted vegetables and “bean-curd,” unit paid North Korean currency. Unit’s requisitions usually were adequate. Troops received 1½ catties of tobacco leaves per month.

b. Unit supplied with sufficient ammunition.

c. PW had following clothing, considered adequate:

a. Runners were used between company and battalion; carried only verbal messages. Company officers were summoned to Bn Hq for important orders, or they reported personally to Bn Hq when reporting on important matters.

b. Bugles and whistles were used but no flares. Bugler served as aircraft lookout and gave air raid alarms. Bugler also used when in pursuit of enemy. Whistles used by squad leaders to signal commands.

PW received no training in CCF.

a. In PW company, there were about ten intestinal disorder and 3 - 4 influenza cases.

b. At ANTUNG (安東), on October 1950, PW was given inoculations but did not know for what disease.

c. In PW company, two frozen feet cases occurred. These were sent to the rear.

Large bodies of troops could conceal themselves from the air because they marched during night and scattered before sunrise.

Discipline maintained through mutual surveillance. Each offense was criticized at unit meetings. No physical punishment was given for minor infractions.

No desertion in his unit.

Korean civilians appeared to welcome CCF. Korean farmer provided PW unit with shelter and gave salted vegetables and prepared meals.

For the Commanding Officer:

ORGANIZATION OF DEFENSE BY COMPANY Sketch - 1

ORGANIZATION OF DEFENSE BY BATTALION Sketch - 2