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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3782　3 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (EXTRACT of ADVATIS SPECIAL REPORT 028)　21 February 1951

Cooperative and fairly observant. Judgment of distances good. Reliability - Good.

NK, 6th Div, 15th Regt, 120mm Mortar Battery.

Organization breakdown of NKA, 6th Div, 15th Regt, attached 120mm Mortar Battery:

Equipment in Battery:

6 x 120mm M-1945 Mortars (Russian) to Battery

2 x 120mm M-1945 Mortars (Russian) to Plat

1 x 120mm M-1945 Mortars (Russian) to Squad

14 M-1938/30 Rifles (Russian) to Plat

9 M-1938/30 Rifles (Russian) to Command Squad

5 TT TOKAREV Russian made Pistols.

4 Russian Binoculars

Russian Spotter

2 Russian Compass

5 Russian Direction Finder

Riflemen had 20 rd. Mortar squad had 20 rounds of 120mm Mortar ammunition. 6 Russian trucks.

Total of 63 men (5 off and 58 EM) as of Sept 50.

All men of this unit were trained at SINUIJU(新義州) for about 5 months, from Jul 49 to Feb 50 and 4 months at CHAERYONG(載寧) from Feb 50 - Jun 50.

15th Regt, 120mm Mortar battery participated in battle at KUMCH’ON(金川) and MASAN(馬山) from 25 Jun 50 to Sep 50.

15 were killed and 5 injured in this battery. Approx 50% by counter battery fire, 30% by auto accidents and 20% by air strikes.

The US counter battery fire was very accurate and effective.

The men greatly feared air attacks.

No defense measures were taken. The men simply hid until the air attack was over.

120mm M-1943 Mortars. (Russian)

The mortars were mounted on a mortar carriage and pulled by truck.

5,700m (Maximum range). Fixed ammunition. 6 fins on the rear of the shell.

Impact fuse. Similar to KTM-1 and GVM-2, Russian fuses.

Six 120mm mortars per battery.

40 rounds of ammunition was carried by the battery.

Ammunition was drawn from the Regt ammo supply point.

PW battery had plenty of ammunition.

Mortars were fired only at 1 minute intervals.

This battery had no armor piercing shells.

Russian made 3 ton (sic) trucks were used to transport ammunition.

2nd class (road width, 5m) and 3rd class (road width, 3.5m) dirt roads were mainly used to transport ammunition. The 1st class roads were not used because of tactical reasons.

Approx 150 rounds of mortar ammunition were expended daily.

The guns were usually placed along the hilly terrain among the trees. They were placed in a single line.

Natural vegetation was used for camouflage.

A 1m deep slit trench was dug by each man.

The mortars in this battery were not dug in.

Mortars were used for the most part in direct support.

Used normally as offensive weapon.

Six 120mm mortars (one battery) to one infantry Bn.

The infantry commander commanded when used as an infantry artillery team.

UNA F-31 Russian telephones. Field telephone was the most reliable communication device in the unit.

Russian binoculars were used. 2 observed in each battery. Communication by field telephone to battery. There were two observers, equipped with spotters and binocular, in a battery and they controlled the fire of their respective battery only when assigned separate firing mission. On mass fire, one mortar of 1st platoon, fired the rounds and was adjusted by 2 observers. (1 Officer & 1 EM). After they had registered the other platoons were notified the range and direction by telephone from 2 observers and then remaining mortars were fired.

Battery commander maintains liaison with the infantry.

Just before they fire a gun (sic).

One 120mm mortar lost in battle.

For the Commanding Officer: