ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1092 16 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0755) 13 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KIM, Chong Sop (金鐘燮) (김종섭) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 2576 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 19 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 15th Div, 45th Regt, 3rd Bn, 9th Co, 2nd Plt, 1st Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yesars) |
| OCCUPATION: | Sawmill Worker |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | IMKODONG (10 km N of YONGCH’ON) by ROK Army |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 7 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, KILJU-Gun, YANGSA-Myon, CH’UNHUNG-Ni (咸鏡北道 吉州郡 暘社面 春興里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | MORI (DAFC - FEAF) |
PW seemed to be in good physical condition. PW stated that he lived all by himself as his parents both died prior to 15 Aug 45. He was requested to join the MINCHONG (Communist Youth Organization) Jul 48. This organization carried out three hour training or lectures twice a week but PW stated that he never attended any of these training courses as he always worked in the hills.
While occupying a low hill near INKODONG (10 km N of YONGCH’ON) 5 Sep 50, with the 15th Div, 45th Regt, 3rd Bn, 9th Co, 2nd Plt, (60 men) they were driven back by ROK Army artillery and small arm fire. During this fight, he was wounded by shell fragment and was left behind by his platoon when they retreated, PW hid in this hill for 2 days but was forced to come down from hill due to hunger. He was captured by ROK troops 7 Sep 50.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
Inducted in NKPA at NAJIN (羅津) 6 Mar 50. Received 2 month training with 15th Div, 45th Rest, Mortar Co.
Departed NAJIN for CH'ORWON (鐵原) by train. Arrived CH’ORWON on 25 Jun 50. Departed for KUMHWA on same day by train. Arrived KUMHWA on 25 Jun 50, and departed for CH’UNCH’ON (春川) the following day, 25 Jun 50, by truck.
Departed CH’UNCH’ON 30 Jun 50, by truck for CHECH’ON (堤川) where 15th Div engaged ROK units. No casualties known to PW.
Moved by truck through UISONG (義城), KUMCH’ON(金泉), KUNWI (軍威), UIHUNG (義興) and arrived at P’ALGONG-SAN (八公山) located just W of SINYONG (新甬) and NW of YONGCH’ON, 23 Aug 50. On this mountain PW’s unit, 15th Div 45th Regt, Mortar Co, engaged ROK units for 6 days. After the engagement PW was transferred to the 15th Div, 45th Regt, 3rd Bn, 9th Co, 2nd Plt, 1st Sqd.
PW departed this mountain 4 Sep 50, and arrived at INKODONG (10 km N of YONGCH’ON) 5 Sep 50. 60 members of the 2m Plt. occupied a low hill but was soon shelled by ROK artillery and left behind, PW because of a wound received in the back, when his unit retreated. PW hid in this hill for 2 days but was captured when he came down for food.
Unit Organization and Strength:
Original organization and strength: The 15th Div consisted of the 43rd, 44th, 45th Regt, 15th Div Arty Regt and an engineer Regt. Approx 9,000 men.
The 45th Regt Consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Bns, Communication Co, Transportation Co, 120-mm Mortar Co, 76-mm. Howitzer Btry 14.5-mm PTRS-41 AT Rifle Co, and a 45-mm Mortar Co, Approx 3,000 men.
The 120-mm Mortar Co had 6 x 120-mm Mortars and 6 x trucks. Approx 60 men in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Plt.
Last composition of unit: Numbers of the units were changed when a large number of men were believed to be taken prisoner by enemy forces. The 43rd and 44th Regt changed designation. At present number of men in the 15th Div is 4,000 although they received replacement from time to time.
Equipment:
15th Div Arty Regt: PW observed 4 x 122-mm M 1910/30 Howitzer and 6 x 76-mm M1942 Gun in Aug 50, while in vicinity of P'ALGONG-SAN located just W of SINNYONG and NW of YONGCH’ON.
120-mm Mortar Co: 6 x 120-mm M1943 Mortar, 6 x trucks, 4 x 120-mm M1943 Mortar and no trucks at present. 125 rounds of ammunition as of 3 Sep 50.
| 76-mm Howitzer Co: | 3 TAM Field Telephone, |
| 6 x 76-mm M1973 Howitzer authorized | |
| 4 x 76-mm M1943 Howitzer at present |
| 45-mm AT Gun Co: | 6 x 45-mm M1942 AT Gun authorized. |
| 3 x 45-mm M1942 AT Gun remaining. |
| 45th Regt: | 24 x 82-mm M1937 Mortar, (6 per inf battalion) |
| 6 x 45-mm AT Gun (2 per inf battalion) | |
| 3 x 82-mm M1937 Mortar remaining and unknown number of 45-mm AT Gun. |
| 14.5-mm PTRS AT RIfle Co: | 20 x 14.5-mm PTRS AT Rifle. Most all destroyed. |
The 120-mm M1943 Mortar had maximum range of 5,700 meters and all had mfg date stamped as 1950.
The 76-mm M1943 Howitzer had maximum range of 8,000 meters. Some 76-mm Howitzer, 76-mm Gun, and 45-mm AT Gun had 1950 as year of manufacture.
PW observed 6 x T-34/85 type tanks on W side of P’ALGONG-SAN in mid Aug 50.
Unit History:
The 15th Div experienced their first major battle at P’ALGONG-SAN and lost approx 2/3 of their men. They were surrounded by ROK units when they came down from the above hills and were attacked by machine gun fire and 60-mm guns.
Dispositions:
The 15th Div retreated toward YONGCH’ON on 5 Sep 50.
The 2 trucks, which remained undamaged in the 120-mm Mortar Co, were used to transport the mortar shells from an ammunition dump but the trucks were destroyed during the battle of P’ALGONG-SAN and PW stated that the 125 rounds of ammunition had no way of being hauled when they retreated.
Communication:
Road - Road over which PW travelled by truck was in fair condition.
Bridges - All road bridges were destroyed but detours were made. Sand bags were utilized in shallow parts of the river and made invisible from the air by being just below water level.
Telephone or Telegraph - TAM field telephone were used in the 120-mm Mortar Co to contact forward observation post. One telephone was used and two were kept in reserve.
Intentions:
Units mission was to capture YONGCH’ON.
Personalities:
45th Regt CO: LEE Ch’ol Yong (리철용) Lt Col.
2nd Plt, 120-mm Mortar Co - SO, Chu K’il (서주길) Jr Lt Entered NKPA in 1948.
PW observed 1 Russian Army Major (name unknown) who was Military Advisor of the 15th Div, at NAJIN (羅津) in Mar 50.
Morale and Propaganda:
Morale of 80% of the 15th Div men who had less than 3 months training was low, but the veterans, 20% of Div personnel, was quite high. Cause of the low morale were lack of training, food, fatigue, long marches, and the new soldiers were not used to military field life. The new soldiers thought that this war could not be won with such inexperienced soldiers as themselves. The platoon leader always told their men that the war would end in a few days with the victory of the NKPA but PW stated the troops were afraid that UN Forces would use the A-bomb before such an offensive could be accomplished,
Propaganda:
The NK would win the war in less than 4 days as the ROK Army only occupied a small area between T’AEGU am PUSAN. Sygman RHEE, the president of South KOREA. has already escaped to JAPAN. The US and United Nations are interfering with a civil war in KOREA. And it is the duty of the NKPA to free the people of South KOREA.
Leaflets:
PW observed several leaflets dropped by US aircraft. The leaflets stated that if they surrendered they will be treated according to regulations as set forth by Geneva Convention but PW and troops were told by their platoon leader that this is not true. They would be killed on sight. The soldiers were inclined to believe their platoon leaders. PW stated that he also believed his platoon leader and it is almost impossible to have the NK troops believe these leaflets while the platoon leaders continue to closely control their men.
4. GENERAL:Recommend further interrogation on mortars and field telephones.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
