ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2770 27 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1273) 30 November 1950
| PW NAME: | TSAO, TE-HO (曹德和) (Chinese) |
| RANK & DUTY: | Rifleman |
| ORGANIZATION: | Chinese Peoples’ Liberation Army, 66th Army, 196th Div, 586th Regt, 1st Bn, 2nd Co, 2nd Plat, 5th Sqd. (中國人民解放軍 66軍 196師 586團 1營 2連 2排 5班) |
| EDUCATION: | 1½ year |
| AGE: | 21 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | HOPEI SHENG, TING-HSIEN, SANHUI CHAI-TSUN (河北省 定縣 三面 寒村) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 251200 I Nov 50 at SONGCHON DONG (松川洞) |
| INTERROGATOR: | H.N. |
PW appears to be in good physical condition at the time of interrogation. He spoke freely to all questions asked.
Information seems fairly reliable.
PW volunteered into the CNA 7th Division during May 48 at SHANSI-SHENG, TAIYUAN FU (山西省 太原府). Captured by CCF 66th Army during Apr 49 and was immediately assigned to the 66th Army at TAIYUAN FU.
66th Army departed TAIYUAN FU and arrived at TIENTSIN (天津) during Jun 49. 66th Army was engaged in training at TIENTSIN until 22 Oct 50. 22 Oct 50, the 586th Regiment departed TIENTSIN and travelled by train to ANTUNG, arriving at ANTUNG on 26 Oct 50.
27 Oct 50, the entire 196th Division, 66th Army assembled at ANTUNG and entered KOREA.
The 196th Division marched during the night of 27 Oct 50 and arrived at CHOLSAN (XE 4303) during the morning of 28 Oct 50.
1 Nov 50, the 196th Division departed CHOLSAN and marched toward KUSONG (XE 9328), arriving on a mountain near KUSONG 3 Nov 50. After staying in the mountains near KUSONG for two days (to avoid air attacks), the 586th Regt, 196th Division departed and marched to SONCHON (XE 5606), arriving at SONCHON at 6 Nov 50. The 586th Regiment departed SONCHON 8 Nov 50 and marched to NAMSI DONG (XE 3616), arriving at NAMSI DONG 10 Nov 50. At NAMSI DONG, the 586th Regiment dug fox holes to avoid detection from the air.
24 Nov 50, the entire 586th Regiment departed NAMSI DONG and marched Southeastward.
PW deserted from his unit during the night of 24 Nov 50 and surrendered to a ROK unit at SONGCHON (松川洞) on 251200 I Nov 50.
PW met troops of divisions (other than the 196th Div) of 66th Army in KOREA and they told him that the entire 66th Army came to KOREA.
The 66th Army was composed of the 196th, 197th, and 198th Rifle Divisions.
196th Division was composed of 586th, 587th, and 588th Rifle Regiments and 1 Artillery Battalion.
197th Division was composed of the 589th, 590th, and 591st Rifle Regts.
198th Division was composed of the 592nd, 593rd, and 594th Rifle Regts.
586th Rifle Regiment was composed of 3 Rifle Bns, 1 Guard Co (警團連), 1 Mortar Co, and 1 Special Duty Company (特務連).
Each Rifle Bn was composed of 3 Rifle companies and 1 HW company.
| Rifle Company | |
| A. Personnel: | 150 |
| B. Equipment & ammo: | |
| LMGs | 9 (700 rds ea) |
| 60 mm Mortars | 3 (20 rds ea) |
| M38 Rifles | 70 (140 rds ea) |
| Hand Grenades | 5 per man |
| Machine Pistols | 2 |
| Heavy Weapons Company | |
| A. Personnel: | 150 |
| B. Equipment & ammo: | |
| HMGs | 6 (rds unk) |
| 82 mm Mortars | 4 (rds unk) |
| Model 38 Rifles | 13 (rds unk) |
| Hand Grenades | Unknown |
| Guard Company | |
| A. Personnel: | 120 to 130 |
| B. Equipment & ammo: | |
| M 38 Rifles | Unknown |
| LMGs | 9 |
| 60 mm Mortars | 3 |
| Mortar Company (of Rifle Regiment) | |
| A. Personnel: | 120 to 130 |
| B. Equipment & ammo: | |
| 82 mm Mortars | 6 |
| M 38 Rifles | 12 |
| Special Duty Company (of Rifle Regiment) Signal Platoon: | |
| A. Personnel: | 34 |
| B. Equipment & ammo: | |
| M 38 Rifles | 34 |
| Hand Grenades | 5 per man |
| REMARK: | No signal equipment with this unit. EM were used as runners. |
| Telephone Platoon: | |
| A. Personnel: | 34 |
| B. Equipment & ammo: | |
| Field Telephones | 8 |
| Hand Grenade | 5 per man |
| REMARK: | Telephones were distributed as follows during operation: 3 with Regt Hq, 1 with each Rifle Bn (of Regt), 1 with Telephone Platoon, and 1 spare. |
| Artillery Battalion (of Rifle Div) | |
| A. Personnel: | |
| B. Equipment & Ammo: | original |
| Mountain Gun (size unk) | 9 |
| M 38 Rifle | Unknown |
| Horses | 45 |
| 196th Division | |
| A. Personnel: | Approx 9,900 |
| 66th Army | |
| A. Personnel: | Approx (total) 30,000 |
PW observed the above equipment with the units in KOREA.
PW believes that the 66th Army has not entered combat in KOREA as of 24 Nov 50.
One Korean interpreter joined the PW’s Company after crossing the YALU River.
PW’s unit was under the same chain of command after crossing the YALU River.
PW’s unit was never integrated into Korean unit.
PW heard of an Artillery Regiment with the 66th Army but he never saw the unit before crossing or after crossing the YALU River.
On 24 Nov 50, the 586th Regiment departed NAMSI DONG (XE 3616) and was marching southeastward. No other details.
HUANG, YING (黃英), Ass’t Regimental Commander,
586th Regt, 196th Div, 66th Army.
TSU, TSUNG BOU, Commander, 1st Bn, 586th Regt, 196th Div, 66th Army.
No Russians were seen with the PW’s Unit.
PW did not see any armored vehicles after crossing the YALU River.
PW heard, while in CHINA, that a Tank Regiment is with the CCF but he had never seen any tanks.
Food was believed to have been procured locally after the 4 day food supply brought with the unit from CHINA was exhausted. Troops ate two meals a day. Meals usually consisted of millet and kaoliang.
The 196th Division was issued ammo at TIENTSIN (天津) o/a 22 Oct 50. Received no ammo after entering KOREA.
Morale of former CNA troops (approx 50%) with the 586th Regt, 196th Div, 66th Army, was very low because they did not want to fight. Morale of the other troops with 586th Regiment ranged from fair to high. PW saw a UN leaflet once. He claims that he deserted the unit because he was influenced by the leaflets. PW stated he cannot judge the reaction of other troops of 586th Regiment in regard to UN leaflets because they are afraid to discuss such matters.
Telephone was used for communication at division, regiment, and battalion. Lower echelons used messengers.
PW never received any amphibious training.
At TIENTSIN (天津), PW, a rifleman, received 7,000 Yuan per month. Squad leader was also paid 7,000 Yuan per month.
Troops were told that they must fight and help North KOREA, because in this way, we are protecting our own country.
PW was wearing the CCF winter uniform which was issued at ANTUNG o/a 26 Oct 50.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
