ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2844 12 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS Special Report - 011) 7 January 1951
| PW NAME: | TAI, Hwa I (帶華益) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63NK700718 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| UNIT: | 4th Field Army, 42nd Army, 124th Div, 371st Regt, 2nd Bn, 4th Co, Arty Plat, 1st Sqd |
When the infantry artillery team is constituted, the senior officer commands the team. Infantry artillery team organized as an infantry company and an artillery platoon.
Each platoon had three 60 mm guns. The platoon leader is always with one of the three 60 mm mortars. No telephone communication; messengers were available. The platoon leader stood five feet behind the 60 mm mortar and gave distance of target to the messenger.
Each Bn has three 82 mm mortars and the Arty Bn of Regt has 16 assorted mountain guns, field guns, and howitzers.
When an order is received from the CO, the messenger reports to the #1 gun park; #1 gun receives the order and sends out a messenger to #2 gun; #2 gun crew applies same method. When the messenger returns from #3 gun to the #2 gun, the #2 gun messenger returns to #1 gun and CO messenger comes back to the Commander.
In the CCF unit, observers were employed for observation. No other method.
Every Arty platoon has an observation squad which consists of 4 observers who are with the infantry troops in the front line. When they observe enemy movement, an observer is dispatched to the rear to report the distance of target and fire control.
The assistant platoon leader acts as the observation squad leader and is always separate from the location of mortar emplacements. If he observes that the enemy will attack the gun position, the assistant platoon leader reports to the platoon leader. The platoon leader requests the movement of gun positions.
To adjust fire, every platoon uses four men observation squads. Although the battalion has approx 40 observers, the battalion uses only a part of them for each engagement.
From 200 meters distance to the commander of battery, the observer use telephones for communication. The distance between guns always set at 100 meters to 200 meters.
No phones used for battery liaison purpose.
When the observers communicate the distance of the enemy targets, the commander gives the signal for firing to the gun crews.
During the conduct of the battle, observers are sent to the infantry units to gather information of the enemy positions which is to the rear using telephone or runner.
No signal grenade had been used for the signal of mass fires of battery or battalion. A red flag is used during the day. When the red flag is displayed, it indicates “commence fire.” When the flag is down, it means “cease fire.” At night, a messenger is used to convey the above.
Every commander of company and battalion has messengers as liaison representatives. CO of company appoints messenger and gives orders and instructions.
When the guns were last calibrated, the gunners checked the guns and changed useless parts for new ones.
PW saw 20 Russian made 76 mm M-1902/30 guns, 6x76 mm M-1942 guns in the gun repair shop of the 4th Field Army, 42nd Army Hq at HARBIN, located 1 mile SW of HARBIN RR Station on 5 Oct 50. PW identified them as the ones used in combat in North KOREA.
PW’s unit did not have all the required equipment and instruments. 36 men in the platoon. The platoon leader had a sub-machine gun, and the assistant platoon leader had a sub-machine gun and four hand grenades.
Approx 40 messengers are under Arty Bn control and their duty is to convey the orders given by the Bn commander. Arty Btry has 4 messengers. Every mortar or arty plat has 4 observers to check the accuracy of their firing on enemy targets. An infantry platoon consists of two infantry squads, a 60 mm mortar squad and a reserve squad. The reserve squad aids the infantry squad but always protects the 60 mm squads. The infantry bn consists of three infantry companies and an arty company. Arty battery always gives close support to the infantry companies, setting up its positions 100 meters from the infantry companies.
60 mm Mortar:
When the enemy troops approach within 300 meters distance, in a column formation, 60 mm will be set at a 75° angle position and gradually lowered to that angle capable of achieving best results on the targets. The effective bursting radius is 50 meter circle.
When the enemy troops approach from 300 meters away in a line formation, 60 mm mortar will be set at a 75° angle and will hit the center of the formation, then hit the left flank and right flank.
Smoke shells used against enemy targets when the infantry men move forward. The effective area is 13 meter circle.
The air burst shell will be used against enemy who are in defilade or on the top floor of a high building. Mortars will be set at an 80° angle to produce air bursts.
Arty Equipment:
In the CCF Arty Unit, from Battery Commander up to Bn Commander, carry binoculars and telephone communication is employed between Bn Hq and Arty Co gun positions in the field. Every arty battery has one telephone.
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
