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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3777　3 March 1951

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

Fairly cooperative, but not too observant.

Reliability - fair.

75th Inf Regiment, 120mm Mortar Battery, 3rd Platoon.

There were 60 men in 120mm Mortar Battery (as of 8 Oct 50)

All men of the 75th Regiment (10,000) (sic) were trained at HAMHUNG (成與) for approx 3 months, from 10 Jul 50 to 20 Sep 50. Officers and the NCO’s were trained together.

PW unit was engaged at CHONGOK (金合) for approx 2 hours 8 Oct 50.

Approx 10 men were injured and 8 killed in the PW Unit (120mm Mortar Battery), by counter-battery fire.

6 x 120mm Mortars of PW 120mm Mortar Battery were destroyed by counter-battery fire.

Men greatly feared air attacks especially by fighter planes. When attacked by air, men would hide in the shade of a tree and remain there until the aircraft departed area.

120mm mortars (Russian made). Manufactured in Russia. This model was similar to the 120mm M1943 mortar.

Mortar was loaded on a mortar carriage (Tubular type) and was pulled by a truck.

Maximum range of 120mm mortar was 8,000m (sic). Canister and fragmentation shells were used.

There were 6 x 120mm mortars to battery.

Approx 500 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition were carried by each mortar battery. Ammunition was drawn from the 75th Regiment ammo supply depot. Ammunition was insufficient. Armor piercing shells were not available. Russian trucks were used to transport ammunition. Regular dirt roads were used to transport ammunition to the battery. Approx 30 rounds of ammunition was expended each day.

Pieces were in a signal line. Mortars were placed about 10m apart.

Natural vegetation used to camouflage the mortars.

Slit trenches were dug by each gun crew as a part of the organization of the position area. Guns were dug in to a depth of about 2m (sic).

There were two 120mm mortars to a platoon. Battery normally employed its guns in general support. Guns were normally intended to be used as defensive weapons.

6 x 120mm mortars accompanied an infantry regiment and were further broken down so that 2 x 120mm mortars accompanied each infantry battalion.

When the infantry and artillery team is constituted, the artillery commander commands the team (sic).

Russian made field telephones were available for communication. Principal method of communication used by PW unit was field telephone.

Russian made binoculars, with a spotter and an observer were employed for observation. 2 observations were utilized to sercure the locations of position areas and command posts. 3 observers (per battery) were usually used to adjust fire. Field telephone was used by the observers to adjust fire and communicate with the battery.

This unit cannot mass its fire when the platoons are separated.

Battery commander usually maintained liaison with the infantry and received instructions from the regimental commander.

Guns were calibrated 20 Sep 50.

All six mortars were lost.

For the Commanding Officer: