Extracted text

OCR Page 1 of 11
3.407 10, THE PRESIDENT SEC. Lung 2 Washington, D. C. Date, 2 January 1951 JOINT DAILY SITREP NO. 166 (maps attached) DOD 1 From 0700/29 (EST) to 0700/02 (EST) From 2100/29 (Korea) to 2100/02 (Korea) 1. Situation in Brief: a. On 30 December, it was reported that the situation in the 9th ROK Division sector had been obscure on 28 December, as each of the Regiments were in contact with sizeable enemy forces and as heavy refugee traffic moving both north and southwest behind 9th ROK Division positions added to the confusion. By 1700/29 (KT), a portion of the previously lost positions had been retaken; however, a number of large enemy groups re- mained behind friendly lines. The 2d U.S. Infantry Division was ordered to the Wonju-Hongchon area to block enemy movement to the southeast and to counterattack any hostile penetrations. Elements of the Capitol ROK Division were engaged with approximately 2,000 enemy troops 10 miles northwest of Kangnung, and the 1st ROK Cavalry Regiment attacked west toward Hachijon at 0600/29 (KT) to join elements of the 9th ROK Division. The 3d ROK Division advanced up to 3,000 yards in the Oron area without encountering hostile opposition. Elsewhere along the U.N. front, activity was confined to light probing attacks and patrol skirmishes. Task Force 77 planes flew 135 sorties on 29 December near the 38th parallel, burning villages, attacking bridges and railroads, and destroying troops. Task Group 96.8 planes flew 48 sorties, most of which were over U.S. Eighth Army lines. There was no change in the disposition of Naval vessels. U.N. aircraft under FEAF control flew 721 sorties. (FECOM) (SECRET) b. On 31 December, it was reported that the hostile activity in the Yongpo area for the previous several days had developed into a large- scale infiltration southwestward toward the Hongchon-Wonju corridor. Air and ground observers reported that large enemy groups and hundreds of refugees were moving south and southwest along the axis of penetration. A PW stated that the 2d and 12th North Korean Divisions, with an aggregate strength of 8,000, were assigned the mission of infiltrating U.N. lines toward Wonju to conduct guerrilla operations. Enemy roadblocks were reported between Hongchon and Hoengsong, but elements of the 23d ROK Regiment moving south from Hongchon, and elements of the 2d U.S. Infantry Division moving north from Wonju, were attempting to eliminate these roadblocks. A regiment of the 9th ROK Division was reported in contact with an equal size enemy unit 5 miles southwest of Yongpo. On the remainder of the front, action was limited to 3 scattered patrol clashes. However, air reports in- dicated a marked increase in hostile activity opposite the 1st and 6th ROK