Report, Joint Daily Situation Report Number 536

1 DECLASSIFIED 3-402 Washington, D. C. DOD Directive E.O. 12065, 5100.30, Sec. June Date 18, 317181 1979 intermation 22 September 1952 JOINT SITREP NO. 536 H (Maps attached) By NLT From 0700/18 Sep (EDT) to 0700/22 Sep (EDT) From 2100/18 Sep (Korea) to 2100/22 Sep (Korea) 1. Weather: Weather for the period 18-21 ranged from non-operational to marginal to operational. On the last three days of the period, there was much bad weather, and usual the early part of each of these days was marginal to non-operational with heavy rain and low overcast over most of the area. (FEAF) (SECRET) 2. Enemy Situation: Enemy activity continued heavy in the central sector during the first two days of the period, with attacks to two-company strength against elements of the Capitol ROK Division holding positions on FINGER RIDGE, six miles southeast of KUMSONG. In the west sector, during the night 18-19 September, action flared with enemy attacks to battalion size against 2d US Division positions on OLD BALDY, about eight miles west of CHORWON, and an attack by two enemy companies against KELLY HILL, an OP position of the 3d US Division in the vicinity of OTAN (west of YONCHON). Enemy attacks, supported by heavy mortar and artillery fire, and in the 2nd US Division sector by tank and recoilless weapons fire, forced elements to withdraw from OP positions on OLD BALDY in the morning of 19 September, and isolated UN troops on KELLY HILL. Heavy fighting continued over OLD BALDY through 20 and 21 September with enemy elements in undetermined strength stubborn ly resisting UN efforts to regain the positions. By mid-day 21 September UN ele- ments overcame enemy resistance and occupied positions on OLD BALDY, forcing the enemy to withdraw. In the 3d US Division sector, during the last two days, enemy forces stubbornly resisted UN efforts to regain OP positions on KELLY HILL, employing heavy mortar and artillery fire and counterattacking in up to two-com- pany strength. In the evening of 19 September and again in the early morning of 20 September, enemy up to two-company strength, supported in each instance by 3 tanks or armored vehicles, attacked OP positions of the 1st Marine Division, 4 miles south of PANMUNJOM. The enemy withdrew from the first attack after a seven hour and ten minute engagement; UN elements withdrew after the second attack, but positions were reoccupied by a UN counterattack. Elsewhere across the front, sporadic probing attacks up to platoon strength were reported with generally brief engagements. Probing activities increased as the period closed, especially in the east-central (X US Corps) sector. The total of enemy mortar and artillery fire for the four-day period is 49, 164 rounds, of which 21, 224 rounds fell in the II ROK Corps sector (over 11, 400 rounds on 19 September) and 19,521 rounds fell in the I US Corps sector. Sightings of enemy vehicle traffic totalled 10, 723, of which 7, 140 were southbound. (FECOM) (SECRET)