Report, Joint Daily Situation Report Number 540

1 Washington, D. C. October 1952 JOINT SITREP NO. 540 (Maps attached) From 0700/2 Oct (EST) to 0700/6 Oct (EST) From 2100/2 Oct (Korea) to 2100/6 Oct (Korea) 1. Weather: Weather for the period 2 through 5 October ranged from nonoperational to good. The period opened with heavy rain and nonoperational conditions but became operational on the second day and remained good for the rest of the period. (FEAF) (SECRET) 2. Enemy Situation: Heavy fighting continued over positions on HILL 748, 13 miles southeast of KUMSONG, in the central sector. Enemy in undetermined strength resisted a UN battalion-strength attack throughout the night 1-2 October in heavy fighting, including hand-to-hand combat. The UN attack was temporarily halted to per- mit a heavy mortar and artillery barrage to be placed on the enemy mid-day 2 October, and the attack was then resumed, forcing the enemy to withdraw by early evening, 2 October. Enemy counterattacks of platoon and undetermined strength, with heavy mortar and artillery fire support, were repulsed, and action ceased in the early morning of 3 October, except for minor probing attacks against UN elements on HILL 748 and in positions three miles to the southeast. In the west sector, enemy activity flared in the 1st Marine Division sector where, during the night 1-2 October, a total of seven probing attacks up to battalion strength were launched against UN positions, with engagements up to one hour's duration. An OP position six miles south of PANMUNJOM was seized by the enemy but was regained the following day by UN company-strength counterattack. About three miles south of PANMUNJOM, on 3 October, enemy attacks to two- company strength seized a UN OP. Heavy fighting continued in this area through- out the remainder of the period, with the enemy successfully resisting UN counter- attacks to reestablish the OP. In the morning of 5 October, UN elements in company strength reached the objective but were forced to withdraw under a com- pany-strength enemy attack supported by heavy mortar and artillery fire. Four miles east=northeast of PANMUNJOM, on HILL 122, a series of enemy attacks of undetermined strength were repulsed by UN elements during the period. OP positions 10 miles northeast of PANMUNJOM were the scene of seesaw fighting, involving enemy and UN groups to company strength, throughout the period, with action continuing as the period closed and possession of one outpost still in question. DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 DOD Directive 5100.30, June 18, 1979 HU 3/7/81 By NLT NARS, Date