Report, Joint Daily Situation Report Number 541

DECLASSIFIED 1 E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 DOD Directive 5100.30, June 18, 1979 Washington, D. C. 3/7/81 JOINT SITREP NO. 541 9 October 1952 By NLT NV NARS, Date (Maps attached) From 0700/6 Oct (EST) to 0700/9 Oct (EST) From 2100/6 Oct (Korea) to 2100/9 Oct (Korea) 1. Weather: Weather throughout the per iod 6-9 October was operational with high scattered clouds and only occasional rain. (FEAF) (SECRET) 2. Enemy Situation: Enemy activity increased sharply early in the period, reaching the heaviest intensity across a broad sector of the front since July of 1951. During the morning of 6 October, enemy elements, holding a recently seized OP position 10 miles north- east of PANMUNJOM, repulsed a company-size UN attack, employing heavy mortar and artillery fire. During the early hours of darkness of the night 6-7 October, the enemy launched a series of more than 50 attacks against approximately 40 UN positions across the west and central fronts from a point about 6 miles south of PANMUNJOM in the 1st US Marine Division sector to a point about 4 miles east of the PUKHAN River in the 3d ROK Division sector. The attacks, supported by heavy concentrations of mortar and artillery fire, varied from squad to regiment in strength, with one or more attacks in each division sector. The heaviest action occurred in the 1st US Marine Division sector, with 10 attacks up to battalion strength; in the 1st ROK Division sector, with 14 attacks up to two-company strength; and in the Capitol ROK Division sector, with 10 attacks up to two-company strength. The heaviest fighting developed during the early morning of 7 October and continued throughout the period, in the 2d US and 9th ROK Division sectors northwest of CHORWON where enemy attacks initially in company and two-company strength were reinforced to regimental strength. During the night 6-7 October, enemy forces seized OP positions six miles south and eight miles northeast of PANMUNJOM, eight miles northwest of YONCHON, ndeight miles west of CHORWON, and secured a foothold on Finger Ridge, six miles southeast of KUMSONG. MLR positions on Hill 395 (four miles north-northwest of CHORWON, 9th ROK Div sector) were temporarily penetrated on 7 October. Heavy fighting continued throughout the period, with numerous enemy attacks of company, two-company, and battalion strength during the night 7-8 and 8-9 October, with the heaviest fighting concentrated in the area northwest of CHORWON (2d US and 9th ROK Division sectors) and in the 1st Marine Division sector, in the west, and in the 6th and Capitol ROK Divisions sectors, in the center. During the night 7-8 October, heavy fighting developed in 7th ROK Division sector (west of the YANGU/MARWHI Road, in the X US Corps sector) and continued through the remainder of the period, with enemy elements repulsing a number of UN efforts to regain an OP position seized by the enemy. In the CHORWON area, heavy fighting continued over MLR positions on Hill 395 with enemy and UN forces in battalion and regimental strength engaged in a see-saw battle for the crest of the hill. In the central sector, 1/2 to 3 miles southeast of KUMSONG, three enemy attacks of platoon to company strength (all repulsed by UN forces) were supported by four tanks in each case, and in the