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1 Washington, D. C. 15 December 1952 JOINT SITREP NO. 560 (Maps attached) From 0700/11 Dec (EST) to 0700/15 Dec (EST) From 2100/11 Dec (Korea) to 2100/15 Dec (Korea) 1. Weather: Weather for the period ranged from non-operational to operational with periods of rain, snow, and fog. On all days, the daylight period was usually good, with heavy overcasts and non-operational periods at night. Temperatures in the battle area ranged from a minimum of 15° to a maximum of 40° F. (FEAF) (SECRET) 2. Enemy Situation: Heavy fighting occurred in the west sector, northwest of YONCHON, and in the west-central sector, northeast of KUMHWA. Elsewhere across the front, activity was limited to few minor probes and scattered, generally brief patrol clashes. In the area eight miles northwest of YONCHON, enemy forces of up to battalion=strength continued heavy attacks to seize OP posi- tions on BIG and LITTLE NORI and stubbornly resisted UN counterattacks in engagements up to six hours' duration. Activity diminished in this sector as the period closed, with enemy elements holding positions on BIG NORI, but having been forced to withdraw from LITTLE NORI, which remains in UN possession. In the SNIPER RIDGE-ROCKY POINT area, northeast of KUMH WA, sporadic small-scale probing attacks continued through the first and second days of the period. On the third and fourth days, enemy activity in- creased with a Series of attacks of up to company strength resulting in intense fighting, with engagements of up to five and one-half hours' duration. One company=strength attack just west of SNIPER RIDGE in the early morning of 15 December made a slight penetration of UN OF positions forcing UN ele- ments to withdraw after one and one-half hours of heavy fighting; UN elements counterattacked and continued the engagement and reoccupied the position four hours later. All the other attacks in this area were repulsed. Hostile mortar and artillery fire for the period totalled approximately 46, 400 rounds, of which over 32, 500 rounds fell in the west sector, approximately 27, 700 rounds in the 1st ROK Division sector in connection with the heavy fighting over the NORI outposts. Sightings of enemy vehicle traffic totalled 15, 496, of which 10, 051 were southbound. G2, D/A comment: This relatively high DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 DOD Directive 5100.30, June 18, 1979 By NLT- WC NARS, Date 317181