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3.402 18th 17181 1 SEC. ing Washington, D. C. E.O. NARS, 31 December 1952 Directive DOD JOINT SITREP NO. 565 (Maps attached) From 0700/29 Dec (EST) to 0700/31 Dec (EST) From 2100/29 Dec (Korea) to 2100/31 Dec (Korea) 1. Weather: The period opened with non-operational conditions. There were fre- quent snow showers and visibility was restricted by fog, smoke and haze. The next day had high broken-cloud cover and marginal flying conditions. Battle line temperatures ranged from a maximum of 39° to a minimum of 150 F. (FEAF) (SECRET) 2. Enemy Situation: Enemy probing activity increased somewhat during this period. In the western sector, a number of enemy probes were made against OP posi- tions northwest of YONCHON, with enemy groups of up to company-strength being engaged. In one instance, UN elements were forced to withdraw but later reoccupied the OP without encountering the enemy. One attack in the early morning of 31 December, starting at two squad-strength was later reinforced to company-strength and action is reported continuing. About 12 miles west-southwest of CHORWON, an attack by a reinforced company forced UN elements to withdraw from an OP position; the enemy followed and engaged MLR positions for 45 minutes, In the west-central sector, sporadic probes of from squad-to company-strength were made against OP positions of the 9th ROK Division in the SNIPER RIDGE/ROCKY POINT area, with engagements of up to one hour's duration. All attacks were re- pulsed. In the eastern sector, on 29 December, two enemy platoons at- tacked an OP position of the 5th ROK Division, about seven miles south of KOSONG. The attack was repulsed after one hour. A number of minor probing attacks occurred in the area west and northwest of KAJON. Else- where across the front, activity was limited to minor patrol clashes, Hostile mortar and artillery fire totalled about 10, 400 rounds, of which approximately 2, 600 rounds fell in IX US Corps sector and about 2, 400 rounds in the I US Corps sector. Sightings of enemy vehicle traffic totalled 904, of which 575 were southbound, with sightings for the night of 29-30 December, negative, owing to nonoperational weather, (FECOM) (SECRET)