Notes on Training From Korea

By Brigadier J M Rockingham - November 17, 2021

Reading Time: 8 min  

HQ 25 Cdn Inf Bde

In The Field

9 Jul 1951

NOTES ON TRAINING FROM KOREA

GENERAL

1. There is nothing new about tactics in Korea. All established principles will apply, but require different application from that in countries where the terrain is flatter and the roads more numerous. Basic training therefore needs no alteration, but emphasis must be placed on some parts.

PHYSICAL CONDITION

2. Infantry, engineers, and FOO parties must be in first class condition to be able to negotiate the hills, stand the climate and resist disease.

3. Troops should be trained to climb hills of 2000 to 3000 feet with a 50 pound load on their backs; hills which are very close to perpendicular. Leg and back muscles become very stiff if these climbs are attempted without proper training, and there is danger of affecting the climber’s heart. The essential state of training is to be able to arrive on top of such a hill in condition to fight immediately. Koreans climb extremely steep hills with their heels on the ground, thus using the upper leg muscles to do most of the lifting and pushing the body up. We have found this to be the best method, coupled with short steps. Troops must be trained not to drink water out of their bottles when climbing, as water becomes a very precious commodity on hill tops, and is rapidly “sweated out” if consumed when climbing.

WEAPON TRAINING

4. The Chinese in defence almost invariably allow our troops to come within 25 yards or less before opening fire on them.  Then the battle becomes a small arms fire fight and an assault. In the attack the enemy comes in great waves of considerable depth, showing disregard for human life. Both these conditions call for a high standard of weapon training in our troops. They must be trained to shoot at close quarters with great speed and accuracy, both standing and lying, uphill and downhill. Targets which appear from the ground at different ranges, and targets moving toward the firer should be used in training. The firer when lying must be taught to keep low and use cover, particularly when firing downhill. More time must be spent on thoroughly familiarising the soldier with his weapon and making him confident in it.

GRENADE TRAINING

5. Troops should be trained to throw grenades up and down hills, allowing for proper timing downhill. If the fuse is allowed to burn for one second before the grenade is thrown downhill, it usually bursts in the right place.

MORTAR AND ARTILLERY RANGING

6. A lot of practice should be done in ranging on sharp, razor-back ridges. Small corrections in ranges make large differences in the fall of shells and bombs. Smoke has to be used frequently to locate early rounds.

LOCATION OF ENEMY FIRE

7. The Chinese are expert at camouflage, and select their fire positions extremely well. Overhead cover of about 18 inches is standard, with the weapon placed well back in the bunker so that the attacker has difficulty in seeing either the flash or the smoke of the weapon.  For example, one of our leading sections was fired on at 100 yards the other day and no one in that platoon or company was able to locate the position over a period of 30 minutes in spite of the fact that the automatic weapon fired almost continuously for that period. Lt Col BAILEY (CO 2 RCHA) and I were in an excellent position to view the area about 600 yards distance, not under fire, equipped with good binoculars, and with the sun shining on the area, but quite unable to locate the weapon. Troops must have very much more training in this subject. I suggest that the training progress from locating a firer in the open, gradually to one concealed in a bunker such as described above.

MINE LIFTING

8. Sappers and pioneers must be trained in detecting and lifting wooden box mines which the Chinese use extensively.  The mine is roughly 10” x 24” x 8” and has a plastic fuse. Apart from a few nails it has no metal and must be detected by prodding. The enemy have recently improved their technique in minelaying and now frequently dig a hole in the side of an embanked road, and push the mine into the hole, thus not disturbing the road surface. They also lay them in tank tracks behind the tank in hopes that when the tank withdraws it will do so over the same track, or the following tanks will use them, confident they are mine-free.

DRIVING

9. Because of the few and poor roads, road discipline must be meticulously observed. Drivers must be trained to stay 50 yards apart to allow passage for jeeps and other vehicles with a road priority. Officers and drivers must also be trained never to remain halted on the travelled road surface if there is any possible way of getting off it. As a matter of interest, Commanding General, 25 US Inf Div fined a battery commander in his division $100.00 the other day for having 3 vehicles in a 50 yard road space.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE

10. The only way vehicles will stay together in this country is to have constant maintenance.  Every time one stops, the driver must go over his vehicle and tighten nuts, screws etc. Training should make this automatic.

SECTION AND INDIVIDUAL COOKING

11. Troops living on hill tops must be able to cook, or at least heat their C rations and make tea. Canned heat is used, and sometimes small smokeless fires can be lighted on reverse slopes. Tank crews with their small gasoline cookers are well equipped. I have recommended that these small gasoline cookers be provided on the basis of one per section. Training in this type of cooking should be emphasized.

STRETCHER BEARERS

12. Carrying down a steep hill on stretchers requires a lot of practice and should be included in training. Helicopters are often available to pick up seriously wounded, but wounded are often carried out.

CARE OF FEET

13. Since infantry are most of the time on their feet, foot care becomes even more important than ever. In wet weather, socks must be carried inside the clothing, around the waist to keep them dry. Soldiers must be trained to work in pairs, massaging each other’s feet in cold or wet weather.

DISEASE PREVENTION

14. Soldiers must be trained never to drink untreated water, and become accustomed to using sterilizing kits and the taste of treated water. They must also be trained to the use of anti-malarial drugs, insect repellents and mosquito nets.

AIR CO-OPERATION

15. Officers should be trained to co-ordinate airstrikes, artillery and mortar fire. The Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) has communications with the Mosquito (a forward aircraft which directs the fighters in close support) and the fighters themselves. Artillery and mortar fire has to be stopped to allow the Mosquito and fighters to get in. Sometimes the target has to be marked with smoke.

16. The above represent some of the more obvious and basic requirements for training troops to fight in this theatre or others where the terrain and climate are similar. Tactics and equipment have been and will be the subject of further notes.

J M ROCKINHAM

(J M ROCKINGHAM) BRIG

Comd 25 Cdn Inf Bde Gp