KOREAN ORDER OF BATTLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000300030004-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 8, 2003
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: June 24, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

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NSC BRIEFING 24 June 1954
FOREAN ORDER OF BATTLE
I. Chinese Communist - Ground: (Unit - An Army: Strength -
43,441 men)
A. On Front (Cease-Fire) - 8
(Present) - 4
B. In Korea (Cease-Fire) - 19
(Present) - 11
C. Total (present)- -- 660,000 (including support troops)
D. Eight of the nineteen Chinese armies present in
Korea before the armistice have left, and Chinese
strength has dropped from 872,000 (wartime peak)
to 660,000. Relief of an additional Chinese army
from the front may be imminent. Chinese with-
drawals commenced at or just before armistice;
have been gradual. No significance attributable
to timing of withdrawals, which were presumably
phased in accordance with North Korean readiness
to take over.
II. North Korean - Ground: (Unit - A Corps: Strength - 28,892 men)
A. On Front (Cease-Fire) - 2
(Present) - 4
B. In Korea (Cease-Fire) - 6
(Present) - 7-8
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C. Total (present) -- 356,000 (including support troops)
D. North Korean strength has increased from 282,000 at
the armistice to a present 356,000. Major components
include: 19-22 infantry divisions, 7 infantry bri-
gades, 7 armored regiments, 12 AAA regiments and 4
AAA battalions. Forces apparently put on line as
training completed.
III. ROIL - Ground: (Unit - A Division: Strength - 14,000 men)
A. On Front (Cease-Fire) - 10
(Present) - 13
B. In Korea (Cease-Fire) - 15
(Present) - 20
C. Total (present) -- 623,000 (including support troops
and one Marine Brigade).
D. ROK replaced UN units in less critical areas as
trained. However, note that ROK 21st Division
was put in critical Chorwon area on 4 June.
IV. US - Ground: (Unit - A Division: Strength - 18,000 men)
A. On Front (Cease-Fire) - 6
(Present) - 3
B. In Korea (Cease-Fire) - 8
(Present) - 6
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C. Total (present) -- 235,500 (including support troops).
In addition to US Divisions, UN forces include:
Commonwealth Division, Turk Brigade, eight miscel-
laneous UN battalions (total 33,500).
V. Chinese Communist - Air
A. In Korea (Cease-Fire) - None
(Present) - None
B. In Manchuria (Cease-Fire) - Jets: 400-425 MIG-15's
130 ILA-28's
Conventional: 110 Fighter/
Attack
(Present) - Jets: 300 MIG-15's
130 IL-28's
Conventional: 110 Fighter/
Attack
C. Total (present) -- 430 Jets, 110 Conventional
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VI. North Korean - Air
A. In Korea
(Cease-Fire) - Negligible
(Present) - Jets: 170 MIG-15's
Conventional: 100 Fighter/
Attack
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B. In Manchuria (Cease-Fire) - Jets: 170 MIG-15's
40 IL-28's
Conventional: 5 TU-2's
100 Fighter/
Attack
(Present) - Jets: 40 IL-28's
Conventional: 30 TU-2ts
C. Total (present) -- 210 Jets, 130 Conventional
D. All NK aircraft, except bombers, moved into Korea
at armistice. Total strength is about same as at
cease-fire.
VII. USSR - Air
A. In Korea (Cease-Fire) - None
(Present) - None
B. In Manchuria (Cease-Fire) - Jets: 400 MIG-15's
Conventional: 40 Fighters
(Present) - Jets: 250 MIG-15's
C. Total (present) -- 250 Jets.
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A. In Korea
(Cease-Fire) - Conventional: 80 F-51ts
(Present) - Conventional: 80 F-51's
B. Total (present) -- 80 Conventional F-51's
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VIII-A. US Air (excludes Navy, Marines)
A. In Korea - (present) - Jets - 350 jet Fighters
Conventional - 90 B-26
attack bombers
B. In Japan and
rest of Theater - (present) - Jets - 455 jet Fighters
Conventional - 55
piston bombers
C. Total - FEAF (present) - Jets - 805
Conventional - 155
D. Marines have 125 jet fighter/bombers in Korea.
E. Navy has one carrier in Korean waters and three
other carriers in Western Pacific available for
Korea, adding 240 jet fighters and 60 conventional
attack bombers to US air strength in area.
F. Grand total US tactical air strength in Far East
for possible commitment in Korea:
Jets -1160
Conventional - 215
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IX. Naval Forces
A. The North Korean navy is equipped with small patrol
and mine craft, but has no major combat vessels.
B. The South Korean navy is equipped with 24 patrol,
11 amphibious and nine auxilliary vessels. ROK
Marine Corps is composed of one combat brigade
of two regiments.
X. General
A. Although current disposition and attitude of enemy
forces in Korea are defensive, Communist forces
retain the capability to attack with little warning.
They could not, because of Chinese withdrawals,
sustain a major offensive without reinforcements
from Manchuria.
B. NIA vs ROK capabilities:
1. ROK has superior manpower potential.
2. Approximately equal in ground combat strength.
3. North greatly superior in air strength.
4. South deficient in antiaircraft artillery.
5. North possesses higher total most major
fire-support weapons.
6. Both dependent on outside logistical aid.
7. North air superiority and availability
logistical support probably decisive.
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