Korean War: North Korean and PLA Forces, November 23, 1950

Korean War: North Korean and PLA Forces, November 23, 1950
v.1.0 March 17, 2002

Ravi Rikhye

Source: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/korea/ebb/ch3.htm

North Korean Army

The North Korean Army had been destroyed in the United Nations offensive. Only IV Corps (one division and two brigades) was actively opposing UN forces, facing ROK I Corps in the northeast. II Corps (four under strength divisions) was engaged in guerilla warfare along the 38^th parallel. Three corps and 16 divisions were under reorganization in north central Korea. Three corps and nine divisions were under reorganization in Manchuria, but were in the worst condition of any North Korean formations.

Korea

I Corps	1^st Division
II Corps	2^nd Division
III Corps	3^rd Division
IV Corps	4^th Division
V Corps	5^th Division
	6^th Division
	7^th Division
	8^th Division
	9^th Division
	10^th Division
	12^th Division
	15^th Division
	17^th Division
	24^th Division
	27^th Division
	31^st Division
	38^th Division
	41^st Division
	43^rd Division
	47^th Division
	105^th Tank Division

Manchuria

VI Corps	13^th Division
VII Corps	18^th Division
VIII Corps	19^th Division
	32^nd Division
	36^th Division
	37^th Division
	42^nd Division
	45^th Division
	46^th Division

Chinese People’s Volunteers (PLA)

The controlling HQ was the Headquarters, Chinese People’s Volunteers (Mukden, Manchuria) commanded by Lin Piao. The ostensible HQ was North Korea’s Combined Headquarters in Kanggye, commanded by Kim Il Sung. Kim was subordinate to Lin in fact; on paper, the Volunteers were merely in Korea of their own free will to help the North Korean people.

United Nations intelligence estimated 70,000 PLA troops were in North Korea in November 1950. In reality, about 300,000 had already entered. The PLA’s overall numbers at this time were, approximately:

Tactical Field Forces 2-3 million (best forces)

Local Garrison Forces 1-2 million (second-line forces)

Militia (provided recruits to PLA) 5 million

Chinese Dispositions

XIII Army Group/Fourth Field Army

[Opposite US 8^th Army]

Chinese right flank, approximately 200,000 troops

Command Troops

Three artillery divisions (one not full strength)

Two truck regiments

One cavalry regiment

38^th Army

112^th Division (334^th, 335^th, 336^th Regiments)

113^th Division (337^th, 338^th, 339^th Regiments)

114^th Division (340^th, 341^st, 342^nd Regiments)

39^th Army

115^th Division (343^rd, 344^th, 345^th Regiments)

116^th Division (346^th, 347^th, 348^th Regiments)

117^th Division (349^th, 350^th, 351^st Regiments)

40^th Army

118^th Division (352^nd, 353^rd, 354^th Regiments)

119^th Division (355^th, 356^th, 357^th Regiments

120^th Division (358^th, 359^th, 360^th Regiments)

42^nd Army

124^th Division (370^th, 371^st, 372^nd Regiments)

125^th Division (373^rd, 374^th, 375^th Regiments)

126^th Division (376^th, 377^th, 378^th Regiments)

50^th Army

148^th Division (442^nd, 443^rd, 444^th Regiments)

149^th Division (445^th, 446^th, 447^th Regiments)

150^th Division (448^th, 449^th, 450^th Regiments)

66^th Army

196^th Division (586^th, 587^th, 588^th Regiments)

197^th Division (589^th, 590^th, 591^st Regiments)

198^th Division (592^nd, 593^rd, 594^th Regiments)

IX Army Group/3^rd Field Army (approximately 120,000 troops)

[Opposite US X Corps]

20^th Army

58^th Division (172^nd, 173^rd, 174^th Regiments)

59^th Division (175^th, 176^th, 177^th Regiments)

60^th Division (178^th, 179^th, 180^th Regiments)

89^th Division (265^th, 266^th, 267^th Regiments)

26^th Army

76^th Division (226^th, 227^th, 228^th Regiments)

77^th Division (229^th, 230^th, 231^st Regiments)

78^th Division (232^nd, 233^rd, 234^th Regiments)

88^th Division (264^th, 265^th, 267^th Regiments)

27^th Army

79^th Division (235^th, 236^th, 237^th Regiments)

80^th Division (238^th, 239^th, 240^th Regiments)

81^st Division (241^st, 242^nd, 243^rd Regiments)

90^th Division (268^th, 269^th, 270^th Regiments)

Approximate Strengths Army 21,000-30,000 Division 8,000-10,000 Regiment 3,000

Note: 88^th, 89^th, and 90^th Divisions were from 30^th Army. The reason for this army being broken up in this fashion is not known, but it was unusual.