Evening star., 1951-01-01
Korean Test Ground
Yields Little Data on
New Russian Weapons
By Elton c. Fay
Assoeioted Press Military Writer

In more than six months OF
bloody fighting against Comrnu-
mist forces, the United States has
learned almost nothing of the
modern battle weapons Russia
would throw into a war Of her
own.
The explanation Is that with
few exceptions-such as one model
of a jet flghter-Russia has armed
her Chinese and North Korean
satellite forces with equipment
either designed or manufactured
some years ago. She has been
careful not to jeopardize the Sc
crecy of her new equipment by
risking it's capture in action.
An Army ordnance official has
advised congressional committee
that so far as Is known equipment
being used by the enemy in Korea
is 10 years or more old so far as
design is concerned.
Radios Captured.
This obviously includes such
items as the T-34 medium tanks.
artillery, machineguns and small
arms used by the Korean and Chi
nese Communists. However. some
of the enemy's Rlssian-made COM
munications equipment may be OF
more recent design. Captured ma
terial included radio sets similar
to that used by American forces.
However. notable exception to
the apparent reluctance OF the
Russians to commit newly de-
veloped equipment to the Korean
proving ground" is the late model
MIG-15 jet fighter. American fly
ers now have numerous opportuni-
ties to study the MIG-15 in the
air and get at least some idea OF
what it can do in combat. The
plane is an amazingly accurate
copy of the latest United States
Air Force operational jet fighter
the F-86 Sabre. Airmen say that
in certain positions, it is almost
impossible to distinguish between
the swept winged F-86 and the
MIG-15.
But even though the Red air
force has put the MIG-15s into the
air against USAF planes and a
few of them have been shot down
the Communists have been ex-
tremely careful that no plane &c
down in U. N. territory. All jet
air skirmishes have been staged
close to the Manchurian border.
Some U. S. Arms Seized.
There are two apparent reasons
for this caution: Cd To prevent
perhaps fairly intact wreckage
falling into American hands fol
detailed, technical analysis of the
MIG-15. 90 To keep secret the
nationality of the pilots who fly
these ultra modern aircraft for
which special skill and long train
ing is required
While the United States pre-
sumably has not put all of its new
weapons to battle test in Korea
some equipment, new or improved
since World War II has been used
and captured by the enemy.
Dispatches from Korea have
told Of American forces In recent
weeks being hit by 3.5-inch rocket
f1re. The assumption is that some
Of these new anti-tank weapons
developed and rushed to Korea by
the United States Army to stor
enemy tanks, have been captured
and are being turned against thei,
former owners.
Equipment Loss Heavy.
1t also Is safe to assume that
samples Of the 3.5 inch launchers
and ammunition have been hur-
ried to Russia for copying. The
Russians ceized American B-29s
during World War II and later
turned up with bombers (TU-4)
almost identical in appearance to
the B-29.
In the highly successful with
drawal from the Hungnam beach,
head, American troops brought
out with them almost all the big
weapons and tanks and other mo-
bile equipment.
But there were quantities OF
supplies and equipment lost in the
retreats that preceded that evacu-
elton. A suggestion of this was
given in testimony to a congress
sional committee December 9 by
Maj. Gen. w. O. Reeder, chief OF
the Army's logistic section.