Chinese Korean War Topographic Map 1953 Battle of Old Baldy

This is a very, very rare Chinese People’s Volunteer (CPV) map.

Captured maps, like all documents, were supposed to be turned over to S2 for immediate exploitation.

This map is divided into grid squares. It shows the mountainous topography of the land.

The caption on top is as follows:

第47軍步兵第423团上浦防東山(老秀山)地區

1953年3月23日至28日進攻战鬥經过园之五

This translates to The 423rd Infantry Regiment of the 47th Army Shangpu Fangdongshan (Laoxiushan) area. The offensive battle from March 23 to 28, 1953 passed through terrain No. 5.

Based on what we were able to find about operations of the CPV 423rd Infantry in March 1953, this map relates to their ground assault on Old Baldy.

This was an outpost being defended by the UN Colombian Bn. The Bn was under operational control of the 7th US Infantry Division. This area was hotly contested. 

We learned that the 1st Bn. of the CPV 423rd Regiment, 141st Division, was commanded by Hou Yung-chun. The unit’s political officer hand picked the 3rd Company to lead the attack and to plant the “Victory Flag” on the hill.

The CPV regiment succeeded in capturing Old Baldy. However, it was estimated that 750 CPV were killed on Baldy. Conversely, Colombian casualties were 95 KIA, 97 WIA and 30 MIA.

Arguably, this map could have come from one of the dead CPV members to the 7th Infantry Division G-2.