People's Liberation Army Ground Force

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Flag of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force.
Flag of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force.

The People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) (中国人民解放军陆军) is the land-based service branch of the People's Liberation Army, and deploys over 8,000 tanks, 4,000 armored vehicles, and 25,000 artillery pieces. With its 1,6 million personnel, it is the largest army in the world. Although it is currently equipped with large numbers of antiquated Soviet era weaponry, the PLA Ground Forces are undergoing major upgrades and re-structuring to deal with future land warfare.

Contents

[edit] History

The PLA ground forces consisted of conventionally armed main and regional units and in 1987 made up over 70 percent of the PLA. It provided a good conventional defense but had only limited offensive potential and was poorly equipped for nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare. Main forces included about 35 group armies, comprising 118 infantry divisions, 13 armored divisions, and 33 artillery and antiaircraft artillery divisions, plus 71 independent regiments and 21 independent battalions of mostly support troops. Regional forces consisted of 73 divisions of border defense and garrison troops plus 140 independent regiments.

Under the old system, a field army consisted of three partially motorized infantry divisions and two regiments of artillery and anti-aircraft artillery. Each field army division had over 12,000 personnel in three infantry regiments, one artillery regiment, one armored regiment, and one anti-aircraft artillery battalion. Organization was flexible, the higher echelons being free to tailor forces for combat around any number of infantry divisions. At least theoretically, each division had its own armor and artillery — actual equipment levels were not revealed and probably varied — and the assets at army level and within the independent units could be apportioned as needed.

The new, main-force group armies typically included 46,300 soldiers in up to four divisions, believed to include infantry, armor, artillery, air defense, airborne, and air support elements. Although the new group armies were supposed to reflect a move to combined-arms operations, because of a lack of mechanization they continued to consist of infantry supported by armor, artillery, and other units. The 13 armored divisions each had 3 regiments and 240 main battle tanks (MBT) but lacked adequate mechanized infantry support. There was little evidence of the use of armored personnel carriers during the Sino-Vietnamese border conflict in 1979, and tanks were used as mobile artillery and as support for dismounted infantry. Artillery forces emphasized towed guns, howitzers, and truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers. In the 1980s some self-propelled artillery entered service, but the PLA also produced rocket launchers as a cheaper but not totally effective alternative to self-propelled guns. There was a variety of construction equipment, mobile bridging, trucks, and prime movers. A new multiple rocket launcher for scattering antitank mines appeared in 1979, but mine-laying and mine-clearing equipment remained scarce.

Regional forces consisted of full-time PLA troops organized as independent divisions for garrison missions. Garrison divisions were static, artillery-heavy units deployed along the coastline and borders in areas of likely attack. Regional forces were armed less heavily than their main-force counterparts, and they were involved in training the militia. They were the PLA units commonly used to restore order during the Cultural Revolution.

In 1987 the PLA ground forces, which relied upon obsolescent but serviceable equipment, were most anxious to improve defenses against armored vehicles and aircraft. Most equipment was produced from Soviet designs of the 1950s, but weapons were being incrementally upgraded, some with Western technology. One example of upgraded, Soviet-design equipment was the Type 69 MBT, an improved version of the Type 59 MBT, itself based on the Soviet T-54. The Type 69 had improved armor, a gun stabilizer, a fire control system including a laser range finder, infrared searchlights, and a 105mm smooth-bore gun. In 1987 the existence of a new, Type 80 MBT was revealed in the Western press. The tank had a new chassis, a 105mm gun, and a fire control system. Production of the Type 80 had not yet begun. The PLA was believed to have atomic demolition munitions, and there were unconfirmed reports that it also had tactical nuclear weapons. In any case, nuclear bombs and missiles in the Chinese inventory could be used in a theater role. The PLA had a scarcity of antitank guided missiles, tactical surface-to-air missiles, and electronics to improve communications, fire control, and sensors. China began production of the Soviet Sagger antitank missile in 1979 but lacked a more powerful, longer range, semiautomatic antitank guided missile. The PLA required a mobile surface-to-air missile and an infantry shoulder-fired missile for use against helicopters and certain other aircraft.

[edit] Formations and Units

Major Ground Force Units in PLA Military Regions and Group Armies in 2006 (Source: US DOD) - click to enlarge.
Major Ground Force Units in PLA Military Regions and Group Armies in 2006 (Source: US DOD) - click to enlarge.

The PLA has 18 group armies (corps size), divided among the seven military regions - Shenyang, Beijing, Lanzhou, Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou, and Chengdu - and are currently downsizing some of their divisions into brigades.

The IISS currently attributes the PLA Ground Force with 9 active tank divisions consisting of a number of armoured brigades. Dennis Blasko wrote in 2000[1] that the traditional structure of PLA divisions consisted roughly of three regiments - tuan - of the main arm, each of three battalions plus support units, a fourth regiment of infantry (in an armoured division) or armour (in an infantry division), an artillery regiment, an anti-aircraft regiment or battalion, and signals, engineer, reconnaissance, and chemical defence battalions or companies, plus combat service support units.

A typical PLA armoured brigade has 4 tank battalions (124 main battle tanks)- each tank battalion has 3 tank companies (30 + 1 tank for the battalion commander), 1 mechanised infantry battalion (40 armoured personnel carriers), 1 artillery battalion (18 self-propelled howitzers) - 3 batteries of 6 guns each and 1 anti-aircraft battalion (18 self-propelled howitzers) - 3 batteries of 6 guns each.

There are 8 active artillery divisions consisting of a number of artillery brigades. A typical PLA artillery brigade has 4 artillery battalions each with 18 guns in 3 batteries and 1 self-propelled anti-tank gun battalion (18 vehicles).

Brigades are a relatively new formation for the PLA. Introduced in the 1990s, the PLA plans to expand the number and rid itself of the massive, rigid formations of Soviet model. As a step towards modernizing its army, this new system allows for smaller, cross-service arm battle groups of battalion size within a brigade to operate independently, increasing the PLA's ability to respond to a rapidly changing battle situation. The PLA has yet to fully take advantage of this new formation, but has been taking steps to successfully integrate it in its force structure.[2]

[edit] Infantry Equipment

See also the List of Infantry Equipment in the PLA.

[edit] Pistols

  • QSW-06 - 5.8 mm silenced version of the QSZ-92
  • QSZ-92 - newest pistol, 9 mm and 5.8 mm versions
  • Type 84 - 7.62 mm mini pistol for security and police forces
  • Type 77 - standard 7.62 mm for People's Armed Police and civil police
  • Type 67 - 7.62 mm silenced pistol for scout and special operations
  • Type 64 - 7.62 mm silenced pistol, better performance and reliability over Type 54
  • Type 54 - 7.62 mm, copy of the Soviet TT1930/1933, currently being phased out

[edit] Submachine guns

  • CF-05
  • QCW-05 - newest smg, 9 mm and 5.8 mm versions
  • Type 85 - updated Type 79, reduced firing noise, also suppressed and 5.8 mm versions
  • Type 79 - 7.62 mm for airborne, scout and special operations
  • Type 64 - low flash, suppressed 7.62 mm for scout and special operations

[edit] Rifles

QBZ-95 assault rifle.
QBZ-95 assault rifle.
  • QBZ-03 - The newest rifle using 5.8x42 mm ammo and with a traditional design.
  • QBZ-95 - family of 5.8x42 mm bullpup design assault rifle, carbine and squad machine gun. Factory names are QBZ-95, CAR-95 and QBB-95, respectively.
  • QBZ-87
  • CQ
  • Type 63
  • Type 56
  • Type 87 - 5.8 mm assault rifle and squad machine gun, improved version of Type 81, refused by PLA because of outdated layout, technology used in Type 95
  • Type 81 - 7.62 mm assault rifle and squad machine gun, replaced the Chinese Type 56 Assault Rifle and Chinese Type 56 Carbine, both copies of the Soviet AK-47 and Soviet SKS.

[edit] Machine Guns

  • QBB-95
  • QJY-88 - new 5.8 mm GPMG, replacing Type 67
  • Type 80 - 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun (copy of the Soviet PKMS)
  • Type 67 - 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun, replacing the Type 53 (SG43) and Type 57 (SGM) 7.62 mm general purpose machine guns

[edit] Sniper Rifles

  • AMR-2
  • W-03
  • M-99
  • JS
  • QBU-88 - 5.8 mm newest sniper rifle
  • Type 85 - improved version of Type 79, higher rate of fire but shorter range
  • Type 79 - 7.62 mm sniper rifle, copy of Soviet Dragunov SVD

[edit] Shoulder Launched Weapons

[edit] Grenade Launchers

  • LG-1
  • LG-2
  • QLT-89

[edit] Grenades

  • Type 90 - 40 mm
  • Type 69 - 40 mm

[edit] Hand Grenades

  • WY-91
  • Type 86
  • Type 82-2
  • Type 79
  • Type 77-1

[edit] Flamethrowers

  • Type 74
  • Type 58

[edit] Vehicles

[edit] Main Battle Tanks

[2]

[edit] Light/Amphibious Tanks

[edit] Infantry Fighting Vehicles

[edit] Armored Personnel Carriers

[edit] Rocket Artillery

  • WS-1 and WS-1B - an 8 and 4 tube 320 mm multiple launch rocket system by Sichuan Aerospace Industry Corporation (SCAIC, also known as Base 062)
  • A-100 MRL - 10 tube 300 mm Multiple Rocket Launcher System
  • WM-80 and Type 83/WM-40 - 273 mm Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems
  • Type 85/YW 306 a 23mm rocket artillery guns (copy of Russian ZU-23-2) on a YW 531H chassis and Type 82 artillery (on a Yanan SX250 6X6 truck) - 30 tube 130 mm multiple rocket launcher replacing the 19 tube 130 mm multiple rocket launcher of the Type 70 (on a YW 531C) and Type 63 (on a 4X4 truck)
  • Type 90 (on a Tiema SC2030 6X6 flatbed truck) and Type 89 (tracks) - 40 tube 122 mm multiple launch rocket systems replacing the Type 81
  • WS-2 - 302/400 mm
  • Type 63 - 107 mm
  • PHZ-89 - 122 mm
  • PHL-03 - 12X122 mm
  • PHZ-89 - 122 mm
  • Type-83 - 4X273 mm
  • Type-90 - 40X122 mm
  • Type-81 - 40X122 mm
  • Type-82 - 130X130 mm
  • Type-70 - 19X130 mm

[edit] Gun Artillery

  • PLZ-45 - 155 mm self-propelled howitzer might replace the obsolete Type 83 which is a 152 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • PLZ-05 - 155 mm
  • YW 323 D30 (based on the YW 531H) and the Type 89/ PLZ-89 (based on the Type 77 APC) - amphibious 122 mm self-propelled howitzers replacing the Type 85 (YW 531C chassis) and Type 70 (YW 531B chassis)
  • Type 90 - 122 mm self-propelled howitzer wheeled (based on a WZ-551 chassis)
  • Type 89/PLL01 - 155 mm towed gun/howitzer based on the GC-45 howitzer
  • Type 70 - 122 mm
  • Type 66 (copy of the soviet [[152 mm towed gun-howitzer M1955 (D-20)|D-20) 152 mm towed gun/howitzer and the Type 83 152 mm towed gun are replacing the Type 54 itself a copy of the soviet ML-20.
  • Type 59 and Type 59-1 - copy of the soviet M46 130 mm towed field gun
  • Type 85 - 122 mm towed howitzer derived from the soviet D-30 (M1963) and replaced the Type 54 howitzer
  • YW 382 (120 mm) and YW 383 (82 mm) - amphibious mortar carriers based on the YW 531H replacing the YW 381 and YW 304 respectively which where based on the YW 531C
  • PLL-01 - 155 mm
  • Type-83 - 152 mm
  • Type-66 - 152 mm
  • Type-59 - 130 mm
  • Type-86 - 122 mm
  • Type-83 - 122 mm
  • Type-60 - 122 mm
  • PLL-05 - 120 mm
  • SH-2 - 122 mm
  • SH-1 - 155 mm

[edit] Anti-Aircraft

[edit] Non-combat vehicles

  • Type 84 - Bridge laying tank using the Type 69 tank chassis
  • Type 653 (Type 69 tank chassis) and Type 59 (Type 59 tank chassis) - armoured recovery vehicles
  • YW 703 (based on the YW 534), Type 85 (based on the YW 531H APC) - amphibious recovery vehicles
  • Type 85 (based on the YW 531H), WZ 701 (based on the YW 531C), WZ 506 (based on the WZ 501) and a version based on the Type 77 - amphibious command vehicles
  • Type 77-2 (based on the Type 77) - amphibious artillery ammunition carrier
  • WZ 751 (based on the YW 531H), YW 750 (based on the YW 531C), WZ 505 (based on the WZ 501) and a version based on the Type 77 - amphibious armoured ambulances
  • Bv206 Swedish tracked all-terrain multipurpose vehicle
  • Type 77 and Type 60/WZ 420/Wz 421 tracked tractors
  • Type 82 truck consists of the HY473 (tractor truck) and HY962 (semi-trailer) - Heavy Equipment Transporter up to 75 tons
  • TA580/TAS5380 (20 ton 8x8), TAS5450 (25 ton 8x8), TAS5500 (28 ton 10x10), TAS5570 (30 ton 10x10) and TAS5690 (42 ton 12x12) series special heavy duty trucks
  • WS2300(6x6), WS2400(8x8) and WS2500(10x8) 20 ton series special heavy duty trucks
  • XC2200 (copy of the German Mercedes-Benz 2060) 7.5 ton 6x6 heavy duty trucks
  • SX2190 (copy of the Austrian Steyr-91) 7 ton 6x6 trucks replacing the JN252, CQ261 and SX250 heavy duty trucks
  • SX250/SX2150 series 5 ton 6x6 heavy duty trucks
  • EQ2102 series 3.5 ton trucks replacing the CA30 (copy of the 2.5 ton soviet ZIL 157)
  • CA141/CA1091 series trucks replacing the CA10 (copy of the 3.5 ton soviet ZIL 150)
  • EQ240/EQ2081 and EQ245/EQ2100 series 2.5 ton trucks
  • EQ2050A series High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) copied from the US M998
  • NJ2045/2046 series 1.5 ton lightweight vehicle
  • BJ212/BJ2020 series 0.5 ton lightweight 4 x4 vehicle made by Beijing-Benz DaimlerChrysler Automotive

[edit] Aircraft

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Notes
CAIC WZ-10 Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China attack helicopter
Harbin WZ-9 Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China multi-role attack helicopter
Mil Mi-17Hip-H Flag of Russia Russia multi-role helicopter
Mil Mi-8 Hip Flag of Russia Russia transport helicopter
Mil Mi-6 Hook Flag of Russia Russia transport helicopters
Sikorsky S-70C Black Hawk Flag of the United States United States transport helicopter
Eurocopter AS 332L Super Puma Flag of France France
Changhe Z-8A Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China utility helicopter
Harbin Z-9 Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China multi-role light helicopter
Aérospatiale SA 318 Alouette III Flag of France France utility helicopter
Aérospatiale SA 341 Gazelle Flag of France France attack helicopter

[edit] References

  1. ^ Chapter 8, PLA Ground Forces, by Dennis J Blasko, in The People's Liberation Army as Organisation, RAND, CF182
  2. ^ Analysis: PLA's New Modular Force Structure - SinoDefence.com

This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain. [4]

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