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People's Liberation Army Ground Force

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People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Ground Force Flag of the People's Republic of China
Active1927 - present
LandPeople's Republic of China
BranchPeople's Liberation Army Ground Force
TypArmy
SizeActive; 1,700,000
Reserve; 800,000
Commanders
Current
commander		Gen.

The People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) (simplified Chinese: 中国人民解放军陆军; traditional Chinese: 中國人民解放軍陸軍; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Lùjūn) is the land-based service branch of the People's Liberation Army, and deploys 7,500 main battle tanks, 5,500 armoured personnel carriers, 2,200 infantry fighting vehicles and 25,000 artillery pieces. Its regular forces consist of 1.7 million personnel, with an additional 800,000 personnel in reserve, making it the largest active standing army in the world, and second largest in terms of army personnel[1]. Currently 40% of the ground force divisions and brigades are either armoured or mechanized to deal with potential threats. The PLA Ground Forces has and continues to undergo rapid major upgrades and re-structuring to deal with future land warfare, with front line troops, special forces, and marines given priority in receiving newer modern weapon systems

The PLA has improved its battlefield C4ISR capabilities, with the introduction of satellite communications, wireless networks, and digital radios, army commanders are now able to maintain constant communications with their front-line units while on the move. The bulk of the ground forces have been regularly asked to operate under severe electronic countermeasures conditions in exercises. Also a network-centric warfare capability connecting different combat, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance elements to form an integrated network is being developed.[1]

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 rangefinder, infrared searchlights, and a 105 mm 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 105 mm 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.

Formations and Units

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 armored brigades. Dennis Blasko wrote in 2000[2] 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 armored division) or armour (in an infantry division), an artillery regiment, an anti-aircraft regiment or battalion, and signals, engineer, reconnaissance, and chemical defense battalions or companies, plus combat service support units.

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

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 their number and rid itself of the massive, rigid formations of the 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.[3]

Infantry Equipment

See also the List of Infantry Equipment in the PLA.

Pistols

  • NP-58 - .40 calibre
  • QSW-06 - 5.8 mm silenced pistol, replacing the Type 67 silenced pistol (In Service)
  • QSZ-92 - 9 mm and 5.8 mm pistol (In Service-Main)
  • Type 84 - 7.62 mm small pistol for Security and Police forces(Very rare is in Service)
  • Type 80 - 7.62 mm automatic pistol[4]
  • Type 77 - 7.62 mm pistol for People's Armed Police and Civil police (In Service)
  • Type 67 - 7.65 mm silenced pistol(Some still in service but is being replaced by QSW-06)
  • Type 64 - 7.62 mm semi-automatic pistol, a further development from Type 52. Withdrawn from army but in service with the People's Armed Police and Civil police.(In Service)
  • Type 59 - 9 mm semi-automatic, copy of the Soviet Makarov PM.(Not produced much,being phased out)
  • Type 54 - 7.62 mm pistol, copy of the Soviet TT1930/1933 (Being phased out from PLA but still in active service with the People's Armed Police and Civil police)
  • Type 52 - 7.65 mm semi-automatic pistol, PPK (Not in Service)

Submachine Guns

  • CF-05 - 9 mm submachine gun (In Service with Special Police Unit (SPU))
  • QCQ-05 - 5.8 mm unsuppressed submachine gun (In Service with Special Force troops)
  • QCW-05 - 5.8 mm suppressed submachine gun (In Service with Special Force troops)
  • JS 9mm - 9 mm suppressed submachine gun
  • Type 85 - 7.62 mm upgraded suppressed Type 79 submachine gun
  • Type 79 - 7.62 mm submachine gun (In Service with Airbourne and Special Force troops)
  • Type 64 - 7.62 mm suppressed low flash submachine gun

Rifles

QBZ-95 assault rifle.
  • QBZ-03 - 5.8 mm Assault rifle (In Limited Service)
  • QBZ-95 - 5.8 mm Bullpup Assault rifle (In Service-Main)
  • Type 86 - 7.62 mm Bullpup Assault rifle (Not in Service)
  • Type 87 - 5.8 mm Assault rifle, using similar design to the Type 81 (Not in Service)
  • Type 81 - 7.62 mm Assault rifle (In Service with Reserves)
  • Type 63 - 7.62 mm Assault rifle
  • Type 56- 7.62 mm Assault rifle, Chinese derivative of the AK-47 (Not in Service)
  • Norinco CQ - 5.56 mm Assault rifle, unlicensed derivative of the Colt M16 rifle for export market

Nonlinear Line Of Sight Weapons

Machine Guns

  • CF06 - 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun[7]
  • QBB-95 - 5.8x42 mm light support weapon (LSW), derivative of the QBZ-95
  • QJY-88 - 5.8x42 mm general purpose machine gun, replacing Type 67 general purpose machine gun
  • Type 87 - 5.8 mm light purpose machine gun (variant of the Type 87 assault rifle)
  • Type 81 - 7.62x39 mm light machine gun (variant of the Type 81 assault rifle)
  • Type 80 - 7.62x54 mm general purpose machine gun (copy of the Soviet PKMS)
  • Type 67 - 7.62x54 mm general purpose machine gun, replacing the Type 53 (SG43) and Type 57 (SGM) 7.62 mm general purpose machine guns
  • Type 58 - 7.62 mm replaced by Type 67 [1]
  • Type 57 - 7.62 mm replaced by Type 67
  • Type 53 - 7.62 mm replaced by Type 67

Heavy Machine Guns

Sniper Rifles

  • JS2 - 7.62mm rifle
  • LR2A - 12.7 mm [7] Anti-armor sniper rifle
  • AMR-2 - 12.7x108 mm Anti-material Sniper rifle
  • W-03 - 12.7X108 mm rifle
  • M06 Sniper Rifle - [8]
  • M99 - [9]
  • JS 12.7 - 12.7 x 108 mm Anti-material sniper rifle
  • JS 05 - 12.7 mm [10] Anti-armor sniper rifle
  • JS 7.62 - 7.62x54 mm Sniper Rifle (In limited Service)
  • QBU-88 - 5.8x42 mm Bullpup Sniper rifle (In Service)
  • Type 85 - 7.62 mm Sniper rifle updated from the Type 79 (In limited Service)
  • Type 79 - 7.62 mm Sniper rifle, copy of Soviet Dragunov SVD (In Service)

Shoulder Launched Weapons

Automatic Grenade Launchers

Grenades

Hand Grenades

Mortars

Flamethrowers

Anti-Aircraft Guns

Vehicles

Main Battle Tanks

  • Type 99 - Main Battle Tank, 3rd Generation (~200 In Service)[16]
    • Type 98 - Main Battle Tank Prototype, evolved into Type 99 (Limited Type 98G service)
  • Type 90-IIM - Main Battle Tank enhanced 3rd Generation developed by China and Pakistan, (Not in Service of PLA)
  • Type 96 - Main Battle Tank, 3rd Generation, only MBT along with Type 99 in production (2500-3000 In Service)
  • Type 88 - Main Battle Tank (500 In Service)
    • Type 85 - Main Battle Tank (450 In Service)
    • Type 80 - Main Battle Tank earlier variant of Type 88
  • Type 79 - Battle Tank (300 In Service)
  • Type 69 - Battle Tank (300 In Service)
  • Type 62 - Light Battle Tank
  • Type 59D & Type 59D1 - Battle Tank, upgraded version of Type 59-IIA, Type 59-II, Type 59-I & Type 59 [17]
  • Type 59 - One of the first Chinese Battle Tanks in PLA service
  • Type 58 - First Chinese tank ever built [18] [19]

Light/Amphibious Tanks

  • ZTD05 - amphibious assault vehicle/tank
  • ZTL05 - amphibious tank/assault vehicle [11]
  • ZBD05 - amphibious assault vehicle/tank
  • ZBD2000 - amphibious assault vehicle/tank
  • Type 63A - amphibious light tank (+300 In Service) [20]
  • Type 63 - amphibious light tank, similar to Russian PT-76 (500 In Service)
  • Type 62 - light tank (400 In Service)

Infantry Fighting Vehicles

Armored Personnel Carriers

Laser Weapons

ATGM Carriers

Light Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Rocket Artillery

Gun Artillery

Anti-Tank Guns

Anti-Aircraft Munitions

Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns

Autocannons

Surface to air missiles

File:Hq613a.jpg
HQ-61B SAM

MANPADS

Non-combat vehicles

Combat Support Vehicles

Missiles & Projectile Weapons

Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs)

Aircraft

Template:Standard table ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- | Tianyan-2 [53][54] |  People's Republic of China | unmanned attack helicopter [55][56] | | | |----- | CAIC WZ-10 |  People's Republic of China | attack helicopter | pre-production | 16 | |- | Harbin WZ-9 |  People's Republic of China | multi-role attack helicopter | | 60+ | |- | Changhe Z-11 |  People's Republic of China | multi-role / attack helicopter | | 60? | |- | Mil Mi-17Hip-H |  Russland | multi-role helicopter | | 245 | |- | Mil Mi-8 Hip |  Russland | transport helicopter | | 45 | |- | Mil Mi-6 Hook |  Russland | transport helicopters | | 5-10 | |- | Sikorsky S-70C Black Hawk |  Vereinigte Staaten | transport helicopter | S-70C | 24 | |- | Eurocopter AS 332L Super Puma |  Frankreich | medium lift utility helicopter | | 6 | |- | Changhe Z-8A |  People's Republic of China | utility helicopter | | 45 | |- | Harbin Z-9 |  People's Republic of China | multi-role light helicopter | | 240 | |- | Aérospatiale SA 318 Alouette III |  Frankreich | utility helicopter | | 12 | |- | Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle |  Frankreich | attack helicopter | SA-342L | 8 | |}

References

  1. ^ a b "World's Largest Army, Largest Army in the World". World's Largest Army, Largest Army in the World. Retrieved 2008-11-07. Cite error: The named reference "Largest Armies" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Chapter 8, PLA Ground Forces, by Dennis J Blasko, in The People's Liberation Army as Organisation, RAND, CF182
  3. ^ Analysis: PLA's New Modular Force Structure - SinoDefence.com
  4. ^ http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg153-e.htm
  5. ^ http://www.china-defense-mashup.com/?p=18
  6. ^ http://www.china-defense-mashup.com/?p=18
  7. ^ http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2007-10-16/0820467739.html
  8. ^ http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Div-ADS.html#mozTocId757132
  9. ^ a b http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Div-ADS.html#mozTocId836386
  10. ^ http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg47-e.http
  11. ^ a b c http://collinsj.tripod.com/msh_chinese.htm
  12. ^ a b http://www.afv-news.com/tag/zbd-04/
  13. ^ http://www.military-today.com/apc/yw_307.htm
  14. ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/army/armour/zsd90.asp
  15. ^ http://big5.citygf.com/news/news_001036/200906/t20090625_70746.html
  16. ^ http://www.chnqiang.com/article/2008/1226/article_61441.shtml
  17. ^ http://www.wangchao.net.cn/junshi/detail_9422.html
  18. ^ http://www.lzmmil.cn/html/wqqy/20100222/4567.html
  19. ^ a b c http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.152/pub_detail.asp
  20. ^ http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2009/11/swimming-122mm-howitzer.html
  21. ^ http://www.military-today.com/apc/new_chinese_ifv.htm
  22. ^ http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/type-83.htm
  23. ^ http://mil.eastday.com/m/ybzbqjd/u1a4679775.html
  24. ^ http://news.xinmin.cn/rollnews/2009/09/29/2657371.html
  25. ^ http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Div-ADS.html#mozTocId557763
  26. ^ "Type 90 Twin-35mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  27. ^ "Type 85 Twin-23mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  28. ^ "Type 87 Twin-25mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  29. ^ http://military.china.com/zh_cn/important/11052771/20090621/15530567.html
  30. ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/special/airdefence/fortress-china3.asp
  31. ^ "Type 59 Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  32. ^ "Type 65/74 Twin-37mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  33. ^ "Type 59 100mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery -sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  34. ^ http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Div-ADS.html#mozTocId423159
  35. ^ "Almaz/Antei Concern of Air Defence Tor (NATO SA-15 'Gauntlet') low to medium-altitude self-propelled surface-to-air missile system". Jane's Information Group. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  36. ^ "HQ-64 (LY-60) surface to air missile - Sinodefence.com -". Sinodefense.com. Retrieved 2008-11-07.

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