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People's Liberation Army
Order of Battle

by Xinhui

Jinan Military Region (2/3)

54 Group Army (54774) Xingxiang

Category A (Heavy). RDF

Took part in Tiananman crack down of 1989.

Entered Korea in February 1953, and returned in May 1958, it also took part in the Tibet campaign of 1959, the Sino-India war of 1962, and the 1979 Sino-Vietnam war.

During the Sino-Vietnam war, it was commanded by Zhang Wannian the current Vice chairman of CMC

Commander Huang Hanbiao Political Commissar: Wei jizhang

- 127 Light Mobile Division (74784) Luoyang/Henan

Part of 4th Field Army 44th Army Group during the Civil War

Designated as RDF,

Received new unit designation in 1948.11, transferred to 54 GA in 1985.

It is a Red Army Division, nicknamed Iron Army. One of the most honored PLA formations.

371, 379, and 380 are all Red Army Regiments

Ye Ting independent regiment (371st regt); this unit was once commandeered by Dr Sun Yat-Sen in GuangZhou during the Republican Revolutions of 1911

This division is made up of 2 light mechanized infantry regiments, 1 armored regiment, 1artillery regiment and 1 AAA regiment.

Both light mechanized infantry regiment are equipped with type-92 Wheeled IFV (or WZ551).

The armored regiment uses Type-96 (or type 88C) MBTs and was the first PLA armored unit to received this new MBT (in 1997). The Air-Defense battalion within this regiment is equipped with type-95 SP combined SAM-AAA system. The artillery battalion within this regiment is equipped with type 89 122-mm SP howitzer

Within the artillery regiment, there is 1 battalion of type 81 122-mm truck-mounted MRL, and 1 battalion of BJ jeep-mounted HJ-8 ATGM (Type-98)

Its armored regiment took part in the Oct, 1 1999’s parade as the 2nd squadron with its Type 88C MBT, and 6th squadron, and type 95 25mm-SAM combo SP-AD system as the 12th squadron. In addition, 379th regiment’s type 92 Wheeled IFV was in the 6th squadron.

Division’s recon company is honored as “The Heroic Recon Company” for its outstanding role during the defense of Laoshan area in 1985 with SpOps from the 38 GA, where they conducted search and destroy mission against Vietnam Special force. By 1986, all the Vietnamese special operation force in that area cease to function.

379’s 4th company is honored as “Liu Laozhuang Company”

379’s 9th company is honored “Expert Attack and Defense Company”

- 162 Motorized Infantry Division (54854) Anyang/Henan

Designated as RDF.

Part of 4th Field Army 45th Army Group during the Civil War
Received new unit designation in 1948.11 as 135 ID, joined 54th FA in 195 and renamed as 162 ID in 1969.

Included elements of the 135 inf div of the disbanded 55 GA. 134 inf div took part in the 1962 Sino-India War.

485th regiment is honored as the Felicitous Gold Regiment, and its 7th company is honored as “Jin Dang Bridge Company”486 regiment as the “Brave Tiger Regiment” 484 regiment’s 1st company is the honored “Steel Blade Company”

- 160 (3) Motorized Infantry Brigade at Zumadian

Part of 4th Field Army 44th Army Group during the Civil War
Received new unit designation in 1948.11 as 130 Infantry Division, joined 54th FA in 1952. Renamed as 160 ID in 1969, downsized in 1998.

Was division, according to unconfirmed report, it is being mechanized

- 7 Armor Division

Transfer to Beijing MR as 7 armor blue “fake enemy” Brigade
Andrew KC stated 7th Armor was never part of 54 GA.

- 11 Armored Division (54771) Xinyang/Henan

With new Unit number 71811

This unit was transfeered from 20th GA to 54th GA. It is equipped with Type-59I MBT and Type-86A AFV. It is now being converted to Type 96 (Type 88C) MBT

- Unidentified Army Helicopter Unit

Army Aviation Aircraft series number: LH94xxx. Recent photos stated, it has 4 Mi-6 and Mi-8 in its TOE

- Unidentified Special Operation Units

- Unidentified Artillery Brigade (54772) Jiaozuo Henan

New unit number is 71772

Made up by some elements of the disbanded 161st Infantry division.

- Unidentified Anti-Tank regiment

Type 89 ATG -- Andrew KC

- Unidentified AD Brigade (54773)

1 battalion of HQ-7 SAM

- Unidentified Engineering Regiment

- Unidentified Communications Regiment

- Unidentified EW Regiment

- Unidentified NBC Battalion

- Unidentified Recon Unit

- Unidentified Transportation Regiment

20 Group Army (54631) Kaifeng

New Unit number 71320

Category B; Was 1st division of the new fourth army, during anti-Japanese war; Took part in Korea war as second wave.

One of the all brigade GA of the PLA

Commander: Yuan Jialxin, Political Commissar: Yang Jianting

20th Army started as the communist Red Army Eastern Fujian Independent division, a collection of guerrillas force operated in Eastern Fujian Province during the 1920s. After the Japanese invasion, it was incorporated into the New Fourth Army as Third support group, 6th regiment. It was first under the command of Jiangnan Headquarter, and then Subei Headquarter with a nickname, "Jiangnan Anti-Japanese Righteous and Brave Army" ( Jiangnan Kangri Yiyong Jun ).

In October 1940, it defected the Nationalist's anti-communist elements in the battle of Yellow Bridge ( Huang Qiao). After the Wannan incident of January 1941, the 6th regiment was reformed as 1st Division, New Fourth Army. In December 1944, under the command of Su Yu, the 1st division and its three main regiments, moved down south and crossed the Yangtze river and became the 4th column of the Zhejiang Military District (MD), while the wounded remain in Jiangnan and formed the "Jiang Anti-Japanese Eastern Route Headquarter" and later became part of the 6th division, 18th brigade, New Fourth Army eventual rejoined the 20th army as 59th division's 175th regiment.

After the victory of the Anti-Japanese war in late 1945, and according the treaty of Zhongqing, Zhejing MD's military force were ordered to moved north into Shandong province and joined newly formed Shandong Field Army's as its 1st column with Ye Fei and its commander and Lai Chuanzhu as the political commissar. The 1st column's three main elements were the 1st brigade (ex-Zhejiang 4th column), 2nd brigade (ex-Suzhong's MD's training brigade), and the 3rd brigade (ex-Zhejing's 2nd column).

In 1947, the Shandong Field Army was renamed as Huadong Field Army, and three brigades of the 1st column were enlarged to Division size as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd division. The 1st column became the main fighting formation of the Huadong Field Army and took parts in epic battles such as Mengling, Yu Wan Su, and Huaihai.

In February 1949, the 1st column was renamed and reassigned as PLA 20th army of 3rd Field Army, 9th Army Group, with Lu Fei as its commander and Chen Shifu as the political commissar. Its three divisions were renamed as 58, 59 and 60th infantry division. Right after the reform, the 20th army took part in battle of Yangtze Crossing, and battle of Shanghai.

After the Civil War, the 20th was station in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang area and prepared for the invasion of Taiwan as a reserve formation.

After the Korea war breaks out, the 20th Army entered Korea in November 1950, and returned to China in October 1952, as one of the first PLA army to return. Elements of 20th also took part in the 1979 Sino-Vietnam war.

- 11 Armored Brigade (54674) Zhumadian/Henan

new unit number 71771

Commander: Xu Jin, Commissar: Zhang Lipin

Type-96 MBT and Type-86A AFV --Andrew KC

- 54 motorized infantry Div

Transferred to PAP

- 58 Special Light Mobile (Mechanized) Brigade (54642) Xuchang/ Henan

172d, 173d, Regts

RDF

Part of 3rd Field Army 20th Army Group during the Civil War.

Was division; downsized to brigade in 1998, designated RDF, 172 regiment performed well during the Korea war. Took part in Tinanman crash down of 1989. It was reformed as light mobile brigade of the PLA

58th mechanized brigade has 4 battalions of Type-92 (WZ551) wheeled AFV and 1 battalion of Type-96 MBT.

Its 175th regiment, 2nd company is honored as the flood fighting and rescue Hero company

Yang Gensi, Commander of the 172nd regiment’s 3rd company is a winner of the DPRK (North Korea) Hero award, the highest honor gave out during the Korea War.

- 60 Mechanized Infantry Brigade (54650)

178, 179, 160 regiments

Part of 3rd Field Army 20th Army Group during the Civil War
Received new unit designation in 1949.2 downsized as brigade in 1998

During the Korea war, two battalion of the 178th regiment ambushed US 5th RCT, 24th Division I Corp in April 25, 1951. The Chinese force had slipped around the right flank of the 5th RCT (serving as rear guard) when the 6th ROK div collapsed to the right of the 5th. The April 25th ambush, which is known among US veterans as “Death Valley".

A future book by a 5th RCT veteran will be focus on this event.

- 128 Motorized Infantry Division

Part of 4th Field Army 44th Army Group during the Civil War

Received new unit designation in 1948.11, joined 20th GA in 1985, transferred to PAP in 1996. Took part in Tinanman crash down of 1989.

- Unidentified Artillery Brigade Kaifeng/Henan

- Unidentified AA/SAM Artillery Brigade (54635) Gongyang Hunan

New Unit number 71365

Received new unit designation in 1949.2 as 59th ID Converted in AD brigade in 85.

23rd SAM regiment equipped with HQ-7 Andrew KC

- Unidentified Engineering Regiment

- Unidentified Transportation regiment

- Unidentified Recon Unit

- Unidentified Communication Regiment

- Unidentified NBC Battalio

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