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People's Liberation Army
Order of Battle

by Xinhui

Chengdu Military Region (3/3)

14 Group Army (35201) Kunming

Category B; Nicknamed Forest Tigers; took part in Sino-Vietnam war of 79 and 84. Perform well during the LoaShan campaign, entire army is focus in jungle warfare;

Cmdr Liao Xi Long
Political Commissar: Zhu Hanbin

14 Group Army (35201) Kuenming 14th GA started its history in the Anti-Japanese war. In Aug 1 1937, a group of youth in Shenxi area formed the Shenxi 1st Youth Daredevil Group, it was also known as the “Shenxi New Army” and later incorporated into the 8th Route Army’s Tai Yue Military Region. It took part in the epic battle of 100 regiments under the command of Peng Dehuai and fought the Imperial Japanese Army’s Anti-Partisan Campaign that followed. Peng Dehuai later became the command of Chinese force in Korean War, and China’s first Defense Minster.

In 1942, 386th, and 212th brigade and the 1st Youth Daredevil Group combined as the Tai Yue Column. Tai Yue Column eventually renamed as the 4th Column in Oct 1945. The 386th brigade, 1st Youth Daredevil group, and 212th brigade were renamed as 10th, 11th, and 12th brigade. 4th Column was commanded by Chen Geng with Xie Fuzhi as the political commissar.

During the Civil war, it operated with 22nd brigade of the 8th column and it took park in the epic battle of Huai Hai. After the battle, 11th brigade, 22nd brigade and 110th division were combined and form the new 14th Army of the 2nd Field army.

In Feb 1949, 11th brigade, 22nd brigade and 110th division were reassigned as 40th, 41st, and 42nd division of 14th Army with Li Chengfang as its commander and Lei Rongtian as the political commissar.
With sister army, the 13th it took part in the battle of Yangzi Crossing, and librated Nanchang, the birthplace of the PLA in May 22nd, 1948. In September of the same year, the 14, reassigned as a member of the 4th field army entered the Guangdong and, Guangxi provinces. Entered Yunnan in January, 1950 and took part in the battle of Xichang and conducted bandit suppression operations in that area. It also engaged with the surviving members of the KMT 93rd division operated within Burma’s border a number of times.

The 14th Army’s task in the 1950s were protect China’s broader of the Western Yunnan province. During the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s, two of its engineering regiments went to Northern Vietnam to help the logistic needs of the North Vietnamese Army. It has been recorded these regiments engaged South Vietnamese Special Force on more then one occasion. The 14th earned a great deal of experience in jungle warfare during those years, and gain a nick name “Jungle Tiger” when its headquarter was moved to Kunming in 1968.

The 14th went into Vietnam again in 1979, this time as enemy and assigned to the Western line, it attacked Laojie, the provincial capital of Huang Lian Shan, cut off the 7th highway and establish a beachhead around Hong River (Meikong). In protracted post-1979 Sino-Vietnamese border skirmishes that followed, 14th’s 42nd Division took Mt Koulin in 1981. And its 1st battalion of 126th regiment earned the honor of “Mt Kou Lin Hero Battalion” During the Second Sino-Vietnam war of 1984, its 40th division and 122nd regiment of the 41st division, took part in the Lao Shan campaign, In April 28, they took control of Lao Shan and 10 high ground and surrounding hills after a total of 5 hours and 20 minutes and destroyed two Vietnamese Garrison companies in the process. PLA’s KIA was around 100.

The commander of 40th division was promoted to the Commander of 14 Field Army afterward and became one of the 10 outstanding persons of 1984. Eventually he became the commander of the Chengdu Military Region. Elements 40 Division,including its tank battalion, also took part in the battle of 6.12, and 7.12. The 7.12 battle was the largest of the Second Sino Vietnam War engagements. Onthe Vietnamese side six regiments were involved,including two of 313th Division, one of 312th Division, one of 345th Division, and one special operation regiment. After one day of hard fighting,the LaoShan was hold, and 3000+ Vietnamese bodies were counted.

- 40 Specialized Jungle Infantry Division (35108) Dali/Yunnan

Its 110 motorized infantry regiment is being reform as “reformed regiment” with organic tank support

118, 119, and 120 Infantry Regiments

Part of 2nd Field Army 14th Army Group during the Civil War.

Special Terrain based troop

Its 118th regiment is honored as Laoshan Hero Regiment. 1st battalion of the 118th regiment is honored Hero Battalion, and the 8th company is honored as Laoshan Hero Company.

119th regiment’s 4th company is honored as Laoshan Hero Company, and 7th company as the Laoshan Defense Hero Company

120th regiment’s 6th company is honored as Iron and Steel 6th Company.

- 31 Motorized Infantry Division Dali/Yunnan

It's artillery regiment is the 307th. -- Andrew KC

Part of 2nd Field Army 18th Army Group during the Civil War.

Was 49th division; Received new unit designation in 1952.8 by combined 131,141,147 regt and 307 arty regt, joined 11 FA in 1969 and renamed as 31st ID, reassigned to the 14th in 1985. Took part in Korean war and Two Sino-Vietnam wars.

Its 91st regiment, 3rd battalion is a hero battalion, and 4th company is honored as Huai Hai Vanguard company, and its 9th company is honored as Brave Tiger company.

Its 93rd regiment’s 9th company won the honored as Koulin Shan Hero Company.

- 32 Motorized Infantry Division

Became MR reserve in 1999, see above

- 49 Motorized Infantry Division (35208) Kaiyuan, Yunnan

Was 29 Infantry Division, Received new unit designation in 1949.1

In 1961 became an independent division in 1961 stationed in Wuhan MD, joined 17 Field Army (FA) in 1967. Renamed as 49th division in 1969.

- 4 Artillery Division (35304) Kunming/Yunnan

A company of the 5th regiment is honored as Laoshan Artillery Company.

- Unidentified AA Artillery Brigade (35220) Kunming/Yunnan

- Unidentified Armor Brigade (35221) Kunming/Yunnan

Type-62 light tank -- Andrew KC

- Unidentified Engineering Regiment

- Unidentified Communication Regiment

- Unidentified Recon Unit

- Unidentified Transportation Regiment

- Unidentified EW battalion

- Unidentified NBC battalion

Tibet Military District

It is also known as field combat formations

It is located in Chengdu MR, with administrative rights of a Military Region.

- 52 Mountain Brigade, Lin zhi

First of the PLA mountain Brigades formed in 1985, and the only ex-KMT formation still in service.

Part of 4th Field Army, 50th Army Group during Civil war.

Received new unit designation in 1949.2 as 149 ID,Was a member of the 50 FA, former KMT 60th Corps that defected in to CCP in ChangChunIt served with great distinction during the Korea war.

Joined Tibet Field Combat formation in 1969 with a new designation of 52 infantry division. Downsized to a brigade size and renamed as 52 Mountain Brigade in 1985.

Consider Terrain based troops.

- 53 Mountain Brigade (69801) Yaoxian Shannxi

Was 53rd ID. Consider Terrain based troops.

- Unidentified River Crossing Regiment

PLAdaily 9-27-2001

- Unidentified Artillery Brigade

Fully Digitalized

- Unidentified AD Brigade

- 136 Engineering Regiment

Took part in the Sino-India war of 1962

- Engineering Regiment

PLAdaily 3-28-2002 (could be the 136th)

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