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Amphibious Warfare Capabilities of the People's Liberation Army:
An Assessment on Recent Modernizations[1]

1st Marine Brigade (Unit 92057)
South Sea Fleet, PLA Navy. HQ location: Zhanjiang Guangdong

Commander: Wang Gejun
Political Commissar Wang Huayong
Deputy Commanders: Liu Wannian and Zhang Wen
Chief of Staff: Li Kangron

It has 2 tank battalions (Type-63ALT), 3 mechanized infantry battalions (Type-77II AAPC), 1 marine battalion, 1 special force battalion, 1 artillery battalion of type 89 122mm SPH, 1 missile battalion (HJ-73, HJ-8 ATGW and HN-5 SAM), 1 engineering/anti-chemical warfare battalion, 1 communications battalion, 1 reconnaissance company, and 1 frogman platoon.

2nd Marine Brigade (Unit 92510)
South Sea Fleet, PLA Navy. HQ Location: Suixi Guangdong

Command: Li Xingen
Political Commissar Mao Jingxue
Chief of Staff, Amphibious Armored regiment: Guo Wei

Recent news photos suggested 2nd Marine is equipped with Type 86 Mod Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) a Chinese BMP-1 copy.

It has long been reported that other PLA units also have taken part in amphibious training and exercises. The following is a brief summary of PLA formations that are equipped with dedicated amphibious equipment with focused training. In reality, the PLA has more amphibious assets than the PLA Marine. In addition, a large number of PLA formations have taken part in many amphibious training exercises.

1st Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (Unit 73021)
1st Group Army, Nanjing MR. HQ located at Hanzhou, Zhejiang.

Commander: Ye Zhisheng
Political Commissar: Tao Zhengming
Deputy Commander: Li Jinping and Zhou Guojian

1st armored regiment is equipped with Type-63A ALT and Type-77II AAPC, and the 2nd and the 3rd mechanized infantry regiments (Type-63C AAPC).

The artillery regiment of this division has received Type-89 122-mm SP howitzer and Type-89 122-mm MRL systems.

1st armored regiment (Type-63A amphibious tank and Type-77B AAPC), and the 2nd and the 3rd mechanized infantry regiments (Type-63C APC).

The artillery regiment of this division has received Type-89 122-mm SP howitzer and Type-89 122-mm MRL systems.

124th Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (Unit 75210)
42nd Group Army, GuangZhou MR, HQ located at Boluo, Guangdong

Commander: Li Guofu
Political Commissar: Zhang Zhiguo
Deputy Commander: Tan Benhong
Chief of Staff: Zhang Zhengliang

Both 370th and 371st are Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Regiment and 372nd is a Reformed Armored Regiment.