PLA Ground Forces

Tactical Impressions of the PLA

• Introduction
• Cultural Bias Against Battle Details
• Strategic Successes Masking Tactical Failures
• The War Zone Campaign
• The Red Army Model
• PLA Exercises To Date
• The Theory of Attack
• The PLA Motorized Rifle Regiment on the Attack
• Final Notes and Concluding Remarks

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Tactical Impressions of the People's Liberation Army

by LCol (Ret'd) W Yu

PLA Exercises to Date

PLA exercises are marked with fanfare and great publicity. Grandiose statements about demonstrating an ability to meet specific political goals usually accompany these exercises. Never are these exercises allowed to fail in their stated attempts be it repulsing a Soviet attack or to take Taiwan back by force. The usual film footage is purposely designed to forward these messages and more often than not, the exercises are staged to give spectacular demonstrations of these capabilities.

One of the largest exercises in recent PLA history is the 11 October 2000 Exercise and while most of it has been staged, it clearly demonstrates how the PLA aims to fight.

The exercise itself was nothing more than a Hollywood production, watched by over one hundred generals and dignitaries. There were indeed impressive displays of individual unit prowess. Airborne troops performed a helicopter insertion by rappelling out of the helicopters and establishing a perimeter moments afterwards. New tanks and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) rushed through explosions to reach their objectives. Artillery performed a very impressive and colourful linear barrage right on schedule. Fighter planes played laser tag and hit floating targets without difficulties.

Photo from the PLA Daily. The proximity of the land units to the barrage allows for no error in timing or placement if only for safety reasons. Such restrictions do not allow initiatives to be practiced.

None of these, however, demonstrate combat effectiveness as a whole. The helicopter insertion was done over cut grass, not reflective of the terrain difficulties of the theatres of operation the PLA is expected to perform in. In a real battle, those explosions the armour rushed through wouldn't be so conveniently placed nor timed. The artillery barrages, while colourful, did not demonstrate a sustained barrage capability.

This being said, the timing of these events is certainly something to be considered. While no doubt, this exercise was mostly staged; it also demonstrated the PLA's ability to keep to a schedule. The tanks, planes, helicopters, artillery were all at the right place at the right time. Translating this to the battlefield means that any opposition can expect the PLA to be able to move substantial forces into place before battle. The enemy can also expect the PLA units to attack on time.

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