Good bye 121st Jungle-Mountain Infantry Brigade, oh hello 121st Air-Assault Brigade (空中突击第121旅) 75th Group Army, Southern Theater Command

Lets change the subject from DPRK to Southern China for a few.   The old 121st Jungle-Mountain Infantry Brigade is no more, it has merged with the old 12th LH (Army Aviation) Regiment to form the new 121st Air-Assault Brigade (空中突击第121旅). 

Air Assault 1st BN is equipped with ATV's (see picture)
Helicopter 4th BN is equipped with Z-19's


Pairing Army Aviation with organic specialized, light infantry units,  I am seeing a trend here.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

The 1st LH (Army Aviation) Brigade is now the 161st Air-Assault Brigade (空中突击第161旅), 83rd Group Army, Central Theater Command

The great PLA orbat reform of 2017 continues -- the former 1st LH Brigade now has an organic light assault infantry detachment and renamed as the 161st Air-Assault Brigade accordingly.   It is no-longer just a battlefield transport arm of the 83rd Group Army anymore.

To be clear, the PLA has been experimenting with heli-assault tactics in combined arms operations since the formation of its LH (Army Aviation) Corps (here), albeit at a low scale.  In 2005, the CMC detached elements from the 149th Mech Infantry Division to form the experimental 155th Special Light Mechanized Regiment as a first step of putting theoretical theory into practice.  In addition to the 155th, a smaller Heli-Assault battalion battle group was also created at the Nanjing MR to further refine small-unit, heli-assault operations.   Fast forward to 2017, Air-Assault is now part of the ground force's arsenal.  More LH units are expected to be converted into Air-Assault Brigades as part the orbat reform.

The PLAAF is also doing the same (see below) 

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Next up at the Stride 2015 - Zhurihe A "red-vs-blue" confrontational exercise, 1st Heli-Assault Brigade, Nanjing MR

This is 1st Heli-Assault Brigade's first "baptism of fire" at Zhurihe, China's premier operational level "red vs blue" proving ground. It should be interesting to see how fine-tuned the PLA air assault tactics are after 10 years of trial and error in adopting this new combat operation. 

The 1st Heli-Assault Brigade (or 直升机机降突击旅 in Chinese) started as the 1st Heli-Assault battalion battle group in 2005, expanded into a full assault brigade in 2008. According to its commander 厉振彪 Li ZhenBiao, due to shortage of organic vertical assets, flatbed trucks were pressed into service to simulate airdrops. Their first military exercise was feasible only by 2009 when additional  helicopters found their way to the Nanjing MR.  Despite taking part at this year's Zhurihe, the outfit is still fairly new by PLA standards, doubts about their effectiveness will remain for some time to come.

Here are CCTV captures of its first military exercise in 2009

PLA's STUFT (Ships Taken Up From Trade) capacity in a North Korean crisis

While it is fashionable to cite the PLNA having the"capable of sea-lifting only one infantry division" (TM), but without the PLAN, the PLA can draw upon its own organic amphibious warfare assets, which is enormous in its own right.  Furthermore,  the CMC also has a long tradition of STUFT-ing civil assets in a crisis.

When-and-if the PLA is able to secure a beachhead near the plain of Pyonyang, undoubtedly they will use captured ports to send supply and reinforcement from Dailian, Yantai and Shanghai.   Distance between Pyongyang and Dalian 224 miles across the Yellow Sea. 

Here is a look at China's STUFT (Ships Taken Up From Trade) capacity as of 2012.

-  Bohai Ferry Fleet. 11x Ropax liners with 1400-1600 passengers + 200+ vehicle spaces each.  That is 22,000 vehicles and 28,000 troops. 

 - State owned CSC-sinotrans has 27 Ro-ROs 

 http://www.sinotrans-csc.com/art/2016/9/30/art_12507_221252.html
Jinling Shipyard has to date delivered 27 RORO ships of various types. It was awarded the project for the 16,000-ton RORO ships, further consolidating its advantageous position in the global RORO ship building sector, and indicating the acknowledgment by the ship-owner of the Jinling RORO brand for its fully guaranteed timely ship delivery. At present, Jinling Shipyard is has received the contracts for and is in the process of building 10 RORO ships, which fall into the four series, i.e., 6700-vehicle, 3800-vechile, 12,00-ton and 16,000-ton ships, with the ship-owners being internationally renowned big companies. 

 - Five Ocean going rail ferries.


I n short,  if the CMC is committed to STUFT its entire Ro-Ro fleet, it could drop 150,000 troops together with their supply and vehicles in a single lift.  

Sunday, August 12, 2012

After Shangyang MR, Jinan MR is also getting STUFT-ed

China Launch Passenger RoRo Ship with Military Capability
PLA Daily
Friday, August 10, 2012

China's largest RoRo 'Bohai Emerald Bead' with the longest reach leaves Yantai Port in East China.

Different from ordinary ships, the 36,000 displacement civilian passenger and roll-on/roll-off ship was constructed in accordance with national defense requirements in mind in its design and construction so that it can carry organic troop units and heavy equipment.


The 178-meter-long and 28-meter-breadth ship can carry 2,000-plus persons and be loaded with over 300 vehicles of various sizes simultaneously.

The "Bohai Emerald Bead" is the first ship of its kind to be built in China, and there are three more of the same design under construction.

According to Rong Xianwen, director of the Military Transportation Department under the Jinan Military Area Command (MAC) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the passenger and roll-on/roll-off ship is the most optimal ship type in maritime transportation of military troops as it possesses the advantages including large transportation quantity and high loading efficiency.

It is not only the means of transportation, but also a temporary barrack. Such type of ship is often utilized in military operations by western developed countries.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

STUFT-ed, Chinese Style.

According to the Chinese edition report of the same (here), the China Army will STUFT (Ship Taken Up From Trade) a total of four large size Ro-Ro ships under the command of the Shenyang MR.  

Advanced passenger ro-ro ship commissioned in Shenyang MAC
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/news-channels/photo-reports/2012-01/19/content_4772483.htm
(Source: China Military Online) 2012-01-19

The “Qingshandao” large-scale passenger ro-ro ship (China Military Online/Chen Li and Du Mingjun)

Escorted by related personnel of the military representative office of navigation affairs under the Shenyang Military Area Command (MAC) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Passenger Ship Co., Ltd of the China Shipping Co., the 23,000-ton “Qingshandao” large-scale passenger ro-ro ship smoothly arrived at the Dalian Port from the Guangzhou Shipyard on Jan. 12, 2012. The commission of this most advanced ship lays a solid foundation for improving the maritime strategic projection capability of the Chinese Navy.(China Military Online/Chen Li and Du Mingjun)

Editor:Zhang Qingxia

Of course, all those news release could be part of a Communist propaganda attempt to deceit -- China, as a nation, still only capably of sea-lifting one division at a time.  Don't believe me? See this official US government report.
 

"China Naval Modernziation: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities -- Background and Issues for Congress released by the US government.
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/128334.pdf

Change in Amphibious Lift Capability Since 2000 Although China in recent years has deployed new amphibious ships and craft, DOD states that “PLA air and amphibious lift capacity has not improved appreciably since 2000 when the Department of Defense assessed the PLA as capable of sealift of one infantry division.”


"As China’s capabilities for local and regional operations have increased in certain areas since 2000, a number of limitations appear to have persisted. The PLA has developed new doctrine for joint warfighting and implemented organizational changes, such as including service commanders on the Central Military Commission, to facilitate the transition to a more “joint” force. However, joint integration still lags. Similarly, PLA air and amphibious lift capacity has not improved appreciably since 2000 when the Department of Defense assessed the PLA as capable of sealift of one infantry division. Likewise, China’s current ability to deliver about 5,000 parachutists in a single lift (less if equipment is carried at the same time) is similar to previous assessments. China’s at-sea replenishment has improved with experience since 2000, but the PLA Navy today remains limited by a small number of support vessels – much as it did then. In 2000, the Department of Defense projected aerial refueling as an operational capability by 2005. Today, while China has a few aerial refueling aircraft, it does not have the number of tankers, properly equipped combat aircraft, or sufficient training to employ this capability for power projection."

Previous blog entry:

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

The COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Company) “Spirit”

The first “China design and build” Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) vehicle carrier launched on June 24, 2009 at Zhoushan shipyard marking a major advance in China’s building capability.


The COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Company) “Spirit” 中远盛世 has a fully loaded displacement of 14,500 tons, capable of carrying 5000 vehicles with a design speed of 20 knots. Its dimensions are: 182.8 meters in length, 32.2 meters in width and 34 meters high. It has a total of 9 stationary and 3 adjustable decks to accommodate vehicles of different heights. Just like other modern RoRo’s, the COSCO Spirit is fully automated and allows for single-crew-piloting.


COSCO cited the increase in automobile imports as the sole reason to build such a fleet and indeed in January, China surpassed the US as the world’s largest car market. (Here) But the RoRo carrier can press into military service and is generally considered a national security asset according to the August 2006 report “The Role of United States’ Commercial Shipping Industry in Military Sealift” presented by the US DOD due to its capability to load and offload large volumes of vehicles in repetition. US civilian RoRo fleets under the US Transportation Command were credited as a necessary strategic asset during the recent gulf war as cited by the same report.


The RoRo carrier also played an important support role for the Royal Navy during the 1982 Falklands War by ferrying 4000 troops to the remote island battlefield. Today one of the Royal Navy’s auxiliary training ships, the HMS Argus, was also converted to a RoRo carrier.


Additional RoRo carriers will augment the PLA’s transport capabilities especially in situations where large numbers of Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV) are needed. At the same time, one must be careful not to view it as an amphibious asset for operations directed at “a run-a-way island,” err, I mean “an investment partner” as RoRo carriers require a secure and undamaged deep seaport in order to offload.


Photos of COSCO "Spirit" with primer gray and a top deck that can accommodate helicopter operations.





It looks similar to the French Navy's amphibious assault ship Mistral (L9013)




Previous RoRo with imported designs are painted red such as the smaller Changjilong which launched in Sept 08, 2008






Other RoRo currently in civilian service








CCTV Reported a military exercise involving Yue Hai Tie 2, a railroad car RoRo, pressed into military service in Hainan Island.

The second-line PLA units facing the North

The consolidation of border defense regiments into brigades is one aspect of the recent PLA orbat reform that is largely missed by people outside of China.   As of today, there are 11 border defense brigades and 4 coastal defense brigades organic to the Northern Theater Command.   They were consolidated from nine border defense regiments from Heilongjiang, three from Jilin, six from Liaoning and nine from Inner Mongolia.  Plus nine coastal defense regiments from Shangdong.   Prior to the reform,  border defense regiments were subordinated to the provincial military commands, a layer under the old Military Region HQ.

The border defense units might be defensive in nature but they are capable of independent movement.  Their deployment will free up line units from rearguard duties when they advance deep into the North.   While not all border brigades will be deployed, they will count as "boots on the ground" to maintain the peace or to hold a possible insurgency a bay.  A lesson drawn from Operation Enduring Freedom I suppose.  In addition to those guards, the PLA line units can expect support from hundred of thousands of PAP and local police as well.

Northern Theater Command Border Defense Brigade:

321st Brigade
322nd Brigade
323rd Brigade
324th Brigade
325th Brigade
326th Brigade
327th Brigade
328th Brigade
329th Brigade
330th Brigade
331th Brigade    

Northern Theater Command Coastal Defense Brigade:

332th Coastal Defense Brigade (Liaoning)
333th Coastal Defense Brigade (Liaoning)
334th Coastal Defense Brigade (Shangdong)
335th Coastal Defense Brigade (Shangdong)

 Note the QBZ-03 "I hate bullpup" assault rifle the guardsman is carrying 

PLA orbat update, Northern Theater Command (78th, 79th and 80th GA)

Here's PLA TC facing the North -- 3 GAs together with 18 line brigades.   In addition to organic units, they can draw support from sister TCs such as the the Central and the West. 


-->

Northern TC	16th Group Army	78th Group Army	8th Combined-Arms Brigade
			48th Combined-Arms Brigade
			68th Combined-Arms Brigade
			115th Combined-Arms Brigade
			202th Combined-Arms Brigade
			204th Combined-Arms Brigade
			78th SpOps Bridage
			78th Artillery Brigade
			78th Army Aviation Brigade
			78th Engineer Brigade
			78th Joint Logistics Support Brigade
			78th Air Defense Brigade
	39th Group Army	79th Group Army	46th Combined-Arms Brigade
			116th Combined-Arms Brigade
			119th Combined-Arms Brigade
			190th Combined-Arms Brigade
			191st Combined-Arms Brigade
			200th Combined-Arms Brigade
			79th SpOps Bridage
			79th Artillery Brigade
			79th Army Aviation Brigade
			79th Engineer Brigade
			79th Joint Logistics Support Brigade
			79th Air Defense Brigade
	26th Group Army	80th Group Army	47th Combined-Arms Brigade
			69th Combined-Arms Brigade
			118th Combined-Arms Brigade
			138th Combined-Arms Brigade
			199st Combined-Arms Brigade
			203th Combined-Arms Brigade
			80th SpOps Bridage
			80th Artillery Brigade
			80th Army Aviation Brigade
			80th Engineer Brigade
			80th Joint Logistics Support Brigade
			80th Air Defense Brigade
	40th Group Army	Decommissioned

. .

Sunday, August 13, 2017

PLA orbat update, Southern Theater Command (74th and 75th GA)

 

41st Group Army	74th Group Army	1st Combined-Arms Brigade
		16th Combined-Arms Brigade
		125th Combined-Arms Brigade
		132nd Combined-Arms Brigade
		154th Combined-Arms Brigade
		163th Combined-Arms Brigade
		74th Air-Defense Brigade
		74th Artillery Brigade
		74th Special Ops Brigade
		74th Joint Logistics Support Brigade
		74th Engineering Brigade
42nd Group Army	75th Group Army	31st Combined-Arms Brigade
		32nd Combined-Arms Brigade
		37th Combined-Arms Brigade
		42nd Combined-Arms Brigade
		122th Combined-Arms Brigade
		123rd Combined-Arms Brigade
		121st Air-Assault Brigade
		75th Air-Defense Brigade
		75th Artillery Brigade
		75th Special Ops Brigade
		75th Joint Logistics Support Brigade
		75th Engineering Brigade