More horsing around

Believe it or not, the PLA Rocket Force, often regarded as the military’s most advanced branch, also relies on mobility support from an independent cavalry company.  Year of the horse strong.

 

Happy Year Of The Horse.

Greetings from the the Gannan, Golog, Yushu, Huangnan independent Cavalry Companies

 

 

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Modern PLA Land Unit Of The Day. Light Cavalry

After reviewing the modern Chinese heavy shield infantry and Phalanx / Mandarin Duck formations, next up is the mysterious PLA Light Cavalry.   The PLA Light Cavalry, like other Light Cavalries such as the legendary Mongolian equivalent, is trained as swift scouts and battlefield raiders. As a result, they traded heavy armor for speed and mobility, allowing them to perform critical missions such as performing reconnaissance, quick raids against the enemy's rear, and protecting the flanks of the main army.   At least in principle.   In actuality, as evidenced by the photographs below, they are not properly armed for modern combat of 2024.   While it is understandable that they are not protected with plate armor, they are also not wearing mail shirts for little protection against arrows or melee warfare.  

As several famous PLA professional analysts have properly pointed out, the PLA has not performed a massive cavalry charge since the mid Qing dynasty, 200 years ago, thus it is understandable that they will not know how to handle modern combat.  They are untested.  Additionally, they appear to be equipped just with a saber and a composited bow, with neither shield or lance to be found. Furthermore, crucial two-way communication technology such as Ram Horn is not available at the squadron level; as some well-known PLA professional analysts have pointed out, corruption at the top levels is to blame for not equipping Ram Horn to each troop.

 

riday, August 20, 2010

The Charge of the PLA

Cavalry men have a military training on Xilingol grassland, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, to greet the upcoming 83rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) that falls on August 1. (Xinhua/Zhu Yuanli)

The Charge of the Light Brigade
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

1.

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
"Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

2.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

3.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

4.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air,
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel'd from the sabre stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

5.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

6.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor the charge they made,
Honor the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred.

 

A new NORINCO‑built tracked 155 mm howitzer may be taking shape?

Over the past several months, photos of what appears to be a new 155 mm howitzer turret possibly featuring an extended bustle rack have been are found on the Chinese internet. More recently, images of a new seven‑roadwheel tracked chassis surfaced online as well.  

At present, the only seven‑wheel tracked chassis in PLA Ground Force service is the one found on the PLZ‑05 155 mm self‑propelled howitzer, which entered service in 2003 and was publicly unveiled during the 2006 parade. With a new turret design appearing at the same time as a new seven‑wheel chassis, it’s reasonable to suspect that NORINCO may be developing a next‑generation self‑propelled howitzer.  

Whether these components belong to the same program remains unconfirmed, but we likely won’t have to wait long to find out.

New turret and chassis photos

 Standard PLZ‑05 155 mm self‑propelled howitzer

 

 

Sunday, September 29, 2024

PLZ05 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer now with "Cope Cages"

 Photo credit goes to Strangelove of China Defense Forum

 

 

 

 

Saturday, August 17, 2024

"The Last Of Us"

Photos of the Type PL66 152mm Howitzer in storage and its SP version (PLZ83 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer) on museum display show that the PLA has put their "last of the" 152mm based howitzer system to rest, leaving their 155mm as the standardized caliber for their heavy artillery.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

PLZ04/05 155mm Self Propelled Howitzers update.

In a series of photos and CCTV reports released by the PLA (here) recently, it appears that they have significantly upgraded the fire power of their infantry divisions belonging to the Nanjing Military Region with PLZ04/05 155mm Self Propelled Howitzers.  

The PLZ04/05 is the pride of the PLA artillery, capable of firing guided rounds to a maximum range of 100KM, a major jump over their old 152mm PLZ83 (D20 based) workhorse.    Together with other supporting arms of the PLA, a PLZ04/05 Abteilung consists of 6 tubes in a 18-gun battalion, organic to the divisional headquarters.   Additionally, more PLZ04/05 tubes are available to the Nanjing MR from its1st Artillery Division. 1st Group Army.


91st Amphibious Infantry Division, 31st Group Army traded in their old PLZ83 152mm SPH for the new PLZ05.

PLZ83

2nd PLZ05 Battalion belonging to the Artillery Regiment,  1st Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division, 1st Group Army, confirmed.   The 1st Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division now enjoys the firepower of 36 PLZ05 tubes, a first for a PLA infantry division.

PLAN Submarine Photo Of The Day: The Mightly Ming.

The Type 035G submarine class, which once peaked at twelve boats, has now effectively disappeared from the PLAN service. Two were sold to the Bangladesh Navy in 2013, two have been converted into museum or theme‑park attractions, and the remaining boats are currently being scrapped.

 

 

 

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Photo of the day: 2 ex-PLAN Ming class submarines in Bangladesh

I found the semi-submersible "Taikang Kou" in this picture is much more interesting than the 2 Mings on its back -- such an amphibious warfare capable asset will be STUFT-ed (Ships Taken Up From Trade)into military service in time of war, I guarantee it.

Bangladesh took delivery on Monday of its first submarines, bought from China, as it seeks to boost its naval power in the Bay of Bengal.

http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2016/11/14/two-submarines-added-bangladesh-armada/

Bangladesh navy chief Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed received the submarines during a ceremony at Liao Nan Shipyard in Liaoning province’s Dalian city, according to a Inter Services Public Relation Directorate release.
The release, signed by ISPR spokeswoman Syed Taposhi Rabeya, reads the type 035G class submarines will become part of the country’s naval fleet at the beginning of next year. The submarines will be named BNS Nabajatra and BNS Joyjatra respectively.

 

PLA Infantry TOE of the day: Man-portable ATGM Team

Sure, the HJ‑8 with its widespread use in overseas conflict zones and the newer, flashier AFT‑10/Red Arrow 10 NLOS system are getting a lot of attention at our small PLA watching community. However, the most common ATGM in actual PLA service, the venerable Red Arrow 73 (HJ‑73), is still very much in use. In fact, it’s now rumored to be fielded by four‑man anti‑tank teams that are organic to the weapons company of an infantry battalion.   

The HJ‑73, originally developed as a copy of the Soviet 9M14 Malyutka, remains light, portable, and inexpensive,  natural fits into the PLA’s mobile infantry doctrine.  The later SACLOS‑guided HJ‑73C variant, weighting in 15Kg total, allows the launcher, control station, and missile to be carried and deployed with minimal effort by a single solider.   As shown in the image below, a four‑man team can transport two complete ATGM sets and bring them into action quickly from well‑concealed positions. These attributes are especially valuable in the southern and mountainous western regions of China, where mobility, simplicity, and ease of concealment continue to justify the missile’s place in the PLA’s table of organization and equipment (TOE).   Great for ambush - it is like a heavy RPG but guided with greater range.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

China Army Orbat Update: Light High Mobility Infantry Company of a Light Combined-Arms Brigade

A new China Army formation came into light last year, it is the now confirmed the all-wheeled "Light Combined-Arms Brigade".  This new brigade's Mobility Infantry Company is powered by a fleet of 14 CKS-181 Dongfeng Mengsh AFV, each with 10 infantry.  One additional CSZ181support vehicle for logistic support to a sum of 15 vehicles per company.   

 Mobility Infantry Company's organic firepower is backed by the 12.7mm + HJ-73D Red Arrow Anti-Tank Guided-Missile contained in its RWS.   MANPOD is carried inside each CKS-181 for air defense as well.