Over 6,000 soldiers, aircraft deployed to quake-hit Sichuan

 Over 6,000 soldiers, aircraft deployed to quake-hit Sichuan

    0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, April 20, 2013

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2013-04/20/content_28604603.htm

Chinese authorities have deployed more than 6,000 military and armed police soldiers and several aircraft to the area hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province to help with rescue and relief efforts.

About 2,000 soldiers from Chengdu Military Area Command (MAC) of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) were rushing to the epicenter, while two helicopters were tasked with finding out more about the situation on the ground.

Another rescue team with about 220 soldiers from a PLA Air Force unit in Sichuan have also been dispatched to the quake-hit area.

About 800 soldiers with 120 professional rescue vehicles have arrived in the quake-hit area, and a unit of 50 soldiers with six excavating vehicles has arrived in Lushan county, epicenter of the quake.

According to local government, another unit of about 50 military reserve members has arrived at Longmen town, a mountainous region in Lushan county seriously jolted by the quake.

China's People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) has dispatched 3,900 officers and soldiers from its contingent stationed in Sichuan Province, and so far 2,600 of them have arrived at six towns in the quake-hit area to carry out rescue and relief work.

The Air Force Commander General Ma Xiaotian, who was overseeing the Air Force's units in the southwest, suspended his official trip and has set up an Air Force headquarter for quake relief in Sichuan's Qionglai county.

The Air Force Command also scrambled two reconnaissance aircraft from Beijing at 10:08 a.m. and 11:42 a.m. Saturday to take aerial photographs over the quake-hit area in Sichuan.

A transport aircraft was scrambled to Kunming of southwest Yunnan Province from where it will take a national rescue and relief team and transport it to the quake-hit area.

The Chengdu MAC has already set up a quake relief and rescue headquarters and the MAC's air force troops are ready to dispatch quake-relief teams to the epicenter.

The MAC has also set up medical aid, transport and engineering teams to assist in the quake-hit region.

Sichuan Earthquake, 2013. PAP mobilization Update 4/19/2013

* 950 PAP arrived at the quake zone
* 1 S&R team (15 people and one dog) arrived

Sichuan Earthquake, 2013. PLA mobilization Update 4/19/2013

* 2000 troops of the 149th Mech Infantry Division mobilized and en route to the quake zone .

•  The 149th is Chengdu MR's designated RRU unit, this repaid reaction is not unexpected.

* one Artillery Regiment of the Chengdu MR mobilized 
* 2nd LH (Army Aviation) Brigade is carrying S&R work

China earthquake: 'Hundreds dead or injured' in Sichuan
 BBC


Hundreds of people may have been killed or injured after an earthquake in China's western Sichuan province, state media report.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake, which had a 6.6 magnitude, was centred 80km (50 miles) west of the town of Linqiong.

It said the tremor occurred at a depth of 12.3km (7.6 miles).

The area is prone to tremors. An 8.0 magnitude quake in Sichuan in May 2008 killed nearly 90,000 people.

The latest quake - initially reported as a 7.0 magnitude, and then at 6.9 - struck at 08:02 local time (01:02 BST), the USGS said.

It was felt 115km (71 miles) away in the provincial capital, Chengdu, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.

It said only 10 people had been confirmed dead, but other state media suggested the toll could be far higher.

"The earthquake in Ya'an, Lushan, has injured or killed hundreds of people," the Sichuan earthquake bureau said, quoted by an official website.

 

Propaganda photo of the day: I'm on a boat

Photo of the day: Composition of Liaoning's first carrier strike group

According to folks in China, the first Liaoning carrier strike group is composite of two Type051C DDG, two 054A DDG and one supply ship.   While this composition make sense, we are still waiting for further proof.

The first ZBL-09 Assault gun equipped unit unveiled

It is the 162nd light-mech infantry division, 54th Group Army, Jinan MR.  There is no need for "Drumroll, Please" as the 162nd already operates other ZBL-09 variants.  

It is interesting to note that this PLA daily is calling  ZBL-09 Assault gun  a "wheeled light tank"

http://jn.81.cn/content/2013-04/12/content_5297880.htm

中国军网记者频道济南（王卫东 武今鹏）：今年3月初，某新型轮式坦克正式列装济南军区某装甲团，盼新装备盼红了眼的全团官兵，像喜迎新娘一样激动不已。
激动伴着欣喜，原因是听说新装备配备的火控系统大多只需按几个按钮，输入数据、参数即可完成射击准备，“一键式”智能射击方式还会使射击精度更高，像操作“傻瓜”相机一样简单容易。
然而，几天的新鲜劲头还没过，官兵们一个个像霜打的茄子——蔫了：战术互联网电台、数传单元、车长任务终端、北斗一体机等，这些信息化设备一时让官兵如坠云雾。
坦克三连上士车长张鹏，入伍第三年就考取通信特级证书，连续8年被评为通信能手，9次担任重大演习头车车长，被官兵誉为“动中通”。
第一次带领通信组训练，张鹏自信地给战士们动员：“不就是输入几组数据吗？有啥难的？看我的！”
说完，张鹏带领第一组乘员起步、登车，利利索索地钻进坦克，按照前段时间培训中掌握的程序，打开电源，初始化数据库……战士们瞪大眼等着给班长们鼓 掌，可坦克里的张鹏却憋得满脸通红：一番鼓捣，愣是联不通上级指挥中枢，本车其他3名成员也丁是丁，卯是卯，根本联不到一块……
“咋就玩不转呢？”张鹏钻出坦克，脸红得像关公。不仅张鹏这组人遭遇尴尬，团领导调研中发现，尽管接收新装备前后，团里通过邀请专家授课、外送骨干培训，官兵掌握了一些常识和技能，但真的使用起来，不是锣齐鼓不齐，就是训练、保障难题频频“冒泡”。
炮兵营四级军士长王虎，带着全班钻进某新型自行火炮操作室，每个人都傻了眼：新型火炮操作平台上，密密麻麻的按钮就有20多个，以前学的一些基本常 识在大脑里成了一团浆糊。炮长的专业变得更复杂，训练内容由过去的3个，变为现在5大专业涉及十几个学科内容。第一次训练，王虎带着全班对照说明书，小心 翼翼地一个按钮一个按钮碰，一个流程一个流程试。
新装备配备的信息显控平台、火控计算机，能把风速、气温、药温等几十个影响精度的因素瞬间完成精准计算。过去，大家比的是哪门炮、哪辆车射击准备中 最先占领阵地，计算修正量最精确等等，如今，拼的是信息共享、数据互通以及车内人与人、单车与单车、单车与整个指挥中枢之间的协同……
一时间，面对“撒手锏”，官兵们就像小娃娃放鞭炮——又爱又怕。从团领导到普通一兵逐步认识到，换装并不是单纯的“腾笼换鸟”那么简单，而是带来了训练方式、训练观念、保障手段等一系列冲击。
“装备能配发，但人的素质得靠自己积累提升，素质升级势在必行，我们不能等，也等不起。换装更需换脑！”党委议训会上，大家达成共识：老老实实从头学,扎扎实实起步练。
很快，全团上下都有股强烈的素质危机感。从头学，可不是吃大锅饭、磨洋工。政委谢天平的一句话通俗易懂：吃着碗里，盯着锅里的，不仅要完成大纲规定的训练任务，更要盯着信息化战场找差距、补齐短板。
训练场还是以前的训练场，教室还是原来的教室，但团党委“一班人”的目光看得更远了。他们邀请院校专家、教授和友邻单位技术骨干来到部队，共同研究制定官兵素质升级“路线图”，区分专业、区分层次，按岗位实施定向培训。
坦克七连官兵熟悉了新型坦克的基本操作使用，提出了遇有浓雾、烟尘怎么办？火控系统故障怎么办？通信系统遭敌袭扰等18个“怎么办”，围绕这些“怎么办”，全团掀起了轰轰烈烈的训练热潮。
（王卫东 武今鹏 王世鹏 李连军）

Friday, July 29, 2011

ZBL-09 Assault gun variant unveiled.

Perhaps this latest unveiling would add more credence to the rumor of PLA's own Stryker Brigade, perhaps not. At any rate, it is no secret that the PLA high command is a huge fan of FM 3-0 and don't be surprise to see a more "full spectrum" focused than pure firepower approach to war fighting down the road  

SAT-Comm variant

Sunday, May 15, 2011

PLA's ZBL09 IFV (VN1 Export) 8x8 family

The rate it is going, they might have their own Stryker Combat Brigade soon.
http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2011/05/plas-zbl09-ifv-vn1-export-8x8-family.html

Photo taken from the 2009 October 1st Military Parade

Engineering variant

122mm howitzer variant

120mm mortar variant

 

Recon variant

 

Command variant 

I suppose that's one way to avoid paying highway tolls in China.

Camo-ed your truck and claim you are transporting missile parts.   Well, It did not work this time.

“穿”着迷彩衣，却没挂军牌。日前，宁洛高速滁州段一收费站迎来两辆耍横的“军车”。“气势十足，还拉着警报。”据当地交警介绍，两辆车很有军用货车的 “范儿”，司机也要求免费过道口。令交警生疑的是，这两辆崭新的军车没有悬挂军牌。见唬不住，司机再出一招，“我们正在执行秘密运输任务。”问：“运的什 么？”答：“导弹！”

　　两辆迷彩车蛮横要免单

　　4月3日下午14时30分左右，宁洛高速公路44公里处曹庄收费站，伴随着响亮的警报声，两辆大货车呼啸驶入收费道口。这两辆车气势十足，不光警报拉 得响，车身也喷涂着迷彩漆，更是彰显其“军车”的身份。可蹊跷的是，这两辆车并未悬挂军车号牌。进入道口，驾驶员并无缴费的意思，反而要求收费站工作人员 提供免费通行服务。收费人员十分负责，请求驾驶员出示“三证一单”，即军人驾驶证、士兵证、军车行驶证和派车单。

　　然而，驾驶员拒绝出示任何证件，且态度蛮横，与收费道口外勤人员纠缠不休。

　　交警来查处自称运导弹

　　这时，在旁边执勤的滁州交警高速三大队民警见状，立即上前了解情况。获悉事情缘由，民警要求两车驾驶员赵某、朱某，依法出示驾驶证、行驶证和机动车号 牌。面对民警，两人自称“正在执行军事运输任务”，且以“此次军事行动保密”为名，拒绝出示任何证书及相关军事行动证明。见民警不愿放行，其中一人还说， “军车运输的是导弹，不接受交警的查处”。鉴于此，民警立即向上级汇报，并请求滁州市军分区警备司令部前来调查。

　　民车冒军车正在被调查

　　15时10分，滁州市军分区警备司令部军车监察部门相关负责人，带领军车纠察队员赶到现场。直到这时，两名驾驶员才愿意出示临时号牌，以及相关证件。随后，一份由常熟某汽车公司发出的传真，证明“我公司新试制生产的两辆部队用车目前尚未列装……车上所乘人员均是我公司职工……”当然，车内并无导弹，两车也未执行军事任务。

　　“既然没有列入军队的装备序列，那就是民用车辆”，民警告诉记者，“也就是说，这两辆车不能冒充军车，更不该以执行军事任务的名义，要求高速公路收费 站免收过路费用，当然也不能拒绝接受交警部门查处”。目前，公安机关正在对这两辆违法车辆进行调查处理。（施宗保 包增光 欧阳徐中 文/摄）

　　http://ah.anhuinews.com/system/2013/04/09/005578842.shtml

Military industrial complex PR of the day: LockMart's UCLASS Concept

looks impressive.   Wait the minute, what is that FFG on the lower right corner?

Thanks xyz for this FYI.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

military industrial complex PR of the day: Raytheon Naval Mission Defense Solutions against incoming C-801 ASCM

Raytheon illustrates its unique and flexible approach to protecting Offshore Patrol Vessel missions.

Introducing the PLA naval underwater demolition team

This PLAN’s sole underwater demolition team was commissioned in 1984.   Since its inception, the team has participated in 57 key projects such as the Three Gorges Damn dam and the Qinshan nuclear power plant.  

It's current key project is the construction of  Liaoning’s home port at Qingdao.  Judging by satellite photos, this huge  key project has the work cut out for them.   Also, given the huge size of the construction project, it is likely that the PLAN has more than one air carrier in mind for Qingdao.