PLA Ground Force
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PLA Ground Force The PLA Ground Force (PLAGF) is the land-based service branch of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the armed forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLAGF is responsible for defending the country's land borders and providing ground support for PLA operations. With a history dating back to the Chinese Civil War, the PLAGF has evolved into a modern, technologically advanced force. The PLAGF is one of the largest ground forces in the world, with approximately 1.6 million personnel.
Overview
The PLA Ground Force is the largest of the People's Liberation Army's five main service branches, accounting for approximately 70% of the PLA's total personnel. The PLAGF is organized into several Military Regions (Military Regions), which are responsible for defending specific regions of China. The PLAGF's primary mission is to defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also providing support for domestic and international peacekeeping operations.
Organization
The PLA Ground Force is organized into several major units, including Group Armies (Group Armies), which are equivalent to corps-level formations. Each Group Army is composed of several infantry and armored divisions, as well as artillery and engineering units. The PLAGF also has several specialized units, including air defense and chemical warfare units. The Bureau of Personnel and the Logistics Department oversee the PLAGF's personnel and logistics operations.
Equipment
The PLA Ground Force operates a wide range of military equipment, including Type 99 and Type 96 main battle tanks, Type 86 infantry fighting vehicles, and Type 90 armored personnel carriers. The PLAGF also has a large inventory of artillery pieces, including Type 99 self-propelled howitzers and Type 83 towed howitzers. In recent years, the PLAGF has begun to develop and field more advanced systems, such as the Type 15 light tank and the M113-style ZBL-08 infantry fighting vehicle.
History
The PLA Ground Force has its roots in the Chinese Red Army, which was founded in 1927 during the Chinese Civil War. The Red Army played a key role in the Long March and the eventual Communist victory in 1949. In the 1950s and 1960s, the PLA Ground Force underwent significant modernization and Soviet-style reorganization. The PLAGF has since participated in several major conflicts, including the Korean War and the Sino-Vietnamese War. In recent years, the PLAGF has focused on modernization and military reform, with an emphasis on developing new capabilities and improving its inter-service coordination.
Training and Doctrine
The PLA Ground Force places a strong emphasis on military training and doctrine. The PLAGF has developed a range of training programs, including live-fire exercises and field training exercises. The PLAGF has also adopted new military doctrine, which emphasizes the importance of asymmetric warfare and information operations. The Military Training and Evaluation Department oversees the PLAGF's training and evaluation programs.
Ranks and Insignia
The PLA Ground Force uses a rank structure that is similar to those used by other PLA services. The PLAGF has a range of insignia, including shoulder boards and collar insignia, which are used to identify an individual's rank and unit affiliation. The Regulations on the Ranks of the Chinese People's Liberation Army govern the PLAGF's rank structure and insignia.