People's Liberation Army Marine Corps

The People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps (PLANMC), MUCD Unit 91811, also known as the People's Liberation Army Marine Corps (PLAMC), is the maritime land force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and one of five major branches of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), responsible for amphibious warfare, expeditionary operations and rapid responses. It currently consists of six combined arms brigades; the Special Operations Brigade; and an aviation brigade, for a total of 40,000 personnel.

Before 2017 the PLANMC consisted of just two brigades in the South Sea Fleet. That year it was given the status of a branch headquarters within the People's Liberation Army Navy and began expansion.

History

The present PLANMC was originally established in April 1953 to conduct amphibious operations against islands held by the Republic of China (Taiwan). By the end of the Korean War, the PLANMC numbered 110,000 personnel organized in eight divisions. However, the organization was disbanded in October 1957 when the leadership of China abandoned any plans to seize the island of Taiwan. Following the disbanding of the Marine Corps, the PLAN did maintain a naval infantry force, which consisted of several infantry and amphibious tank regiments.

In 1979 the Central Military Commission (CMC) re-established the Marine Corps and organized it under the PLAN. On 5 May 1980, the 1st Marine Brigade was activated on Hainan.

The PLANMC was expanded in the 1990s because of the growing tensions between China and Taiwan. The 1st Marine Brigade was reinforced and rearmed. In July 1998, the 164th Motorized Infantry Division of the PLA Ground Force's (PLAGF) 41st Group Army had been transferred to the PLAN South Sea Fleet and became the 164th Marine Brigade, with its homebase in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province. In February 2017, it was reported that the 77th Motorized Infantry Brigade of the 26th Group Army was transferred to the PLAN.

The PLANMC participated in multiple international exercises, including participation in RIMPAC, and engaged with United States Marine Corps in mutual training and friendly cultural exchanges during the Bush and Obama administrations as part of its "tranquility and good order" policy according to its navy chief. However, with the Trump administration the PLAN and PLANMC were dis-invited from the 2018 Rim of the Pacific and the US Marines are trained to fight against the PLANMC.

Organization

The PLANMC is subordinate to Navy Headquarters, the Joint Staff Department and the CMC.

Eighteen thousand marines are under the Southern Theater Command, with 6,000 being under Eastern Theater Command and 12,000 being under Northern Theater Command. These brigades possess combined arms units, including armor, artillery, missile, air defense, and logistics.

The Seven brigades are as follows:
* and (ex-164th) Marine Brigades – both based in Zhanjiang
* based in Jinjiang
* based in Jieyang
* based in Laoshan
* based in Haiyang;
* Special Operations Brigade (Sometimes numbered as the 7th) based in Sanya.

There is additionally a marine corps aviation unit known as the stationed in Mingguang, Chuzhou, Anhui. It was founded in 2017.

Each Marine Brigade is organized into the following elements:
* 1 × Brigade HQ and Service Company
* 3 x Marine Combined Arms Battalions (1 x Heavy with ZTD-05 Amphibious Tank, 1 × Medium with ZBD-05 Amphibious IFV and 1 × Light with VP4 ATV )
* 1 x Air Assault Battalion
* 1 x Marine Artillery Battalion
* 1 × Air Defense Battalion
* Marine Reconnaissance Battalion
* Combat Support Battalion
* Service Support Battalion

The PLA has additional amphibious assault capabilities in the PLAGF amphibious combined-arms brigades.

Equipment

; Personnel equipment
* Type 95 Assault Rifle
* Type 95B Carbine
* QBB-95 Squad Automatic Weapon
* QBU-88 Designated Marksman Rifle
* QCW-05 Submachine Gun
* QSZ-92 Pistol
* QBS-06 underwater rifle
* QLZ-87 grenade launcher
* QBU-10 sniper rifle
* QLU-11 grenade launcher/sniper
* PF-89 rocket launcher
* PF-97 rocket launcher
* DZJ-08 rocket launcher

; Armor
* Type 15 tank
* ZTL-11 Amphibious Assault Gun
* ZBL-08 Amphibious IFV
* ZSL-10 Amphibious APC
* ZTD-05 Amphibious Assault Gun
* ZBD-05 Amphibious IFV
* ZSD-05 Amphibious APC
* WZ551 Wheeled APC

; Aircraft
* Z-9WA attack helicopter
* Z-9C utility helicopter
* Z-18 transport helicopter

; Artillery and ammunition
* PLZ-07B self-propelled howitzer
* PLL-09 self-propelled howitzer
* Type 89 self-propelled howitzer
* HJ-8 Anti-tank missile
* HJ-73 Anti-tank missile

Chinese marines use the QBZ-95 as their main armament, though this is set to change as the PLA is set to replace the QBZ-95 with the QBZ-191 as its standard service rifle. The Type 07 Oceanic Camouflage used by the marines is likewise scheduled to be replaced by the Xingkong camouflage pattern. The marines also make use of GPS and night vision systems to enhance their fighting capabilities.

For air defense, Chinese marines employ a mix of automatic and manually operated anti-aircraft artillery systems, as well as short range surface-to-air missiles. The marines have been seen operating the new Type 95 self-propelled air defense platform on an amphibious hull similar to the Type 77 APC. This platform is armed with four 25mm cannon with a short ranged SAM combination to achieve effective killing capabilities against low flying targets at short ranges. The Type 89 self-propelled 122mm gun is the first SP artillery system in service with the marines since 1999. This adds additional accurate firepower to the PLAMC.

See also

* Republic of China Marine Corps (part of the Republic of China Navy)
* People's Liberation Army Airborne Corps (part of the People's Liberation Army Air Force)
* People's Liberation Army Navy Coastal Defense Force
* People's Liberation Army special operations forces

References

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China
Military units and formations established in 1953
Military units and formations disestablished in 1957
Military units and formations established in 1979