Blademaster

Throwing a wrench in the process...

What happens if the PLA can't find the right battalion? What happens if they expect to encounter a battalion but instead encounter a much larger force?

What happens when they decide to use their numerical superiority, the terrain or the battlefield itself doesn't allow that?

I don't see this working in the Tibet theater where a single battalion or a company can easily hold off against a division. The PLA generals have got to know that. A child knows that.

Officer of Engineers

Theatre, ie operational reserves. At the bn and coy level, I still expect a platoon and section accordingly as the reserves; same as the West.

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Chimo

Jay

Recee by Force infact would get that info for them, like size of the force, terrain etc.

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A grain of wheat eclipsed the sun of Adam !!

Officer of Engineers

So Hitesh, put on your thinking cap. Think this through. This is how CDF got its reputation. We put things up rather right or wrong. Even wrong, we get hints of where not to go. We discuss.

Yes, the PLA generals got to know that. So, what are they thinking?

xinhui

some PR.............




Air force of Guangzhou MAC furthers joint operation and training mechanism

PLA Daily 2006-06-26

　　

　　In the early summer, the air force under the Guangzhou Military Area Command (MAC) organized a joint exercise involving various services and arms under the actual combat scenario, which has contributed to the further improvement of joint operation and training mechanism.

　　Setting its sight on meeting the requirements of future integrated joint operations, the air force under the Guangzhou MAC has made active explorations in recent years to establish a multi-services-and-arms joint training mechanism. In the end of last year, they took the initiative to team up with other services and arms and organized a joint test-oriented exercise with actual troops under info conditions in combination with the yearly military training examinations. In that exercise, dozens of combat units with nearly 10 thousand troops were involved and the battlefield stretched to seven provinces and autonomous regions. In order to ensure the smooth progress of the exercise, an indoor virtual exercise was conducted before it was actualized. The joint exercise was staged on the basis of unified command and step control, which not only gave full play to the maximum potential of the participating combat units, but also reinforced the overall effectiveness of the joint operations.

　　By Wu Aili and Zhao Lingyu

　　(June 26, PLA Daily)





Believe it or not, this is actually an important development. There is no word link to political correctness for promotion. This news suggested a new MTEP is comming out!













Liang Guanglie lays stress on blazing new trails in military training

PLA Daily 2006-06-26

　　

　　When addressing the PLA military training meeting on June 24, Liang Guanglie, member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and chief of general staff of the PLA, placed stress on implementing in a deep going way Chairman Hu Jintao's important instruction on paying special attention to military training, all-roundly putting into practice the scientific outlook on development, having a better command of the guiding thinking of the military training in the new century and the new period, straightening out the thought on development, and studying and identifying counter measures so as to boost the innovative development of military training.

　　Liang noted that it is essential to firmly implement the important instruction of Chairman Hu Jintao and the decisions and arrangements of the CMC, further unify our thought in terms of upholding the strategic position of military training, straightening out the thought on the development of military training, having a better understanding of the responsibilities and tasks of military training and sticking to the standards of military training so as to earnestly enhance the senses of responsibility and mission in attaching more importance to military training. Leaders and the leading bodies' ability of doing a good job at training should be raised so as to make sure that they could have a better command of the characteristics and law of military training, map out the training by taking into consideration of the overall situation of the army building, do a real earnest job in training by way of coordinating well the efforts of various aspects and unfold the work in a creative way. Efforts should be made to carry forward the spirit of seeking truth from facts and being pragmatic, establish the correct mentality of political achievements, earnestly straighten the guiding thinking in our work, improve and put into practice the systems of organizational supervision, people's supervision and supervision by public opinion, build up the long-term effective mechanism that will favor the execution of training, and enhance the actual effects of military training in order to ensure the healthy development of military training.

　　Qiao Qingchen and Jing Zhiyuan, members of the CMC, attended the meeting.

　　By Li Xuanqing and Shi Yongcai

　　(June 26, PLA Daily)

Anoop C

Colonel,

Can the following tactics be used to overcome defences in mountainous terrain?

- Vertical envelopment by dropping heliborne forces in the enemy rear (in this case Indian territory ) to interrupt logistic supply of forward posts - a successful envelopment would cause the defenders to withdraw to the next strongly held location in the rear. Unlike the Indo-Pak border which has a very high density of troop deployment, the Indo-Chinese border is relatively scarce and troop deployment in the Eastern Sector is concentrated along a few important passes on the Sikkim-Bhutan border (a lay man's reading, of course). The problem with the terrain for the defender is that once the vantage points have been seized, recovering them is also difficult due to poor approaches.

- Use of guerilla tactics using Nepalese Maoists to thin out the Indian deployment along the Central Sector i.e. Nepal - a huge frontage on the Indian side that will suck up troops, although the PLA's access is limited to only 3 or so major passes on the Chinese border. So far, Nepal has been presumed to be a buffer zone, but in the event of a full scale war, collusion with the Maoists cannot be ruled out.

- There has to be a role for the PLA's short range conventional missile force to simultaneously attack Indian communication nodes in the rear. A combination of confusion in the rear vs. envelopment in the front-lines would be what the PLA doctor orders. would it not?

A general comment. Is the WZC, the Chinese version of Effects Based Warfare? "Shock and awe" being disproportional to the actual physical destruction i.e. rendering a Div. ineffective by attacking its HQ's protective cordon. In the Sino-Indian context, there is already historical precedent at the strategic level in 1962 - Nehru thinking Assam and Arunachal Pradesh were lost when all we lost were a few hundred square km and our main line of defences were still intact. Although, that is unlikely to ever happen again.

Your comments/corrections are welcome.

Officer of Engineers

Anoop,

I'll give you the short answer now and a detailed reply later.

Short answer: foot infantry can go places that even helos can't go and do things alot faster than a guy in pyjammas trying to hide an AK47 can, especially with a radio.

Anoop C

Colonel,

I look forward to your detailed response.

I was under the impression that movement on foot at those heights is very difficult and slow - requiring a lot of acclimatization. No doubt acclimatization that would be needed for heliborne troops also, but that acclimatization can be done in own rear areas and speed of deployment can be increased many-fold via helos. The real problem would be finding helos capable of lifting such loads at those heights in rarefied air, I would think.

xinhui

I don't have much technical details on acclimatization nor detail reading of the terrain. noted that oxygen tanks are standard issue to all PLA troops both front and rear in XJ, Tibet and Lanzhou. I don't see how in WZC setting CMC would draw troops out of costal regions as there are over 200,000 highland troops available.

xinhui

PLA will place all the Helicopters assets of 400 odds to support a WZ.







Army aviation regiment flies 1,000 li to open airfield in training

PLA Daily 2006-06-28

　　

　　Since mid-June, an army aviation regiment of the Jinan Military Area Command has flown over 1,000 li to open field airfields far away from its air base to carry out comprehensive live-fire drills in unfamiliar airspaces and under various tactical conditions, such as complicated electromagnetic environment and ground-to-air firepower barrage, etc. in order to enhance the rapid-response capability of its troops under field airfield combat conditions.

　　This exercise covers operational organization and command, logistics support for equipment, flight control, weather forecast, communication and navigation and other aspects, and sets high demand on mutual coordination among various aspects of the operation. However, by organizing and planning the exercise in a scientific way, the regiment has managed to realize a leapfrog progress from the fixed support to dynamic support.

　　In this exercise, it has accomplished such tactical training subjects and live-fire attack as night formation flight, extra-low altitude interception and coordinated defense of aircraft fleet formation under complicated weather conditions such as sandstorms, low clouds and rain, etc. In addition, through exploration and summing-up, the regiment has developed nine new training methods and air battle tactics, and solved 16 hard-nut training problems. As a result, a new breakthrough has been made in its overall fighting capability.

　　By Wei Pinsheng and Liu Xuenong

　　(June 28, PLA Daily)

xinhui

Some stuff on PLA battalions from 漏斗子on a PLA daily report of a Chengdu MR's battalion's new role (PLAdaily article date is 4-7-2006)

漏斗子 is one of hte most well known PLA watcher inside of China and commands respect. In fact, Andrew KC offen use his as his benchmark.


New battalion can attack and control in "multi- dimensional battlefield” equpped with single troop C3I. Also assigned airforce liason, SAM (manpod??) and radar unit . However, the battalion took place in the ex was not part of a brigade, but rather 2nd btn, 3rd regiment, 149th mech infantry division, 31st Group Army, Changedu MR.

149th is the elite/RRU of Chengdu MR whom just return from a year long deployment near burma borader. its arty regiment was the firste PLA divsional arty regiment to be equipped with organic UAV.




从一体化训练看陆军营编程改革
摘自 鼎盛 漏斗子 2006-04-07 14:05

这个一体化训练，最重要影响到团营编程。这个报道所指的部队据研判，应该是“群众工作模范团”，这个团参加 了成都战区一体化演习。这个报道说的二营营长谢云飞原来是五连“卫国模范连”的连长。
值得关注的是，这个营能够在“多维战场”发起进攻、控制战场。具有“单兵侦察监控、通信传输、作战装具及防 护等5大单元”的新型信息化装备，能够为空军作地面目标引导，有单兵防空导弹、战场搜索雷达、新型两栖突击 车、轻型火炮等，作战时的防空、突击、侦察、火炮支援等诸元都有，还能与空军配合，进攻时还能 “机悬车降”，这种通常是特战大队作战模式。
在一体化作战中，营的合成很重要。师团一级诸军兵种合成，空隙还是比较大的，营的合成是连与连的兵种合成， 以及营为单位和他军种的联合作战，难度大效果好，一个营如果在联合战中能独当一面，团的作战能力就放大了， 师可以成为名副其实的战术军团了。
如果这一次试点成功，对我陆军编程改革会有影响，精兵高效，要在营一级下大功夫。

Officer of Engineers

Anoop,

My apologies. This is the 1st chance I've got to sit down and detail a reply.

In theory, it's possible but not likely. The PLA themselves have written about the MARKET-GARDEN scenario (as do all other airborne forces). The last thing the PLA would want is to be on the losing end of a Battle of Annhilation. Imagine a retreating force steamrolling a helo inserted force. Any helo insert would have to be a supporting force, not a main force action.

The major problem here is leakage. There is simply no way to cover all the passes that entire companies or even battalions would be able to go through on both sides. While differring terrain, the situation offers a similar situation to the Sino-VN border where when either side was willing to brave the jungle (and snakes and scorpions and spiders and crocadiles ...) they were still able to leak through what was the 2nd most heavily mined border in the world.

And you can cut off those approaches by either side. We've discussed this thing over and over and over again. Holding those sites gives you an initial advantage. Once you're bingo supplies, then it's a battle of who can punch their way through 1st. If you can't win with what you got, you're going to starve there.

I can't see the usage of guerrilla forces.

1) Such forces require time to set up a local support base (to which may not be possible since the locals may be hostile). The two propaganda SrCols who wrote UNRESTRICTED WARFARE suggestted a People's Brigade at Aviano during the Kosovo War. Ludicrous to the extreme.

2) They do not have the same standards which means that you will overtask them.

3) They're hit and run forces. A FOO would be better usage of assets.

Like the InAF lacking sufficent planes, there is not enough SSMs to attack all targets. My read thus far is that they're reserving these forces for breakthrough moments. Like I said, imagine 3-5 500lb bombs dropping on your Command Post. Now, how and where they find your CP is an open question.

You're thinking 1962. Be advised that the Chinese do not view that war with high regards. They view the Korean War as their biggest achievement and subsquently, the 1st Sino-VN War in which they broke the Soviet encirclement. In both these cases, the Chinese pay an extremely heavy price but to them, the price was well worth it.

What this means is that the PLA begins and ends thinking political. The primary objective is political, not military. The military actions are a means to an end. So, no, it is not "shock and awe" in that regard.

xinhui

Yet another interesting article from PLAdaily 2006-07-06
1. GSD calls for greater air assault power for Group armies. This is a confirmation of a 2nd LH (army aviation) regiment commissioned within Jinan MR with WZ-9Gs.
2. it is one of few official articles deals with Brigade-battalion reform, also confirms newly reformed brigades also received up-to-date equipments
3. And, of course, the old battalion HQ is unable to handle the newly assigned responsibilities of combined arms operations that was managed by a regimental HQ. While the article cited caliber of the officers are too low, I think it is more of a structure issue then personal issue. Don’t blame the people, blame the process.







总参：中国陆军集团军增加空中突击力量




2006-07-06 解放军报


　　6月上旬，济南军区某集团军刚刚完成上级组织的首长机关野战化演练归来，作训处就将一份有关此次演练暴 露出的“短板”及相关改进措施的报告，送到集团军首长的案头。该集团军首长称赞，作训处紧盯演兵场，积极为 党委大抓军事训练建言献策，是当之无愧的“智囊团”。
　　
　　这个作训处积极发挥职能作用，当好参谋助手。在筹划一次战术综合演练时，他们发现由于兵种编配比例不科 学，影响了部队的整体作战能力。为此，他们广泛查阅资料、深入调查研究，及时向党委递交了一份编制体制论证 报告，建议为部队增加空中突击力量、优化兵种比例、提高合成能力。这一建议后来被总部采纳。近年来，该作训 处先后就作战训练、信息化建设等30多个问题提出有价值的建议，促进了部队战斗力提高。
　　
　　同时，这个作训处积极发挥自身优势，帮助部队解决战备训练中的重点难点问题。集团军所属某旅改制换装， 一批科技含量高的新型装备列装后，他们针对部队在思想观念、训法战法、保障措施、专业人才等方面存在的突出 问题，连续几个月铆在一线，帮助部队订措施、育人才、解难题，创新训法战法20余种，革新训练器材15种， 使新装备加速形成整体作战能力。总部在该旅召开观摩研讨会，总结推广了他们的经验。总部在该旅召开观摩研讨 会，总结推广了他们的经验。近年来，这个作训处还针对分队军官训练质量低、营战术综合演练组织难、基层战备 工作不规范、官兵信息化素质弱等突出问题，研究制订对策，帮助部队解决制约战斗力提升的现实问 题。
　　
　　善于当智囊、解难题，使作训处赢得许多荣誉。据悉，近年来该处共有100多项训练改革成果得到总部、军 区肯定和推广；完成了10多部现行训练法规和重要教材的编修工作；连续5年被集团军评为先进处 。