The Chinese People’s Liberation Army since 1949 Ground Forces

by Lai, Benjamin; Hook, Adam

• ISBN13: 9781780960562
• ISBN10: 1780960565
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-11-20
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the largest army in the world. China is predicted to be on the brink of overtaking the USA as the world's largest economy, and China's military capabilities and global ambitions are the single greatest long-term pre-occupation of Western governments. The PLA has progressed steadily if slowly since its creation in 1949, from a mass army of unsophisticated infantry limited to 'human wave' tactics into a highly sophisticated force with wide capabilities. The most recent reforms (1989 to the present day) have been made possible by massive economic liberalization, and have seen not only the modernization of all the armed forces but the beginnings of global outreach, even including Chinese participation in UN peace-keeping missions to Africa, the Middle East, and Haiti. Featuring rare photographs and specially commissioned color artwork, this study explores the developing structure, organization, equipment, appearance, and character of the Chinese People's Liberation Army from its creation until today.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 4
Origins of the PLA
Chronology & Key Events	p. 6
Foundation of the People's Republic, 1949
The 1950s: the Korean War, 1950-53 - final clashes with the Nationalists - Burma - Tibet - the French Indochina War, 1950-54
The 1960s: the Vietnam War, 1965-72 - the Indian border clash, 1962 - onset of the Cultural Revolution, 1967 - Sino-Soviet border skirmishes, 1969
The 1970s: the Sino-Vietnamese War, 1979
The 1980s: renewed Sino-Vietnamese hostilities, 1980 & 1984-91 - consequences of the Tiananmen Square incident, 1989
The 1990s to date: first PLA deployments with UN forces - takeover of Hong Kong and Macau - the 2008 natural disasters
The Pla Today	p. 18
Quasi-military roles
Organization: chain of command
Regular units
Reserve units
People's Armed Police
Militia
General Headquarters departments
Senior-level military academies
Military Regions and local commands
Current Tactical Organization	p. 28
Unit identification
Organization, squad to battalion
Organization, regiment and above
Readiness classifications
Some Key Combat Arms	p. 38
Army Aviation
Armor
Special Forces: PLA groups - PAP "Snow Leopard" Commando Unit
Airborne force
Strategic strike force: Second Artillery Corps
Personnel	p. 49
Recruitment and training
The NCOs
The officers
PLA academies
Uniformed civilian personnel
Uniforms & Combat Equipment	p. 52
Service dress: PLA - PAP
Combat dress and equipment
Select Bibliography	p. 63
Index	p. 64
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.