People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps

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People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps
中国人民解放军海军陆战队
Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Hǎijūnlùzhànduì
Patch of the PLA Marine Corps.svg
Patch of the People's Liberation Army Marine Corps
FoundedApril 1953(72 years ago) (1953-04)
CountryFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  People's Republic of China
BranchNaval ensign of China.svg  People's Liberation Army Navy
Type Naval infantry
Role Amphibious warfare
VBSS
Rapid reaction force
Size45,000 [1]
Part ofPeople's Liberation Army Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  People's Liberation Army
Garrison/HQ Chaozhou, Guangdong
Motto(s)陆地猛虎，海上蛟龙
("Fierce Tiger of the land, Jiaolong of the sea")
Colors  White
  Blue
Engagements
Commanders
CommanderRear Admiral Zhu Chuansheng
Political CommissarRear Admiral Wang Hongbin
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopter Harbin Z-9WA
Cargo helicopter Changhe Z-8
Changhe Z-18
Utility helicopter Harbin Z-9C

The People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps (PLANMC) 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. [2] In 2019, the corps had an estimated 45,000 personnel. [3]

Contents

History

The founding of the PLANMC in 1953. PLAMC 1953 Establishment.jpg
The founding of the PLANMC in 1953.
An amphibious landing exercise by marines in 1962. PLAMC Amphibious drill.jpg
An amphibious landing exercise by marines in 1962.

The present PLANMC was originally established in April 1953 [4] 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. [5] In 1979 the Central Military Commission (CMC) re-established the Marine Corps and organized it under the PLAN. [6]

Prior to 2017 when reforms to the corps began, the PLANMC consisted of two brigades with around 12,000 personnel. [7]

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. [8] 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. [9] [10] [11]

Organization

PLA marines based in Zhanjiang stand at attention during a visit by a U.S. admiral in 2006. Marines of the People's Liberation Army (Navy).jpg
PLA marines based in Zhanjiang stand at attention during a visit by a U.S. admiral in 2006.

PLANMC currently has 8 brigades: 6 maneuver brigades, 1 aviation brigade and 1 commando brigade. [3] [12]

Each Marine Brigade is organized into the following elements: [13]

The PLA has additional amphibious assault capabilities in the PLAGF amphibious combined-arms brigades. [14]

Equipment

A PLAN marine fighting through a combat obstacle course at a naval base as part of marine capability demonstrations, 2006. US Navy 061116-M-9827H-076 A marine with the People's Liberation Army (Navy) (PLA (N)) marine regiment, fights through a combat obstacle course at a naval base as part of a day of marine capability demonstrations.jpg
A PLAN marine fighting through a combat obstacle course at a naval base as part of marine capability demonstrations, 2006.
A PLAN marine with a boarding team assigned to the guided missile destroyer Haikou during a maritime operations exercise in RIMPAC 2014. 140716-G-HN254-571 (14714332244).jpg
A PLAN marine with a boarding team assigned to the guided missile destroyer Haikou during a maritime operations exercise in RIMPAC 2014.
Personnel equipment [15]
Armor [16]
Aircraft [17]
Artillery and ammunition [18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Char, James (2024). Modernising the People’s Liberation Army: Aspiring to be a Global Military Power. Routledge. p. 41. ISBN   978-1-032-30943-9.
  2. ↑ Gabriel Dominguez & Samuel Cranny-Evans & J Michael Cole (3 June 2021). "PLANMC may be re-equipping for combined arms, multidomain operations". Janes.
  3. 1 2 Char 2024, p. 41.
  4. ↑ "China's PLA Marines: An Emerging Force".
  5. ↑ Burkitt, Laurie; Scobell, Andrew; Wortzel, Larry M., eds. (July 2003). The Lessons of History: The Chinese People's Liberation Army at 75. Pennsylvannia: US Army War College Press. p. 178. ISBN   1-58487-126-1.
  6. ↑ Burkitt, Scobell & Wortzel 2003, p. 178.
  7. ↑ Kennedy, Conor (October 2021). "China Maritime Report No. 15: The New Chinese Marine Corps: A "Strategic Dagger" in a Cross-Strait Invasion". U.S. Naval War College.
  8. ↑ "China wants 'tranquillity', navy chief says ahead of new warships reveal". Reuters. 22 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Kicks China out of military exercise". Politico .
  10. ↑ "US Marines are practicing seizing small islands as a possible China fight looms in the Pacific". Business Insider .
  11. ↑ "US continues to train with allies in the event of Chinese attack". 29 April 2020.
  12. ↑ Kennedy 2021, p. 3-4.
  13. ↑ Kennedy 2021, p. 5.
  14. ↑ Blasko, Dennis J., "China Maritime Report No. 20: The PLA Army Amphibious Force" (2022). CMSI China Maritime Reports. 20.
  15. ↑ Kennedy 2021, p. 22.
  16. ↑ Kennedy 2021, p. 6, 22.
  17. ↑ Kennedy 2021, p. 7.
  18. ↑ Kennedy 2021, p. 22-23.
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