Ask anything Thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Hello,
I am looking for information on the PLA Army engineer Battalions ORBAT in the CA BDEs (light/MED/HVY). I am just trying to get an idea of the make up and number of vehicles, type, etc within these BNs. Such as how many companies are in the Engineer BN of a Heavy Combined Arms BDE? Where would you find the GSL-130 or GSL-133 Armored Engineer breach vehicles? Where you find the GBL-130 mine laying vehicles? Are they in different companies? The same companies? How many vehicles are there in the company (generally as each CA BDE seems to be different)
I have tried to use the numbering system for the figuring out the Engineer battalion structure to no avail so any help will be appreciated.
I am looking for information on the PLA Army engineer Battalions ORBAT in the CA BDEs (light/MED/HVY). I am just trying to get an idea of the make up and number of vehicles, type, etc within these BNs. Such as how many companies are in the Engineer BN of a Heavy Combined Arms BDE? Where would you find the GSL-130 or GSL-133 Armored Engineer breach vehicles? Where you find the GBL-130 mine laying vehicles? Are they in different companies? The same companies? How many vehicles are there in the company (generally as each CA BDE seems to be different)
I have tried to use the numbering system for the figuring out the Engineer battalion structure to no avail so any help will be appreciated.
Update- I have found one image from a GSL-133 that would indicate that the 8th BN in a CA Hvy BDE is the Engineer BN. The number on the vehicle is 8303, which should indicate that the 8th BN (Engineer), 3rd Company and third vehicle in that company if I understand this numbering system correctly. There is also a GIF of a GSL-130, with the number of 8303. So I suspect that the third company could be the Counter Obstacle Company but I am still unsure. As another photo of a GSL-130 is numbered 8341, which is still the 9th BN, 3rd Company, but 41st vehicle in the Company?
So If I use a Russian Engineer Battalion consisting of Sapper Company, Road Company, Technical Company and Bridging Company, I would be wrong. However I suspect that the third Company in the 8th BN in a CA (Hvy) BDE is the 'Road' Company having a Counter Obstacle platoon. If someone has information or photos of engineer vehicles, like a GBL-Mine laying vehicle I would appreciate it.
Very easily, you just need to be permanently connected to the electrid grid
There is no Engineering BN in a CA BDE, no matter if it is heavy, medium or light.
After the military reform, all the supportive components (non-combat arms) in a brigade are reorganized into one of the three types of BN:
1) Combat Support BN（作战支援营）
2) Service Support BN （勤务保障营）
3) Combined-Arms BN （合成营）, which has its own Support CO.
In your case, the 8th BN is actually the Combat Support BN, and its 3rd CO is Engineering CO. Although being named a CO, it has almost all kinds of engineering equipments including mine-sweeping vehicle, assault bridge, excavator, bulldozer, demo & EOD personnel, etc.
KushigumoAkane Thank you for the information! This is greatly appreciated!
Now that the 8th BN in the CA Hvy BDE is the Combat Support BN and in this case the 3rd Company is the Engineering company, how can I identify the platoons and sections of the Engineer company or the rest of the elements in the Support BN (合成营)? Besides being diligent watching for the posts on the many forums for images and draw conclusions form that (with potential errors).
Thank in advance!
Vehicle number below company level is extremely chaotic, because there seems to be no detailed regulations on how these vehicles should be ranked.
For example, the same wheeled assault bridge have different designations in different brigades, ranging from ~08 to ~25.
In my opinion, the only ways to figure this out is by:
1) obtaining internal informations;
2) recording all the vehicle numbers of a specific company when they are in transit.
