Ordinary PLA infantrymen
- Thread starter green beret
- Start date
But individual equipments could help to improve the survival rate of the soldiers... which is a big deal (to that soldier in question, at least).
However I agreed that you do not need top notch equipment and weapons to train the soldiers and it is certainly kind of wasteful to provide every single troop with very advance and good equipment when most would not see any actions throughout their service life or even be deployed in very hostile environment.
Anyway, China had a huge stock of 7.62mm rounds, Type 81 rifles and older infantry equipments that are still effective in today's standard, so really no need to change these for second line soldiers.
PLA combat gear and equipment makes their soldiers look very sloppy and unprofessional. Why use jacket as combat uniform? The zip doesn't allow the dispersion of body heat. What about the foot wear? It doesn't offer any protection in a combat environment.
It seems to me the Army is just concern about going after big weaponry, neglecting personal protection and comfort of soldiers.
It seems to me the Army is just concern about going after big weaponry, neglecting personal protection and comfort of soldiers.
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ABC78
Junior Member
I'm not saying that the older equipment is useless or not useful for training raw recruits. I'm just thinking all military equipment has a certain shelf life for example the spring and barrels of small arms. These parts need to be replaced after significant usage.
I'm not advocating that there should be whole sale replacement of equipment. But a phasing out of equipment by attrition like, not making anymore parts for the type 69 tanks that are not shared by the newer tanks in the PLA tank fleet. They should just start creating bone yards for the type 69's to be cannibalized for parts for units still operating them until they are final withdrawn from service. Because it's going to be kind silly if they keep the 69 in front line service for another 20 or more years.
It also seems to me this could lead to a logistical headache in the future as well as a diversion of funds that could be used for modernization. This is almost like the same problem the Chinese military had during the first half of the 20th century.
It's going to be a rough day for those soldiers using weapons that fire 5.8mm rounds and accidentally receive 7.62 ammunition.
Unless the PLA is comfortable with having combat deploy-able units operating with significantly different equipment that cannot be supported by the same supply chain.
they are not PLA, but PAP. you can tell by their red shoulder badge. For PLA, you must be 18 or over. For PAP, I can't really find any information. Assume it is consider a place of work like anywhere else. It would be 16, with proof of completing the 9 years of compulsory education, otherwise it's also 18.
China defense provide on the PAP.
edit: I look over the video, it's looks like it used a collage of different video sources in that news story. So it's hard to tell, if it's PAP or PLA. But legally speaking, you have to 18 to join the PLA. Also if you have connections, there really is no age limit. As there are about people join the army with false papers.
China defense provide on the PAP.
edit: I look over the video, it's looks like it used a collage of different video sources in that news story. So it's hard to tell, if it's PAP or PLA. But legally speaking, you have to 18 to join the PLA. Also if you have connections, there really is no age limit. As there are about people join the army with false papers.
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Bumping this thread in 2020. How effective were Xi Jinpings military reforms at creating a well TRAINED force?