PLA reorganisation ... from 7 military regions to 4 strategic regions

Implications

Changes to the orders-of-battle for the Army, Marines, and Airborne as mentioned above have many implications for future PLA capabilities and operations. First, none of these changes will happen overnight. People and units will be transferred to different locations and units will have to learn to work with headquarters and units they have never worked with before. This will certainly cause anxiety and tension for many soldiers and leaders. Modifications to what seemed like good ideas on paper are inevitable.

Fewer Army units will allow for increased levels of field training, such as seen in the trans-regional exercises of the past decade. The fewer troops spread further apart would be expected to be trained and ready to move long distances to reinforce units in other regions. All units must be prepared to operate on short notice in new locales and coordinate with unfamiliar headquarters and units. In addition to Navy and Air Force units training outside China’s borders, additional Army exercises in foreign countries are likely. More training with more advanced equipment also means more wear and tear on equipment and more time and expense for maintenance. But a smaller number of units requires less new equipment than the larger Army of previous generations. Newer, higher-technology equipment requires more highly educated, trained, and motivated personnel, who remain in service for longer periods of time, than in decades past. The PLA’s professional military education system will also undergo many changes to prepare officers and NCOs for their more advanced and complex assignments.

A smaller Army means that its proportion of the defense budget will probably decrease, even as levels of funding continue to rise. Currently, the relative personnel strength of the services to each other is unknown as is the distribution of funding among the services. Nonetheless, even as the Army gets smaller, it will likely be the largest of the services. But breaking the “Big Army” concept is an essential requirement in transforming the PLA to conduct maritime operations farther from China and aerospace operations in support of all PLA campaigns.

If the expansion of the Marines and Airborne comes to fruition, the PLA’s potential for expeditionary operations will increase significantly (pending the construction of the sea- and air-lift to move them beyond China’s borders). Expeditionary missions will strain existing PLA logistics capabilities, a problem that the Joint Logistics Support Force, in part, is intended to resolve. But new operating concepts will be necessary, such as logistics bases outside of China. Likewise, these operations demand levels of command and control, intelligence, space, and mapping support that now, to some extent, are consolidated in the new Strategic Support Force. More developments in these fields will undoubtedly occur and the PLA’s tooth-to-tail ratio will change as additional support is necessary for distant operations.

Conclusion

No matter how functionally proficient these organizational changes and increased levels of training make the PLA’s operational and tactical units, the quality of its joint TC, service headquarters, and unit staffs will be crucial for the planning, command, and control of campaigns. Success boils down to leadership in units and headquarters at all levels. Therefore, even as more changes to PLA organization are announced, it is likely there will be many more official references to the critical self-evaluation first published in 2015: Some commanders 1) cannot judge the situation, 2) cannot understand the intention of higher authorities, 3) cannot make operational decisions, 4) cannot deploy troops, and 5) cannot deal with unexpected situations (81.cn, January 22). As the PLA continues its modernization and reform, the greatest unknown is whether its leadership is ready for the new challenges ahead.

Dennis J. Blasko, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired), is a former U.S. army attaché to Beijing and Hong Kong and author of The Chinese Army Today (Routledge, 2006).

Blackstone said:

On a side note, I wonder if Xi and his central military commission will also change PLA's rank insignias and replace the Imperial Russia/Soviet Union inspired shoulder boards to something different. PLAN commissioned officers' sleeve ranks would probably stay the same, because they're universal to most of the world's navies.

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View attachment 38409

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On the contrary, inside China people including serving military personnels already called the type 07 uniforms being too Americanized. The shoulder boards have lost their branch colors (red for army etc.) which are invisible from a distance resembling the American shoulder straps. They have also dropped the high collars and collar patches that were tradition taken from the Russian/Prussian traditions.

The recent introduction of Beret to PAP was not very well welcomed. Lots of netizens voiced their preference of the peaked cap. Another example.

Except the better color of the uniform, I prefer all the traditions, service color, bright shoulder boards, high collar and collar patches with service colors in the past. The American style (pins and buttons, dual color patterns) is really not my type, Prussian/Russian look better IMO.

A joke, I think the new generation of the uniform designers have watch too many American movies and NBA games and used iPhones so much that their taste of good-looking has changed so far away from the PLA tradition.

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But, as part of the ongoing 300,000 man reduction

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Mainly for PLAGF or all ? she have 1.600.000 personnel

Some of this reporting is dubious as it refers to six brigades comprising the 100,000 person force. That would equate to over 16,000 personnel per brigade, 10,000 more than the current strength of a Marine brigade, and larger than an Army division. Other suspicious details include that this will “boost [the Navy’s] strength to 270,000 personnel from the existing 235,000.” This obviously could not include a 100,000-man Marine expansion, though increasing the size of the Navy (not only the Marines) is expected

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For 4 new Brigades it is not plus 100000 but 35000 personnel in more or also more sailors.

The 5 Armies Groups disbanded

From CDF hummm

New combined arms brigade orbat analysis

4 x combined arms battalion (合成营)
- each battalion (31 IFV + 40 MBT/Assault vehicle + 6 x 120mm mortar): 3 x IFV (装步连) company, 2 x tank (坦克连) company (only for 2 battalion) or assault vehicle (突击车连) company, 1 x 6x120mm mortar (炮兵连) company.

1 x artillery battalion (火炮营)
- comprising 4 x 9 gun (炮兵连) company or 2x9 gun (炮兵连)+ 2x 9 MRL company (火箭炮连), 1 x 4 ATGM (反坦克连) company

1 x air defence battalion (防空营)
- comprising 2 x 9 AAA (高炮连) company, 2 x 9 SAM (防空导单) company

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And again Army especialy 3 Armies Group

PLA orbat update (71st, 72nd and 73rd Group Armies)

PLA's New Orbat

1、东部战区
第71集团军：合成2旅、合成35旅、合成160旅、合成178旅、合成179旅、合成235旅、特战71旅、炮兵71旅、防空71旅、陆航71旅、工化71旅、勤务支援71旅
第72集团军：合成5旅、合成10旅、合成34旅、合成85旅、合成90旅、合成124旅、特战72旅、炮兵72旅、防空72旅、陆航72旅、工化72旅、勤务支援72旅
第73集团军：合成3旅、合成14旅、合成86旅、合成91旅、合成92旅、合成145旅、特战73旅、炮兵73旅、防空73旅、陆航73旅、工化73旅、勤务支援73旅
2、南部战区
第74集团军：合成1旅、合成16旅、合成125旅、合成132旅、合成154旅、合成163旅、特战74旅、炮兵74旅、防空74旅、陆航74旅、工化74旅、勤务支援74旅
第75集团军：合成31旅、合成32旅、合成37旅、合成42旅、合成122旅、合成123旅、空中突击121旅、特战75旅、炮兵75旅、防空75旅、工化75旅、勤务支援75旅
3、西部战区
第76集团军：合成12旅、合成17旅、合成56旅、合成62旅、合成149旅、合成182旅、特战76旅、炮兵76旅、防空76旅、陆航76旅、工化76旅、勤务支援76旅
第77集团军：合成39旅、合成40旅、合成55旅、合成139旅、合成150旅、合成181旅、特战77旅、炮兵77旅、防空77旅、陆航77旅、工化77旅、勤务支援77旅
4、北部战区
第78集团军：合成8旅、合成48旅、合成68旅、合成115旅、合成202旅、合成204旅、特战78旅、炮兵78旅、防空78旅、陆航78旅、工化78旅、勤务支援78旅
第79集团军：合成46旅、合成116旅、合成119旅、合成190旅、合成191旅、合成200旅、特战79旅、炮兵79旅、防空79旅、陆航79旅、工化79旅、勤务支援79旅
第80集团军：合成47旅、合成69旅、合成118旅、合成138旅、合成199旅、合成203旅、特战80旅、炮兵80旅、防空80旅、陆航80旅、工化80旅、勤务支援80旅
5、中部战区
第81集团军：合成7旅、合成70旅、合成162旅、合成189旅、合成194旅、合成195旅、特战81旅、炮兵81旅、防空81旅、陆航81旅、工化81旅、勤务支援81旅
第82集团军：合成6旅、合成80旅、合成127旅、合成151旅、合成188旅、合成196旅、特战82旅、炮兵82旅、防空82旅、陆航82旅、工化82旅、勤务支援82旅
第83集团军：合成11旅、合成58旅、合成60旅、合成113旅、合成131旅、合成193旅、空中突击161旅、特战83旅、炮兵83旅、防空83旅、工化83旅、勤务支援83旅
补充说明：原摩步42旅改为特战旅，原装甲18旅改为合成旅，沿用42的番号

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By Army Group each have 5 to 7 Combined Arms Brigade in general 6.
And in more remains Xinjiang Military district i think also Tibet Miitary District and Beijing Garrison District

Translation... !!!
synthesis of = Combined Arms Brigade
And 2 new Air Assaut=Brogades

1, the eastern theater
71th Army : synthesis of 2 brigade, synthesis of 35 brigade, synthesis of 160 brigade, synthetic 178 brigade, synthetic 179 brigade, synthetic 235 brigade, special brigade 71 brigade, artillery 71 brigade, air defense 71 brigade, land 71 brigade, Service support 71 brigade

The 72nd Army: synthetic 5 brigade, synthetic 10 brigade, synthetic 34 brigade, synthetic 85 brigade, synthetic 90 brigade, synthetic 124 brigade, special brigade 72 brigade, artillery 72 brigade, air defense 72 brigade, flight 72 brigade, engineering 72 brigade , Service support 72 brigade

The 73rd Army: synthetic 3 brigade, synthetic 14 brigade, synthetic 86 brigade, synthetic 91 brigade, synthetic 92 brigade, synthetic 145 brigade, special brigade 73 brigade, artillery 73 brigade, air defense 73 brigade, flight 73 brigade, engineering 73 brigade, Service support 73 brigade

2, the southern theater
The 74th Army: synthetic 1 brigade, synthetic 16 brigade, synthetic 125 brigade, synthetic 132 brigade, synthetic 154 brigade, synthetic 163 brigade, special brigade 74 brigade, artillery 74 brigade,
air defense 74 brigade, flight 74 brigade, labor 74 brigade , Service support 74 brigade

The 75th Army: synthetic 31 brigade, synthetic 32 brigade, synthetic 37 brigade, synthetic 42 brigade, synthetic 122 brigade, synthetic 123 brigade, air assault 121 brigade, special brigade 75 brigade, artillery 75 brigade, air defense 75 brigade, laborers 75 brigade , Service support 75 brigade

3, the western theater
The 76th Army: synthetic 12 brigade, synthetic 17 brigade, synthetic 56 brigade, synthetic 62 brigade, synthetic 149 brigade, synthetic 182 brigade, special brigade 76 brigade, artillery 76 brigade, air defense 76 brigade, land 76 brigade, engineering 76 brigade , Service support 76 brigade

The 77th Army: synthetic 39 brigade, synthesis of 40 brigade, synthetic 55 brigade, synthetic 139 brigade, synthesis 150 brigade, synthesis of 181 brigade, special brigade 77 brigade, artillery 77 brigade, air defense 77 brigade, 77 flights, , Service support 77 brigade4, the northern theater

4, the northern theater

The 78th Army: synthetic 8 brigade, synthesis of 48 brigade, synthetic 68 brigade, synthetic 115 brigade, synthetic 202 brigade, synthetic 204 brigade, special brigade 78 brigade, artillery 78 brigade, air defense 78 brigade, land 78 brigade, , Service support 78 brigade

The first 79 brigade: synthetic 46 brigade, synthetic 116 brigade, synthetic 119 brigade, synthetic 190 brigade, synthetic 191 brigade, synthetic 200 brigade, special brigade 79 brigade, artillery 79 brigade, air defense 79 brigade, land flight 79 brigade, engineering 79 brigade , Service support 79 brigade

The 80th Army: the synthesis of 47 brigade, synthetic 69 brigade, synthetic 118 brigade, synthetic 138 brigade, synthetic 199 brigade, synthetic 203 brigade, special brigade 80 brigade, artillery 80 brigade, air defense 80 brigade, 80 flights, , Service support 80 brigade

5, the central theater

The first 81 brigade: synthetic 7 brigade, synthetic 70 brigade, synthetic 162 brigade, synthetic 189 brigade, synthetic 194 brigade, synthetic 195 brigade, special brigade 81 brigade, artillery 81 brigade, air defense 81 brigade, land 81 brigade, engineering 81 brigade , Service support 81 brigade

The 82nd Army: synthetic 6 brigade, synthetic 80 brigade, synthetic 127 brigade, synthetic 151 brigade, synthetic 188 brigade, synthetic 196 brigade, special war 82 brigade, artillery 82 brigade, air defense 82 brigade, land 82 cruise, , Service support 82 brigade

The 83rd Army: synthetic 11 brigade, synthetic 58 brigade, synthetic 60 brigade, synthetic 113 brigade, synthetic 131 brigade, synthetic 193 brigade, air assault 161 brigade, special war 83 brigade, artillery 83 brigade, air defense 83 brigade, Service support 83 brigade

Supplementary description: the original Morocco step 42 brigade to change the special brigade, the original armor 18 brigade to the synthesis of brigade, followed by 42 of the designation

FORBIN said:

The 5 Armies Groups disbanded
View attachment 38750

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All to redo

Combined Arms Brigade 2017


4 Combined Arms Battalions :
- 2 first have 40 Tanks, 31 AIFV/APC and 6 x 120mm mortar
- 2 others have 31 AIFV/APC and 6 x 120mm mortar

Artillery Battalion : 36 Artillery systems, or 18 and 18 MLRS plus 4 ATGM
Air Defense Battalion : 18 SATCP HN-6, 18 PGZ-07
Also normaly a Engineer Battalion and support services etc...

Total : 124 IFV, 80 MBT or assault vehicles, 24 x 120mm mortar, 36 artillery systems, 4 ATGM, 18 AAA guns , 18 very short range SAMs

FORBIN said:

PLA's New Orbat



By Army Group each have 5 to 7 Combined Arms Brigade in general 6.
And in more remains Xinjiang Military district i think also Tibet Miitary District and Beijing Garrison District

Translation... !!!
synthesis of = Combined Arms Brigade
And 2 new Air Assaut=Brogades

1, the eastern theater
71th Army : synthesis of 2 brigade, synthesis of 35 brigade, synthesis of 160 brigade, synthetic 178 brigade, synthetic 179 brigade, synthetic 235 brigade, special brigade 71 brigade, artillery 71 brigade, air defense 71 brigade, land 71 brigade, Service support 71 brigade

The 72nd Army: synthetic 5 brigade, synthetic 10 brigade, synthetic 34 brigade, synthetic 85 brigade, synthetic 90 brigade, synthetic 124 brigade, special brigade 72 brigade, artillery 72 brigade, air defense 72 brigade, flight 72 brigade, engineering 72 brigade , Service support 72 brigade

The 73rd Army: synthetic 3 brigade, synthetic 14 brigade, synthetic 86 brigade, synthetic 91 brigade, synthetic 92 brigade, synthetic 145 brigade, special brigade 73 brigade, artillery 73 brigade, air defense 73 brigade, flight 73 brigade, engineering 73 brigade, Service support 73 brigade

2, the southern theater
The 74th Army: synthetic 1 brigade, synthetic 16 brigade, synthetic 125 brigade, synthetic 132 brigade, synthetic 154 brigade, synthetic 163 brigade, special brigade 74 brigade, artillery 74 brigade,
air defense 74 brigade, flight 74 brigade, labor 74 brigade , Service support 74 brigade

The 75th Army: synthetic 31 brigade, synthetic 32 brigade, synthetic 37 brigade, synthetic 42 brigade, synthetic 122 brigade, synthetic 123 brigade, air assault 121 brigade, special brigade 75 brigade, artillery 75 brigade, air defense 75 brigade, laborers 75 brigade , Service support 75 brigade

3, the western theater
The 76th Army: synthetic 12 brigade, synthetic 17 brigade, synthetic 56 brigade, synthetic 62 brigade, synthetic 149 brigade, synthetic 182 brigade, special brigade 76 brigade, artillery 76 brigade, air defense 76 brigade, land 76 brigade, engineering 76 brigade , Service support 76 brigade

The 77th Army: synthetic 39 brigade, synthesis of 40 brigade, synthetic 55 brigade, synthetic 139 brigade, synthesis 150 brigade, synthesis of 181 brigade, special brigade 77 brigade, artillery 77 brigade, air defense 77 brigade, 77 flights, , Service support 77 brigade4, the northern theater

4, the northern theater

The 78th Army: synthetic 8 brigade, synthesis of 48 brigade, synthetic 68 brigade, synthetic 115 brigade, synthetic 202 brigade, synthetic 204 brigade, special brigade 78 brigade, artillery 78 brigade, air defense 78 brigade, land 78 brigade, , Service support 78 brigade

The first 79 brigade: synthetic 46 brigade, synthetic 116 brigade, synthetic 119 brigade, synthetic 190 brigade, synthetic 191 brigade, synthetic 200 brigade, special brigade 79 brigade, artillery 79 brigade, air defense 79 brigade, land flight 79 brigade, engineering 79 brigade , Service support 79 brigade

The 80th Army: the synthesis of 47 brigade, synthetic 69 brigade, synthetic 118 brigade, synthetic 138 brigade, synthetic 199 brigade, synthetic 203 brigade, special brigade 80 brigade, artillery 80 brigade, air defense 80 brigade, 80 flights, , Service support 80 brigade

5, the central theater

The first 81 brigade: synthetic 7 brigade, synthetic 70 brigade, synthetic 162 brigade, synthetic 189 brigade, synthetic 194 brigade, synthetic 195 brigade, special brigade 81 brigade, artillery 81 brigade, air defense 81 brigade, land 81 brigade, engineering 81 brigade , Service support 81 brigade

The 82nd Army: synthetic 6 brigade, synthetic 80 brigade, synthetic 127 brigade, synthetic 151 brigade, synthetic 188 brigade, synthetic 196 brigade, special war 82 brigade, artillery 82 brigade, air defense 82 brigade, land 82 cruise, , Service support 82 brigade

The 83rd Army: synthetic 11 brigade, synthetic 58 brigade, synthetic 60 brigade, synthetic 113 brigade, synthetic 131 brigade, synthetic 193 brigade, air assault 161 brigade, special war 83 brigade, artillery 83 brigade, air defense 83 brigade, Service support 83 brigade

Supplementary description: the original Morocco step 42 brigade to change the special brigade, the original armor 18 brigade to the synthesis of brigade, followed by 42 of the designation


All to redo View attachment 41409

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Would you be able to make this into a bullet point list?

FORBIN said:

Combined Arms Brigade 2017

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4 Combined Arms Battalions :
- 2 first have 40 Tanks, 31 AIFV/APC and 6 x 120mm mortar
- 2 others have 31 AIFV/APC and 6 x 120mm mortar

Artillery Battalion : 36 Artillery systems, or 18 and 18 MLRS plus 4 ATGM
Air Defense Battalion : 18 SATCP HN-6, 18 PGZ-07
Also normaly a Engineer Battalion and support services etc...

Total : 124 IFV, 80 MBT or assault vehicles, 24 x 120mm mortar, 36 artillery systems, 4 ATGM, 18 AAA guns , 18 very short range SAMs

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From CDF appear a TOE one example for Artillery Battalion In this case that of the 62th Combined Arms Brigade, 76th Army Group have

- 3 companies of 27 x PLZ07 122-mm SPG
- 1 company of 9 x PHZ10 122-mm SPMRL
- 1 company of 9 x AFT10 ATGW

Before used PLZ-83 and 89 also.