24th Group Army
The 24th Group Army is located in Chengde, Hebei and is comprised of two motorized infantry divisions, an armored division, an artillery brigade, and an anti-aircraft artillery brigade. It is probable that the unidentified armored division located in Tangshan (identified in the Directory of PRC Military Personalities) is the 1st Armored Division and that the 52824 unit is actually the 71st Motorized Infantry Division. [Blasko p. 327-8]
The 24th Group Army is considered a "B Category" unit, or a non-full-training unit which does not have modern equipment, has less funds, receives less training and would need a significant infusion of equipment and training to be considered combat ready.
In 2001 the unit's identification number was changed from 52831 to 66169.
The 24th Group Army traces its lineage to the mid-1940s when it was established under Third Field Army. The unit was originally designated the 24th Corps and was comprised of the 70th, 71st, and 72nd Divisions. During the Civil War the 24th took part in the Nanking Campaign against Nationalist Forces. Following the Civil War until it received orders to fight in Korea the 24th was positioned in Southeast China and the Shantung coast area to provide coastal defense.
The 24th Corps deployed to Korea in September 1952. The 24th along with other elements of the 3rd Field Army replaced the 20th, 26th, and 27th Corps in an effort by the PLA to give other units combat experience. In mid-1953 the 24th took part in all three stages of the final Chinese offensive including the May 13-26 attacks on outposts of the Kumsong bulge, the June Offensive and the July Offensive. Following the return of the unit to China, in the mid-1950s, the 24th Corps was reassigned to the Beijing (then Peking) Military Region.
Elements of the 24th Group Army, including headquarters elements and two divisions, took part in the suppression of student protests on June 4, 1989 at Tiananmen Square. The 24th Group Army was ordered to report to a designated area in Beijing on May 19 and 20 to carry out martial law orders.
Sometime following the Tiananmen Square Massacre, at least one division sized unit is reported to have been transferred to the People's Armed Police.
The PLA Activities Report's summary of a Zhanyou Bao article on 26 November 2002 indicates the U/I Artillery Brigade (Unit 66248) assigned to the 24th GA has apparently been working to improve its long-range artillery capabilities and has been conducting training with naval and Air Force systems. There are also indications that the brigade is working to improve the dissemination of detection and fire-control data down to a battalion or company level.
The 24 GA's Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade (Unit 66039) has reportedly conducted various training exercises to improve its capability with regards to countering "hi-tech flying vehicles. Beijing MR's Zhanyou Bao on February 11, 2003 indicates that using small-caliber weapons and a digital fire control system the unit has been able to bring down three aircraft.
In September 2003 Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po reported that as part of the 200,000 troop reduction announced by the Chinese government, the 24th Group Army would be inactivated along with two other group armies, the 23rd and the 63rd. It is not clear if the troop reduction will include the inactivation of the Group Army's subordinate units.
