Units

6 Armored Division [Unit 52884]
112 Mechanized Infantry Division [Unit 51033]
113 Mechanized Infantry Division [Unit 51036]
114 Mechanized Infantry Division [Unit 51039]
6 Artillery BDE [Unit 66362]
- 1 BN (152mm T)
- 2 BN (130mm T)
- 3 BN (130mm T)
- 4 BN (122mm MRL)
- 5 BN (120mm Anti-Tank)
U/I Mechanized Air Defense BDE [Unit 66440]
U/I Helicopter REGT [Unit 66347]

Unit ID

66393 [2002]

Location

Baoding

References

Directory of PRC Military Personalities November 2002
PLA Activities Report October 2002 [Compiled by Serold Hawaii, Inc.]
PLA Activities Report November 2002 [Compiled by Serold Hawaii, Inc.]
PLA Activities Report January 2003 [Compiled by Serold Hawaii, Inc.]
Dennis J. Blasko. "PLA Ground Forces: Moving Toward a Smaller, More Rapidly Deployable, Modern Combined Arms Force" The People's Liberation Army as Organization: Reference Volume v1.0, James C. Mulvenon and Andrew N. D. Yang eds. (Santa Monico: RAND; 2002)
Harlan W. Jencks. From Muskets to Missiles: Politics and Professionalism in the Chinese Army 1945-1981 (Boulder: Westview; 1982)
William W. Whitson (w/ Chen-hsia Huang). The Chinese High Command: A History of Communist Military Politics, 1927-71 (New York: Praeger; 1973): 244
Korea Insititute of Military History. The Korean War, vol 2. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska; 2000)

People's Liberation Army as Organization: Reference Colume V1. 0

38th Mechanized Group Army

The 38th Mechanized Group Army is located at Baoding and is comprised of an armored division, three mechanized infantry divisions, an artillery brigade, a mechanized air defense brigade and an aviation regiment in addition to various support and logistics units.

Originally established as the 38th Corps under the Fourth Field Army in early 1949. The 38th can trace its lineage back to the late 1920s thru its evolution from the 343rd Brigade. In 1949 the 38th Corps was comprised of the 112th, 113th and 114th Divisions. Under Lin Biao in mid-June 1949 the 38th took part in the campaign to take Southern China and encircled Ich'ang, Hupei and seized the city. The 38th fought in Korea and returned to China in 1953, remaining in Manchuria to reinforce the Fourth Field Army. (Whitson p. 328)

In 1967 during the Cultural Revolution, the 38th was relocated to the Hopeh area to replace the 65th Corps. In 1968 the 38th was involved in clashes with elements of the Hopeh Military District over differences in revolutionary fervor. [Jencks p. 103]

An unidentified mechanized division (probably from the 38th Group Army) conducted an opposed force exercise in mid-August 2002. It is believed that the exercise may have taken place at the MR CAT Base near the Great Wall. The unit used more than ten new systems including new mine clearing vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles and tanks. The unit is reported to be one of the first mechanized infantry divisions in the PLA. [Liberation Army Daily 6 Sep 2002 (PLA Activities Report Sep 2002)]

According to the December 2002 PLA Activities Report the U.I Mechanized Air Defense Brigade (Unit 66440) assigned to the 38th Group Army recently improved its tactics and methods of defending against cruise missile attacks. This consisted of improving the units fire-control systems and detection capabilities.

The Mechanized Air Defense Brigade, Unit 66440, has reportedly retrofitted its field command modules to provide command platforms with geographic information, air service information, battlefield monitoring and digital transmission, enhancing the units command and control capability and ability to conduct accurate air defense. The unit conducted several exercises in 2002 including a live-fire exercise. [Beijing MR Zhanyou Bao 11 Jan 2003 (PLA Activities Report Jan 2003)]