16th Group Army

Disbanding the 16th Group Army, with its four armored divisions, might not prove immediately feasible, given the need for armored and mechanized troops to respond to crises in the Korean peninsula. One possibility might be merging the 16th and 40th Group Armies. The 39th Group Army had more main battle tanks than any other group army in the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF). Its role is to protect Beijing, hence the reason for its receiving the most number of tanks, the best equipment and the best training available.

The 16th Group Army, headquartered at Changchun, Jilin, was comprised of a motorized infantry division, an armored division, an artillery division, a motorized infantry brigade, an anti-aircraft artillery brigade, and an anti-tank missile brigade. The 16th Corps was subordinate to the 5th Army, Second Field Army. The 16th Corps was sent to Korea and was part of the second wave of forces available by 1953. The 48th Division did not accompany the 16th to Korea.

16th Army - Early History

The 16th Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army was developed on the basis of armed uprisings such as the Nanchang Uprising, Pingjiang Uprising, Southern Hunan Rebellion, and Minxi Rebellion, and was later incorporated into the 5th Regiment, 2nd Division, 1st Division, Central Red Army, The 12th Regiment of the 4th Division of the 3rd Army.

In August 1937, the Red 5th Regiment was reorganized as the 2nd Battalion, 685th Regiment, 343rd Brigade, Eighth Route Army 115th Division, and the Red 12th Regiment was reorganized as the 3rd Battalion, 686th Regiment. Immediately went to the front line of anti-Japanese in North China. In September 1938, the 2nd Battalion of the 685th Regiment was organized as the 5th Regiment of the Dongjin Anti-Japanese Advance Column, entered the border area of Jilu, created and defend Luxi base. In February 1941, the Fifth Regiment was reorganized into the 3rd Brigade of the Luxi Military Region, and it was renamed the 7th Regiment; the 3rd Battalion of the 686th Regiment was reorganized as the 1st Regiment of the East Advance Detachment of the Eighth Route Army and advanced into Luxi. Immediately entered the west of Weishan Lake, and then changed its number to the 10th regiment. On July 7, 1941, the Luxi Military Region merged with the Jiluyu Military Region, collectively known as the Jiluyu Military Region. In December 1942, the Huxi District was placed under the Jiluyu Military Region. Commander Yang Dezhi, political commissar Su Zhenhua, the 7th, 10th Regiments, and the 20th Regiment developed from the 5th Company of the 771th Regiment, 386th Brigade, 129th Division, Eighth Route Army, All belong to the formation of Jiluyu Military Region.

In the spring of 1944, with the development of the Anti-Japanese War situation, the Jiluyu Military Region was expanded in time and actively participated in the expansion of the liberated area and local counterattack operations. By the summer of 1945, the Jiluyu Military Region had expanded a total of 9 regiments, participated in the anti-Japanese counterattack, and seized more than 10 counties such as Dongping, Yanggu, and Jinxiang from the Japanese puppet army.

On September 22, 1945, in accordance with the orders of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China and the Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu Military Region, the Ji-Lu-Yu Military Region organ and a main force formed Jin-Ji-Lu in the Liugeji area of Qingfeng County (now Henan Province) of Hebei Province The 1st column of the Yu Field Army, commander Yang Dezhi, and political commissar Su Zhenhua. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Brigade. After the formation of the column, from October 20 to November 2, participated in the battle of Pinghan. It then entered Rehe and returned to the Liao border area of Jire. On March 18, 1946, the troops belonging to the column were reduced to 6 regiments. Then, participated in the Battle of Redong, Suidong and Zhang Huai. Reorganized again on October 1. The number of the 3rd Brigade was cancelled and the two regiments of the 3rd Brigade were included in the 1st and 2nd Brigade. In December, it returned to Jiluyu, and still returned to the formation of Jinjiluyu Military Region. In March 1947, the 1st and 7th columns of the Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu Field Army were combined into the 1st column, and a new column organization was formed based on the original 1 column organization. Commander Yang Yong and political commissar Su Zhenhua govern the 1st, 2nd, 19th and 20th brigades. In the summer of 1947, the Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu Field Army was instructed to cross the Yellow River in the southwest of Shandong and advance into the Dabie Mountains.

From July 2 to August, they attacked Yuncheng and wiped out 1 division and 2 brigades of the enemy, a total of more than 13,000 people. In this battle, the column and the 1st brigade each made great achievements. Heads Liu and Deng awarded the 1st column with a commendation order: "... recovering Yuncheng, creating a precedent for the column to attack and destroy the two brigades alone. The first glorious victory in the big counterattack. " From July 12th to 15th, two enemy divisions and three half brigades were wiped out in the six episodes area, with a total of more than 13,000 people. In half a month, it fought two battles to annihilate 3 divisions, 5 half brigades, and a total of more than 26,000 people, accelerating the victory of the Southwestern Shandong Campaign. Then it leaped into Dabie Mountain and participated in the battle of Gaoshanpu. It left Dabie Mountain in December to participate in the battle of Wanxi and Suiqi, and then transferred to the north to liberate Zhengzhou. In the winter of 1948, it participated in the Battle of Huaihai, annihilated more than 16,000 enemies, and captured the deputy commander Wu Shaozhou of the 12th Corps of the enemy.

In February 1949, according to the order of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China concerning the unification of the entire military establishment and troop designation, the 16th Corps was formed by the 1st Column and the 1st Corps of the Henan, Anhui, and Soviet Military Commands, which belonged to the 5th Corps of the Second Field Army. Yin Xianbing served as military commander, Wang Huiqiu served as political commissar, Dai Runsheng and Wu Shi served as deputy political commissars, Yang Junsheng served as chief of staff, Wu Shi served as director of the political department, and Yin Chisheng served as minister of logistics. The original 1st Brigade was reorganized as the 46th Division. Qi Dinggen served as the division chief, Fan Yangchun served as the division political committee; the 2nd Brigade was renamed the 47th division, Li Jue served as the division chief, and Guo Qiang served as the division political committee; Political Commissioner. The 19th and 20th Brigade of the original column were transferred. After the formation of the 16th Army, from April 21 to 23, it participated in the battle of crossing the river and broke through the Yangtze River in the main assault direction of the 5th Corps.

By May 6, it captured Quzhou and Jiangshan and cut off the Zhejiang-Gan line. In mid-August, it was accepted into the mission of the Great Southwest. At the beginning of November, it broke through the enemy Qiandong defense line and liberated Guiyang on the 14th. From 28th to December 27th, it participated in the battle of Chengdu and captured Lieutenant General Song Xilian, chief of the Chuanxiang, Esuijing Office, in Shaping (now Ebian). They successively seized the county towns of Dongshan, Emei, Jiajiang, Hongya, etc., and completely cut off the retreat of Hu Zongnan Group to Xikang and Yunnan. Later, in the southwest of Chengdu, it cooperated with his neighbors to wipe out Hu Zongnan Group.

In January 1950, except that the 48th Division was transferred to Luzhou, which was left behind in the Sichuan Military Region, the rest of the troops returned to Guizhou to participate in the banditry and the construction of the regime in the new area. The Military Department and Zunyi Army Division, the 46th Division and Tongren Army Division, the 47th Division and Bijiejun Division.

In February 1951, the 16th Army departed from the north of Guizhou, preparing to enter the North Korean battle. On July 7, a total of 3,646 people from 90 formation platoons were deployed to form two regiments to participate in the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's entry into the DPRK. In September, the 186th Division of the 62nd Army was returned to the 16th Army. The 47th Division entered the Korean War and was rebuilt in March 1952. In November, the 186th Division was changed to the Homeland Air Defense Force. At the same time, the 32nd Division of the 11th Army was transferred to the 16th Army. In November 1953, the 16th Army entered the Korean War and withdrew to return to China in April 1958.

Recent Activity

Armored forces of the Shenyang MR stationed in Changchun (and thus part of the 16th Group Army) were involved in major exercises at the beginning of 2003 that emphasized joint operations. The exercises took place between the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River, and included aircraft, tanks, 2nd Artillery units. These units also reportedly took part in a major regional exercise in 2002 that also focused on joint operations. [Liberation Army Daily 14 Feb 2003 (PLA Activities Report Feb 2003)]

On November 4, 2012 Fan Changlong and Xu Qiliang were appointed vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Fan Changlong He is a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and holds the rank of a general. Fan Changlong, born in May 1947, is a male ethnic Han from Dandong, Liaoning Province. He entered the workforce in October 1968 and He received a university education at the Central Party School.

joined the PLA in January 1969 and the CPC in September of the same year. From 1969 to 2003 he rose steadily through the ranks, and spent the entire time rising within the 16th Group Army. From January 1969 to September 1985, he served in the artillery regiment of the 16th Corps of the PLA Army. From 1985 to 1990, Fan served as chief of staff of the 48th Division of the 16th Group Army and in September 1990 he was promoted to commander of the 46th Division of the 16th Group Army.

In 1995, he was promoted to commander of the 16th Group Army and in 2000 to chief of staff of the Shenyang Military Area Command.

• 1969-1971 Soldier and squad leader, 3rd Company, 122nd Artillery Battalion, Artillery Regiment, 16th Army, Ground Force
• 1971-1972 Platoon leader in charge, 3rd Company, 122nd Artillery Battalion, Artillery Regiment, 16th Army, Ground Force
• 1972-1973 Administrative secretary on probation, Publicity Division, Political Department, Artillery Regiment, 16th Army, Ground Force
• 1973-1973 Administrative secretary, Organization Division, Political Department, Artillery Regiment, 16th Army, Ground Force
• 1973-1976 Political commissar, 1st Company, 152nd Artillery Battalion, Artillery Regiment, 16th Army, Ground Force (02/1975-12/1975: studied at the Xuanhua Artillery Academy)
• 1976-1976 Deputy commander, Artillery Regiment, 16th Army, Ground Force
• 1976-1979 Deputy commander of Artillery Regiment and concurrently acting commander of its 1st Battalion, 16th Army, Ground Force
• 1979-1982 Deputy commander and concurrently chief of staff, Artillery Regiment, 16th Army, Ground Force (1980-1982: received a junior college education at the PLA Military Academy)
• 1982-1985 Commander, Artillery Regiment, 16th Army, Ground Force
• 1985-1990 Chief of staff, 48th Division, 16th Group Army, Ground Force
• 1990-1993 Commander, 46th Division, 16th Group Army, Ground Force
• 1993-1995 Chief of staff, 16th Group Army, Ground Force (1992-1994: studied economic management at Correspondence Class for Leading Cadres, Central Party School)
• 1995-2000 Commander, 16th Group Army, Ground Force
• 2000-2003 Chief of staff, Shenyang Military Area Command
• 2003-2004 Assistant to the PLA chief of the general staff