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Types of PLAN Exercises

The PLAN conducts 14 different types of exercises, which are briefly discussed below. Although each exercise is a stand-alone event for planning and execution purposes, it can incorporate components of other exercises. For example, a combined-arms exercise includes naval maneuvers and opposition-force training.

At-Sea Exercise

This type of exercise is conducted on the ocean or water areas near the coast using naval vessel units as the primary participants. It is conducted only after the basic technical and tactics training foundation has been laid and the proper plans have been completed. Normally, this type of exercise is organized and led by higher-level commanders and staffs. It is organized into three phases: preparation, implementation, and conclusion.

>The objective is to raise the maritime campaign and battle command level and real-war capabilities, become familiar with coordination work, inspect and evaluate weapons and equipment, evaluate orders and teaching materials, and discuss new naval warfare methods. It is a high form of naval campaign and tactical training. Exercises at sea are categorized and subdivided into three types based on:

• Scope: This category is divided into tactical, campaign, and naval maneuver exercises.
• Objective: This category is divided into inspection, evaluation, demonstration, trial, and research types.
• Organization: This category is divided into single force and opposition force; single branch, vessel, or aircraft type; combined-arms exercises; actual troop without live munitions, and actual troop with live munitions.

The content for naval exercises at sea consists of multiple comprehensive subjects. The exercises often include actual use of weapons, such as artillery firing, launching of missiles, mines, and rockets, as well as dropping depth charges, mine laying, mine sweeping, and electronic countermeasures. Depending on the task character and exercise scale, this type of exercise can be conducted in the same sea area or multiple sea areas.

At-Sea Inspection or Evaluation Exercise

This type of exercise is used to inspect and check naval units for completion of their training mission, their battle preparation procedures, and their technical and tactics levels. This type of exercise is organized and conducted by the supported commander and staff and is often conducted on a no-notice basis.

At-Sea Demonstration Exercise

After a new combat method has been approved and regulations have been issued, the navy uses this type of exercise to demonstrate the new methods to the rest of the force, so that everyone implements them in a uniform manner.

At-Sea Trial Exercise

Trial exercises are used to conduct research and testing for new weapon systems and combat methods. They are organized and implemented according to the specific subjects being tested.

At-Sea Research Exercise

The goal of this type of exercise is to research naval combat and training methods and the special organizations needed at sea to implement them. This normally consists of uniting military scientific-research missions, theory discussions, experience, and scientific testing at the same time. The research subject and training requirements determine the content and methods of the exercise.

At-Sea Opposition-Force Exercise

This type of exercise involves having the participating units simulate combat for both sides in offensive and defensive maneuvers. Each side has its own tasks and implementation methods, which it must keep secret from the other side. This type of exercise is organized and implemented under the unified exercise leader.

At-Sea Campaign Maneuver Exercise

This type of exercise is organized and implemented to employ naval campaign methods at sea based on a specific campaign scenario. The goal is to increase the organizational and command capability of the commander and command staff, strengthen the ability to conduct maritime warfare, and train unit capabilities for campaign mobility, coordinating operations, and campaign support. These exercises are conducted individually by PLAN Headquarters, fleet headquarters, or base-level organizations. They can also be conducted in a joint campaign with other services and branches. These exercises use the PLA's military strategic guidelines of "active defense" as its basis.

At-Sea Tactical Exercise

This type of exercise uses naval vessel units as the primary participants during a tactical scenario and is organized and implemented based on naval tactical principles. The goal is to allow naval tactical commanders to:

• Grasp, organize, and command battles at sea
• Conduct tactical mobility and coordination methods
• Strengthen their modern naval-warfare tactics
• Raise the ability of vessel units to conduct real-war offense and defense independently or using combined arms

A tactical exercise at sea is an important method for naval units to conduct comprehensive training. This type of exercise can be divided into different categories based on three different criteria as follows, each of which is organized and implemented in the same basic manner:

• Based on how the fire power is organized, tactical exercises at sea can be divided into single-branch and single-vessel type, or multiple-branch and multiple-vessel type exercises.
• Based on the battle character, tactical exercises at sea can be divided into offensive and defensive exercises.
• Based on the implementation method, tactical exercises at sea can be divided into single-force and opposition-force exercises.

Naval Combined-Arms Exercise

A naval combined-arms exercise employs units from two or more naval branches or vessel types, or units from different organizational systems, under a unified command in the same exercise scenario. The goal is to raise the capability for commanders, staffs, and units to conduct combined-arms campaigns and battles. Combined-arms exercises are divided into naval combined-arms tactical exercises and naval combined-arms campaign exercises.

Normally, a combined-arms exercise is organized and led by a unit's higherlevel commander. Before the exercise, a coordination conference is held, where all of the participants decide on an exercise plan and preparation work; the commander, staff, and units complete advanced training, including theory study, chart work, and joint exercise leadership, which is divided into training and pre-exercise portions. After the exercise, a unified critique is held.

Naval Exercise with Live Troops and Live Munitions

The goal is to train and inspect unit real-war capabilities under near-real-war conditions. Normally, the exercise has a combat scenario and uses fake surface, subsurface, aerial, and shore-based enemy targets. The units employ firing missiles, rockets, and guns, dropping depth charges, deep-water bombing, mine laying, mine sweeping, and electronic warfare. This type of exercise requires careful planning and safety measures. Prior to the exercise, a chart exercise and pre-exercise preparations are conducted. Normally, notification of a restricted area is announced just before the exercise, and the navy dispatches patrols and security. The navy also organizes observation and recording of the exercise and conducts a post-exercise analysis and critique.

Naval Combat Readiness Exercise

This type of exercise is based on requirements for combat readiness. The goal is to inspect and reform naval combat readiness work and to raise the level of unit combat readiness. It is conducted in accordance with the combat readiness plan or a special plan, and is organized and led by higher headquarters or the commander and staff of the unit being exercised. The exercise scale, contents, and procedures are based on the grade level and mission of the unit, and is determined by the exercise tasks.

The exercise's content includes transforming: from peacetime to a war preparation mode; from local combat preparation and navigation preparation to dispersal and being under way; from establishing a command post to opening a wartime headquarters; and from completing combat deployments to managing battle situations. Usually, the exercise plan is kept from the unit being exercised until just before orders are issued, or until the warning or signal is given.

Joint At-Sea Exercise

This type of exercise involves the navy plus other services and branches, or involves naval forces from two or more countries.

Naval Maneuvers

This type of exercise is a large-scale strategic and campaign exercise organized by PLAN Headquarters. It is conducted under near-realwar conditions and is intended to inspect the PLAN's real power capabilities. This exercise can also be used to synthesize naval military science research, evaluate naval combat concepts, plus examine the organizational and combat structure, military orders, weapons and equipment, and all types of support. It can also research ocean combat areas and every combat direction special point. It is the highest form of naval training.

This type of exercise includes: shifting to each level of combat readiness, developing strategy and campaigns, and carrying out the beginning strategic surprise attack phase of war and countering strategic surprise attacks; seizing and maintaining command of the sea and ocean passage, and protecting sea lines of communication; engaging in combat with missile-equipped nuclear submarines and aircraft-carrier task forces; protecting naval bases and coastal key points; and dealing with local attacks on the ocean.

Command and Staff Chart Exercise

This type of exercise, which can also be called a command post exercise (CPX), involves regiment and above unit commanders and their Headquarters Department staff personnel who conduct command and comprehensive work using a military chart. The commander is located in the command post and uses communications equipment to command the exercise.

The Naval Command Academy in Nanjing conducts one CPX annually and sometimes moves this into a field training exercise (FTX). This CPX is for command personnel from PLAN Headquarters and the three fleets only and does not include command academy students, who have their own CPXs during their training.