People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces
| People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces | |
|---|---|
| 中国人民解放军特种部队 | |
| Active | 1988 – present |
| Country |  People's Republic of China |
| Branch |  Ground Force  Navy  Air Force  Rocket Force |
| Type | Special forces |
| Part of |  People's Liberation Army |
| March | 《特种部队之歌》 ("Anthem of the Special Forces") |
| Engagements | |
| Insignia | |
| Sleeve badge |  |
| People's Liberation Army |
|---|
 |
| Executive departments |
| Staff |
| Services |
| Arms |
| Domestic troops |
| Special operations forces |
| Military districts |
| History of the Chinese military |
| Military ranks of China |
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In the People's Republic of China, the special operations forces of the People's Liberation Army (PLA SOF) are units that conduct direct action and reconnaissance, including in enemy rear areas, to prepare the advance of friendly forces; they also perform counter-terrorism operations, although that mission is formally assigned to People's Armed Police. PLA SOF does not control, but may support, psychological warfare operations.[1]
Each theater command controls their own SOF units. The units rely on external support to conduct missions.[2] Most ground SOF are organized like conventional light infantry units.[3] In 2022, many units were recently converted from conventional forces and likely had capabilities closer to shock troops than special forces.[4]
In 2022, the PLA SOF consisted of 15 Ground Force (PLAGF) brigades, one Marine Corps (PLANMC) brigade, one Airborne Corps (PLAAFAC) brigade, and the Rocket Force (PLARF) Reconnaissance Regiment.[5]
History
The first army SOF units were created in the 1990s.[6]
By 2022, PLA SOF had been expanded by converting conventional forces.[7]
Navy special forces deployed with the first Chinese anti-piracy naval patrol off Somalia on 26 December 2008.[8]
Organization
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The PLA SOF is divided into 2000-3000 personnel brigades or 1000-2000 personnel regiments.[2] Brigades are internally organized like conventional PLAGF brigades with the "brigade-battalion-company-team" hierarchy,[2][9] which delegate less authority to team commanders. Conventional "centralized", rather than "task oriented", command style is used.[7]
China does not have a national-level command for SOF (like the USA's SOCOM). Theater Commands control their own SOF units.[2] Each group army contains a SOF brigade.[5] Units have discrete missions depending on their location and branch.[2]
Each of the SOF brigades has a semi-formal cognomen as well as a number (which is usually identical to the group army they are subordinated to). The special Xinjiang and Tibet military districts also have their own brigades. The Navy, the Air Force, and the Rocket Force all deploy their own units.
- Eastern Theater Command
- 71st Special Forces Brigade "Sharks" (海鲨) - 71st Group Army[10]
- 72nd Special Forces Brigade "Thunderbolts" (霹雳) - 72nd Group Army[11]
- 73rd Special Forces Brigade "Eastern Sea Flying Dragons" (东海飞龙) - 73rd Group Army[12]
- Southern Theater Command:
- 74th Special Forces Brigade "Southern Realm Sharp Swords" (南国利剑) - 74th Group Army[13]
- 75th Special Forces Brigade "Jungle Tigers" (丛林猛虎)[14][15]
- Western Theater Command:
- 76th Special Forces Brigade "Snowy Maples" (雪枫)[a][16][17] - 76th Group Army
- 77th Special Forces Brigade "South East Cheetahs" (西南猎豹) - 77th Group Army[18]
- Northern Theater Command
- 78th Special Forces Brigade "Snow Wolves" (雪狼) - 78th Group Army[19][20]
- 79th Special Forces Brigade "Amur Tigers" (东北虎) - 79th Group Army[21]
- 80th Special Forces Brigade "Taishan Eagles" (泰山雄鹰) - 80th Group Army[22]
- Central Theater Command
- 81st Special Forces Brigade "Cheetahs" (獵豹) - 81st Group Army[23]
- 82nd Special Forces Brigade "Whistling Arrows" (响箭) - 82nd Group Army[24]
- 83rd Special Forces Brigade "Central Plains Tigers" (中原猛虎) - 83rd Group Army
- Xinjiang Military District
- Tibet Military District
- 85th Special Forces Brigade "Plateau Snow Leopards" (高原雪豹)[26]
- PLANMC
- 7th Marine Brigade "Flood Dragons" (蛟龙)[b][27] - Stationed at Yulin Naval Base
- PLAAF Airborne Corps
- Airborne Corps Special Forces Brigade "Gods of Thunder"(雷神)[28]
- Rocket Force
Capability
SOF receive priority for quality personnel[2] and new equipment.[3]
All SOC units are airborne and air assault capable.[3]
SOF has limited organic dedicated infrastructure of support.[2] It relies on theater logistics[3] and external resources to carry out missions. The PLAAFAC provides all SOF units with tactical insertion, extraction, and resupply.[2] SOF operations in the enemy rear are restricted by the limited ability of conventional forces to support them. SOF and conventional brigades suffer similar problems with command and control, including communications inside SOF brigades and between SOF and conventional units.[3]
According to Chen and Wuthnow in 2022, the command structure and mission of most PLA SOF brigades resembled the United States Army Rangers rather than Delta Force.[31]
Inter-service SOF training is rare, the most common being PLAGF SOF with PLAAF aircraft.[32]
Awards
- Antropoid 2009: the Jinan Military Region SOF group won eight first places and six second places in 13 events.[33]
- Golden Owl 2015: the "Thunder Gods" airborne SOF wins first place.[34][35]
- 2015 International Army Games: the "Thunder Gods" airborne SOF wins the "Airborne Platoon" competition.[36]
Notes
- ^ the reason for the unit's rather non-fierce nickname is that it is an homage to the wartime hero Peng Xuefeng
- ^ the jiaolong is a notoriously hard-to-translate mythical creature, so it is often simply pronounced as in Mandarin rather than translated.
References
Citations
- ^ United States Department of Defense 2023, p. 82.
- ^ a b c d e f g h United States Department of Defense 2023, p. 84.
- ^ a b c d e United States Department of Defense 2023, p. 86.
- ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2022, p. 6.
- ^ a b United States Department of Defense 2023, p. 85.
- ^ Horn & Ilis-Alm 2024, p. 112.
- ^ a b Chen & Wuthnow 2022, p. 8.
- ^ "Chinese Navy sets sail for anti-piracy mission off Somalia". China Daily. Xinhua. 26 December 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2022, p. 7.
- ^ 网易 (2022-07-25). "中野虎师！第71集团军"海鲨"特战旅，前身部队有多牛？". www.163.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "霹雳尖兵淬炼胜战刀锋——记新征程上的"南京路上好八连"-新华网". www.news.cn. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ sina_mobile (2022-03-13). "全套单兵作战系统：东部战区"东海飞龙"特种部队换装". mil.sina.cn. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "第74集团军某特战旅带你体验"神兵天降" - 中国军网". www.81.cn. Archived from the original on 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ 网易 (2022-12-09). "丛林虎！第75集团军特战旅，到底什么来头？"老山主攻团"的传人". www.163.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "中国集团军丨第75集团军：丛林猛虎、南疆长城_新闻_央视网(cctv.com)". m.news.cctv.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "忠诚赤胆铸尖刀——记陆军第76集团军某特战旅特战营营长刘近-新华网". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "燃爆网络！"雪枫特战旅"网络直播点击量1.41亿 - 中国军网". www.81.cn. Archived from the original on 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "猎豹出击 - 解放军报 - 中国军网". www.81.cn. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "陆军第78集团军某特战旅组织特战队员跳伞训练 - 中华人民共和国国防部". www.mod.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "特战劲旅"血狼"：开启面向未来战场的胜战突击 - 中华人民共和国国防部". www.mod.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "精锐"东北虎"第79集团军 _大公网". www.takungpao.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "雄鹰特战旅的军事运动会！燃！燃！燃！-今日头条". www.toutiao.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ Ronce237. "PLA第81集团军猎豹特战旅实战训练_哔哩哔哩_bilibili". www.bilibili.com (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ 绍兴文史 (2023-06-29). "特种兵部队实力强大，响箭特种兵国际闻名，战斗力非凡_手机网易网". www.163.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "强军精武河南兵丨祝志强： 用忠诚铸就"昆仑利刃" - 德耀中华 - 新乡网新闻中心". news.xxrb.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2023-08-02. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "中国新闻网". m.chinanews.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "走进"蛟龙突击队"，感受海军特战尖兵的血性与忠诚-新华网". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ ""雷神突击队"女子特战小队：以最美的青春，守护最可爱的祖国 - 中华人民共和国国防部". www.mod.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "中国火箭军特种部队"利刃"特种大队-特战基地". www.tezhanjidi.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ Ma, Xiu. "PLA Rocket Force Organization" (PDF). Air University. China Aerospace Studies Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2022, pp. 6–7.
- ^ United States Department of Defense 2023, pp. 85–86.
- ^ "Chinese NCO flaunts might in international military competition". Eng.chinamil.com.cn. 2010-02-23. Archived from the original on 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
- ^ "HOME-CCTVPLUS". 220.181.168.86. Archived from the original on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- ^ Jianing, Yao. "Chinese airborne troops win glory in int'l special forces competition". english.chinamil.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
- ^ Yao, Jianing. "Chinese team ranks first in first stage of Airborne Platoon competition". english.chinamil.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
Sources
- Horn, Bernd; Ilis-Alm, Hans, eds. (2024). Force Multiplier: Utilization of SOF from a Small State Perspective (PDF). CANSOFCOM Education & Research Centre. ISBN 978-0-660-69363-7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-03-30. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- United States Department of Defense (October 2023). Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2023 (Report). Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- Chen, John; Wuthnow, Joel (January 2022). "Chinese Special Operations in a Large-Scale Island Landing". Cmsi China Maritime Reports. CSMI China Maritime Report (18). Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
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