|
People's Liberation Army Airborne
The Chinese Airborne forces are part of the
PLA Air Force
The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) (Simplified
Pinyin: Zh ngguó Rénmín Ji fàngj n K ngj n)
15th Airborne Corps
This Corps has been elevated to a Strategic Force.
It is currently used as a combined arms force to conduct independent operations. It is used for pre
emptive strikes behind enemy lines.
Corps headquarters - based at Xiao Gan Hubei province
43rd Airborne Division
43rd Airborne Division based at Kaifeng Henan province
44th Airborne Division
44th Airborne Division based at Yingshan Hubei province
45th Airborne Division
45th Airborne Division based at Huangpi Hubei province (Unit 95943)
16th Airborne Corps (no information available)
Each division has around 10,000 men.
The Airborne is separated into 7 classifications ;
- Pathfinder / Lead
- Reconnaissance
- Infantry
- Artillery
- Signals-
Engineers
- Chemical warfare
The Airborne Corps is part of the Strategic Reserve and Rapid Reaction Force.
The Airborne force strength is estimated to be at around 30,000 men
Wings and Badges of the
People's Liberation Army Airborne
Commemorative plaque offered to Pathfinder China in 2007
Chinese People's Liberation Army Parachute Brigade
PLA - Cap Badge
PLA - Cap Badge
New series 2007 - Army
New Series Air Force
New Series Navy
Sleeve Patch of the PLA's Air Force
Sleeve Patch of the PLA's Army
Sleeve Patch of the PLA's Navy
Chinese Airborne Wings
(See photo below with wings worn on uniform)
PLA Paratroopers camouflage pattern
 
Airborne Wings
Airborne Wings
Special Forces Badge
Parachute Wings commemorative (80s)
44th Airborne Division Unit 31312
 
Special Forces Sleeve Patch (wrapped in plastic sheet)
 
Chinese Airborne Sleeve Patch ( Kong Jiang Binh )
Chinese Air Force Special Para Unit
Chinese Air Force Special Para Unit
Special Forces sleeve Patch
45 Airborne DIV (Unit 95942)
15th Airborne Corps - PLAAF
15th Airborne Corps - PLAAF
Active
1988 - Present
Country People's Republic of China
Branch
People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Type
Special Forces
Counter-Terrorism, Intelligence Gathering
Role
Operations, Land, Air and Sea deployable Special
Operations.
Size
Classified, analysts believe current size is 50,000
troops
Special Forces Sleeve Patch
(see photo below)
Navy Parachute wings (unverified)
Special Forces Breast Patch
PLA Special Forces
PLA Soldier with the Special Forces sleeve patch
Parachute badge of the PLA (Obsolete)
Unique 3 digits pin number on the back
PLA Parachute Ground Training Completion (obsolete)
Unique 4 digits pin number on the back , (This particular one with the inscription "Wu Han" ,
capital city of "Hubei" province in China)
Unknown (inscription Shanghai)
Variant
Chinese PLA Free Fall Team Sleeve Patch / Free Fall
PLA Free Fall wings
Chinese Army Free Fall Team Jump Suit back Patch / Free Fall
CPA patch- Chinese Parachute Association patch ("Zhong Guo" - China)
CPA Metal Pin
--------
Head Gear
People's Liberation Army Standard Helmet
Peak hat for Air Force officers
PLA Army officer cap
 
Battle dress cap
Airborne officer cap
Note:
Airborne officers will be wearing the Air Force peak hat with the exception that the color is
green (blue ribbon)
New PLA Camouflage Uniforms
Enlisted and NCOs
Army
Navy
Air Force
Ranks Officers
Parachute System
The Chinese Airborne uses the locally produced SAN-9 round canopy parachute (see below)
The Chinese airborne uses also ram air canopies for its HALO/HAHO operations as well as
powered parachutes for reconnaissance and assaults operations.
Front view of the parachute system
Other view of the parachute system, here used for Free Fall
Back view
Side view
Parachute training :
The Chinese Airborne makes it compulsory for all its elements to conduct parachute drops in
areas such as seas, forests , mountains, islands , snow and tropical environments under the PLA
airborne doctrine of the "9 terrains and all weather". Night jumps are also compulsory.
Static line drop
Military aircraft identification
insignia of the PLA
Air Transport :
The Chinese Airborne uses the ;
- Y-5 (Chinese Antonov-2 )
- Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters
The PLAAF 13th Air Transport Division's Antonov 26, Y-7, Y-8 and IL-76 13th Airlift
Division based at Wuhan, Hubei Province. The division is based at Wuhan Hubei province
The PLA is using the Antonov-2 for its training recruits
(aircraft markings removed)
IL-76 MD with vehicle airborne
Airborne vehicle after landing
Hong Kong
Sleeve Patch of the Hong Kong PLA Garrison in Hong Kong
History
Pre 1997 Hong Kong was a British colony. Parachute wings were awarded by British officers
after 5 jumps (do see pictures below). These wings are still being awarded and worn by Hong
Kong Air Cadets elements.
Jumps were performed at the army barracks in Sek Kong (New Territories) , a facility that is now
being used by the PLA with no parachute drops performed as by 2007.
Metal badge
Cloth wings
Notes:
For a detailed account of the PLA Air force history, organization and doctrine please refer to
Ken Alan (see below link)
Article :
Courtesy of Pathfinder China
www.pathfindergroupuk.com
Note:
Uniforms of the PLA source
http://english.chinamil.com.cn/site2/special-reports/2007-07/05/content_867703.htm
Chinese
Liberation Army Paratroopers jump over epicenter of earthquake in
Szechuan
province.
The
15 Army airborne paratroopers have led the charge by jumping over
the epicenter area. Under the directive of the central government 3
elite divisions of the 15th airborne corps were mobilized
for the operation.
15
military divisions directly under the lead of the 3 elite divisions
were dispatched to the earthquake hit area.
15
pathfinders teams (about 150 jumpers) led by the commander of the
airborne school jumped in first from an altitude of 5000m. The
paratroopers landed safely but once on the ground decided it was too
dangerous for a mass jump and cancelled the jump for the rest of the
troops for the day.
The
jump was performed under heavy rain , with no markings, no maps, no
meteorological data and over a river between two hills with a 3000
meters elevation. Some of the paratroopers ( four ) however paid the
ultimate price with their lives.
They
then setup communication links and established communication with
the local authorities on the ground who were till then cut off from
the rest of the world.
The
following pictures are courtesy of the Chinese media showing the
troops before and during the jump
Over
100.000 soldiers immediately deployed for the earthquake rescue effort
|