Republic of China Army

Republic of China Army

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The Republic of China Army (中華民國陸軍; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Lùjūn) is the largest branch of the armed forces of the Republic of China (Taiwan). An estimated 80% of the ROC Army is located on the main island of Taiwan, while the remainder are stationed on the islands of Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu.

As the final line of defense against a possible invasion by the People's Republic of China, the primary focus is on defense and counterattack against amphibious assault and urban warfare.

Organization

Republic of China Army
ROC Army Flag
Active	1924-present
Country	Republic of China( Taiwan )
Size	130,000 (2008 est.)
Insignia
Insignia

The ROC Army's current operational strength includes 3 armies, 5 corps. As of 2005, the Army's 35 brigades include 25 infantry brigades, 5 armoured brigades and 3 mechanized infantry brigades.^[1][2][3] All infantry brigades stood down and transferred to Reserve Command after 2005.

This update reflects the ROCA ORBAT at the conclusion of the Jinjing Restructuring Plan in 2008.

A new type of units called defense team (守備隊) is being introduced. These are formed using remaining elements of de-established brigades under each area defense commands. The strength of a defense team may vary from one or more reinforced battalions, making it roughly equal to a regiment. The team CO is usually a full colonel.^[4]

• Army General Headquarters (陸軍司令部)

The ROC Army GHQ is headed by a 3-star general and is responsible for overall command of all ROC Army assets. Army GHQ is subordinate to the General Staff (military), the Minister of Defense (civilian) and the ROC President.

• Internal Units: Personnel, Combat Readiness & Training, Logistics, Planning, Communications, Electronics & Information, General Affairs, Comptroller, Inspector General, Political Warfare.
• Aviation and Special Forces Command (航空特戰指揮部)

• 601 Air Calvary Brigade
• 602 Air Calvary Brigade
• 603 Air Calvary Brigade
• Special Operation Command

• 862 Special Operation Group
• 871 Special Operation Group

• 6th Army Corps (第六軍團司令部): Northern Taiwan

• 269 Mechanized Infantry Brigade
• 542 Armor Brigade
• 584 Armor Brigade
• 21 Artillery Command
• 53 Engineer Group
• 73 Signals Group
• 33 Chemical Warfare Group

• 8th Army Corps (第八軍團司令部): Southern Taiwan

• 298 Mechanized Infantry Brigade
• 564 Armor Brigade
• 43 Artillery Command
• 54 Engineer Group
• 39 Chemical Warfare Group

ROC Military Police Special Forces disembarking from a UH-1H helicopter from the ROC Army 602nd Air Cavalry Brigade during a counter-terrorism exercise.

• 10th Army Corps (第十軍團司令部): Central Taiwan

• 200 Mechanized Infantry Brigade
• 586 Armor Brigade
• 58 Artillery Command
• 52 Engineer Group
• 36 Chemical Warfare Group
• 74 Signals Group

• Hua-Tung Defense Command (花東防衛司令部): Eastern Taiwan

• Hualien (花蓮) Defense Team
• Taitung (台東) Area Command

• Kinmen Defense Command (金門防衛司令部)

• Jindong (金東, Kinmen East) Defense Team
• Jinshih (金西, Kinmen West) Defense Team
• Shihyu (獅嶼) Defense Team
• Artillery Group

• Penghu Defense Command (澎湖防衛司令部)

• Golden (高登) Defense Team

• Matsu Defense Command (馬祖防衛司令部)

• Beigao (北高) Defense Team
• Juguang (莒光) Defense Team

• Tungyin Defense Command (東引防衛司令部)

• Tungyin (東引) Area Command

• Armed Force Reserve Command (後備軍人司令部)

• 9 active infantry brigades, 24 Reserve brigades (Activated only in time of war)

• Logistics Command (後勤司令部)
• Education, Training and Doctorine Command (教育訓練暨準則發展司令部)
• Republic of China Military Academy, Training & Command Schools, Chemical Warfare Corps, Engineering Corps, Arsenal Development.

ROC Army's former Army Missile Command was transferred to ROC Air Force.

History

A soldier in ceremonial dress stands guard at the Tomb of Chiang Kai-shek (Cihu).

The Republic of China Army was founded as the National Revolutionary Army, the armed wing of Sun Yat-sen's KMT in 1924. It participated in the Northern Expedition, the Second Sino-Japanese War (during World War II) and the Chinese Civil War before withdrawing with the ROC government to Taiwan in 1949. Until the 1970s, the stated mission of the Army was to retake the Mainland from the People's Republic of China. Following the lifting of martial law in 1988 and the democratization of the 1990s, the mission of the ROC Army has been shifted to the defense of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu from a PLA invasion.

In the defense of Taiwan, it has participated in combat operations against the PLA in the Battle of Kuningtou, and in the First and Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. In addition to these major conflicts, ROCA commandos were regularly sent to raid the Fujianese coast.

With the downsizing of ROC armed forces in recent years, the Army has endured the largest number of cutbacks as ROC military doctrine has begun to emphasize the importance of offshore engagement with the Navy and Air Force; subsequent to this shift in emphasis, the ROC Navy and Air Force have taken precedence over the ROC Army in defense doctrine and weapons' procurement.^[5] Recent short term goals in the Army include acquisition and development of joint C2 systems, advanced attack helicopters and armored vehicles, MLRS and field air defense systems. The Army is also in the process of transitioning to an all volunteer force.^[3]

Equipment

An ROCA M60A3 Main Battle Tank.

The CM-32 Armoured Vehicle, currently under production (mobile-gun platform variant is shown).

From the 1990s onwards, the Republic of China Army launched several upgrade programmes to replace out-dated equipment with cutting-edge state of the art advanced weapons, also increasing its emphasis on forces that could be rapidly deployed and were suited for combat in Taiwan's heavily urbanized environment. Orders were placed with the United States for M60A3 Patton tanks, M109A6 "Paladin" howitzers and AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters, as well as updating existing equipment.

Along with the other ROC military branches, the ROC Army has extensive experience in the construction and utilization of underground tunnels and bases gained during the People's Republic of China's bombardments of Kinmen and Matsu during the Cold War and many facilities are rumoured to be located underground in undisclosed locations.

In July 2007 it was reported that the ROC Army would request the purchase of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters from in the 2008 defence budget.^[6] The 2008 defense budget also listed a request for 60 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters as a partial replacement for the UH-1Hs currently in service.^[7] It has been reported that the ROC Army will seek new third generation main battle tanks, as the M60A3s are aging. The possible tanks under consideration are the US M1A2, UK Challenger, German Leopard 2A6, French Le Clerc and the Israeli Merkava. However it is expected to procure the US M1A2 due to closer military ties.[1]

The U.S. government announced on October 3 that it plans to sell $6.5 billion dollars worth of arms to Taiwan ending the freeze of arms sales to Taiwan. Amongst other things, the plans include $2.532 billion dollars worth of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III Attack helicopters with night-vision sensors, radar, 173 Stinger Block I air-to-air missiles and 1000 AGM-114L Hellfire missiles.^[8] and 182 Javelin missiles will also be available with 20 Javelin command launchers and is estimated to cost $47 million.^[9][10]

Armoured Vehicles

Vehicle	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
M60A3	United States	MBT	480
CM-11 (M48H)	Taiwan	MBT	450	Modified in Taiwan
CM-12	Taiwan	MBT	100	Modified in Taiwan
M41	United States	Light Tank	675	50 M41D Modified in Taiwan
CM-32	Taiwan	Eight-Wheeled APC	600	In production
CM-21	Taiwan	M113 APC Variant	225
M113	United States	Tracked APC	650
V-150	United States	Amphibious APC	300
AM General Humvee	United States	General Purpose Armoured Vehicle	2,000-2,500

Artillery

Vehicle	Origin	Type	In service
M110	United States	203 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer	60
M109A2	United States	155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer	225
M108	United States	105 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer	100
M115	United States	203 mm Towed Howitzer	70
M59 "Long Tom"	United States	155 mm Towed Howitzer	90
M101	United States	105 mm Towed Howitzer	650
Kung Feng VI	Taiwan	117 mm Tracked MRL
Thunderbolt-2000	Taiwan	Wheeled MRL	57 ordered

Helicopters

Aircraft	Origin	Type	In service[3][11]	Notes
Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III	United States	Attack Helicopter	30	On order
Bell AH-1W SuperCobra	United States	Attack Helicopter	62
Boeing CH-47SD Chinook	United States	Transport Helicopter	9
Bell OH-58D Kiowa	United States	Observer/Light Attack Helicopter	39
Bell TH-67A Creek	United States	Utility Helicopter	30
AIDC UH-1H Iroquois	Taiwan	Utility Helicopter	Less than 40	118 built under licence by AIDC

Anti-Air Weapons

Platform	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
M1097 Avenger	United States	Short-Range Air Defense	70	In service with Northern Army Group only
FIM-92 Stinger	United States	Dual Mounted (not shoulder-launched) SAM	728	728 delivered between 1996 and 1998 for Stinger DMS
MIM-72/M48 Chaparral	United States	Track short range SAM

Anti-Tank Weapons

Platform	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
M72 LAW	United States	Rocket-Propelled Grenade
Type 66	Taiwan	Rocket-Propelled Grenade
M136	United States	Anti-Tank Weapon
APILAS	France	Anti-Tank Weapon	1,000	Over 1,000 delivered by 1998
FGM-148 Javelin	United States	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	360 and 40 launchers	182 with 20 launchers on order
BGM-71 TOW-2A/B	United States	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	2,076 and 114 launchers
Hellfire AGM-114C	United States	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	1,000	Carry by AH-1W and OH-58D
Hellfire AGM-114K3	United States	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	240	Carry by AH-1W and OH-58D since 1999
Hellfire AGM-114L	United States	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	1,000	On order to be carry by AH-64D

Small Arms

Weapon	Origin	Type	Notes
T75	Taiwan	9 mm Pistol
T51	Taiwan	.45 ACP Pistol
Glock 17	Austria	9 mm Pistol
T77	Taiwan	9 mm Submachine Gun
M12	Italy	9 mm Submachine Gun
Calico M960	United States	Submachine Gun
MP5	Germany	Submachine Gun
Uzi	Israel	Submachine Gun
M1014	Italy	Semi-Automatic Shotgun
Franchi SPAS-12	Italy	Combat Shotgun
T65	Taiwan	Assault Rifle	Standard Issue
T86	Taiwan	Assault Rifle	T65 with M4 carbine
T91	Taiwan	Assault Rifle
M4A1	United States	Carbine
M1 carbine	United States	Carbine
M24 Sniper Weapon System	United States	Sniper Rifle
T93	Taiwan	Sniper Rifle
M82A1	United States	Sniper Rifle
PSG-1	Germany	Sniper Rifle
SSG-2000	Switzerland	Sniper Rifle
T74	Taiwan	General Purpose Machine Gun
T75	Taiwan	Squad Automatic Weapon
M2	United States	Heavy Machine Gun
T85	Taiwan	40 mm Grenade Launcher
MGL Mk-1	South Africa	40 mm Grenade Launcher

See also

• Military of the Republic of China
• Political status of Taiwan
• People's Liberation Army Ground Force

References & notes

External links

• ROC (Taiwan) Army webpage (Chinese)
• ROC Army webpage (English)

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