PLA formations during the Sino-Vietnam clash:

PLA formations during the Sino-Vietnam clashes 1979-84

Original article: v.1.0 July 29, 2001
v.1.1 March 7, 2007

Andrew Chan

v.1.1 incorporates some additional information.

For details of the campaign (no orbats) read http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE3-3/bakshi.html
Approximately 25 PLA divisions were used during the campaign: 17 in the first wave and 8 in reserve. 250,000 troops were involved. Armor included just 200 tanks, both because the terrain is mountain/jungle and because the PLA was in bad material condition due to years of neglect and the Cultural Revolution. Half the tanks were destroyed (Chinese account). Casualties are thought to be 6-7000 KIA and 12-15000 WIA (based on a statement made by General Yang on a visit to the US; he did not provide a breakdown but said total casualties were 20,000).
The PLA attacked all along the Vietnam border with the aim of capturing all six provincial capitals and opening the route to Hanoi. The map is from http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/vietnam/northcolors.gif The sixth border province, not identified on the map, is Quang Ninh (easternmost, colored purple).

The map below is from http://www.fva.org/pic/thaibinh.jpg and shows Hanoi is the focal point of the northern provinces.

1979

3rd Field Army (Hsu Shih Yun)

Guangzhou Military Region

Commander Xu Shiyou

East Front

41st Army

42nd Army

43rd Army

50th Army (- 149 Div)

54th Army

55th Army

Kunming Military Region

Commander Yang Dezhi

West Front

11th Army

13th Army

14th Army

149 Division

1981

Battle of Gao Lin Shan

15th Border Defense Regiment

14th Army's 42nd Division

42^nd Division's commander was Wang Run Cheng. Its main attack regiment, the 126^th, was commanded by Commander Yao Shuang Long. The divisional commander was later promoted to command the Yunan Provincial military district.

Battle of Fa Car Shan

Guangxi 3rd Border Defense Division

1984 and afterward

The Two Mountain Engagement Battle

Attack phase

14^th Army's 40^th Division (Laoshan)

41^st Division's 122^nd Regiment (Hu Dong Shan)

11^th Army's 31^st Division (Jer Yan Shan)

Defense phase

11th Army

15th Army

15th Border Defense Regiment

1st Army (June 1984 to June 1985) (Fu Quan You)

20th Army (1984-85)

54th Army (1984-85)

67th Army (1984-85) (Zhang Zhijian)

21th Army (1986-May 87)

47th Army (1986-May 87)

27th Army (Fall 1986 to Summer 1988)

13th Army (1988 to Nov 1989) (Chen Shi Jun; Commissar Chen Pei Zhong)

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