Republic of China Army

Encyclopedia : R : RE : REP : Republic of China Army

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Republic of China Army
Personnel	200,000 (2004 est.)
Armor	1,831 (2005 est.)
Armored fighting vehicles	1,175 (2005 est.)
Artillery	1,465 (2005 est.)
Helicopters	220 (2003 est.)

The Republic of China Army (中華民國陸軍; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Lùjūn) is the largest of the military branches of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Roughly 80% of the ROCA is located on Taiwan proper, while the remainder are stationed on the offshore 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

The ROCA's current operational strength includes 3 armies, 5 corps, and 27 divisions. As of 2005, the Army's 35 brigades include 25 infantry brigades, 5 armored brigades, and 3 mechanized infantry brigades.

• Army General Headquarters (陸軍總司令部)

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 (航特司令部)

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

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

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

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

*Kinmen Defense Command (金門防衛司令部)

*Penghu Defense Command (澎湖防衛司令部)

*Matsu Defense Command (馬祖防衛司令部)

*Tungyin Defense Command (東引防衛司令部)

*Logistics Command (後勤司令部)

*Education, Training and Doctorine Command (教育訓練暨準則發展司令部)

*Military Academy, Training & Command Schools, Chemical Warfare Corps, Engineering Corps, Arsenal Development.

ROCA's former Army Missile Command has become an independent command subordinate to the General Staff, commanding assets from the ROCA and ROCN.

History

The ROCA 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 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. See "Reforming the Armed Forces", page 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.

Equipment

Because of the emphasis on counter-invasion operations and offshore engagemnt, as well as procurement difficulties due to diplomatic isolation, most of the offensive equipment of the ROCA is outdated when compaired to other forces. The ROCA has sought to remedy this with upgrade programs and emphasis on rapid deployment forces suited for combat in Taiwan's heavily urbanized environment. Along with the other ROC military branches, the ROCA has extensive experience in the construction and utilization of underground tunnels and bases gained during the PRC bombardments of Kinmen and Matsu during the Cold War and many facilities are rumored to be located underground in undisclosed locations.

Sources:

• Armor

:M60A3

:CM11/CM12 (M48H)

:M48A5

:Type 64 (M41)

Armored Fighting Vehicles

:AIFV

:CM32

:CM31

:CM21

:M113

:V-150

Artillery

:M110 howitzer

:M109 howitzer

:M108

:M115

:M59

:M101

:TRF1

:XT-69

Anti-Air

:Hsiung Feng II

:MIM-104 Patriot

:Sky Bow I

:Sky Bow II

:HAWK

:Avenger

:Chaparral

:Stinger

Anti-Tank

:TOW

Aviation

:AH-1W

:CH-47SD

:OH-58D

:UH-1H

Small Arms

:T-86 assault rifle

:T-91 assault rifle

See also

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

References & notes

External links

• [ROC Army webpage (Chinese)]

Military of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
ROC Army ROC Navy ROC Air Force
ROC Military Police ROC Marines

 

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