- Republic of China Army
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Republic of China Army 
Leadership Ministry of Defense Installations Chinese Military Academy Personnel Rank insignia History and Traditions National Revolutionary Army Orders, Decorations and Medals List of orders, decorations and medals Order of Blue Sky and White Sun Republic of China Army Traditional Chinese 中華民國陸軍 Simplified Chinese 中华民国陆军 Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Zhōnghuá Mínguó Lùjūn - Tongyong Pinyin Jhōnghuá Mínguó Lùjyūn - Wade–Giles Chunghua Minkuo Luchün - IPA [tʂʊ́ŋxwǎ mǐnguɔ̌ lŷtɕýn] - Yale Romanization Jūnghwá Míngwó Lùjyūn Min - Hokkien POJ Tiong-hôa-bîn-kok Lio̍k-kun The Republic of China Army (Chinese: 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 Taiwan, while the remainder are stationed on the smaller 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.
Contents
Organization
Republic of China Army
ROC Army FlagActive 1924-present Country 
Republic of ChinaSize 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 by elements of de-activated brigades under each area defense commands. The strength of a defense group 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)
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- 601 Air Cavalry Brigade(original special force battalion assigned transferred back to 862nd Brigade)
- 602 Air Cavalry Brigade(original special force battalion assigned transferred back to 862nd Brigade)
- 603 Air Cavalry Brigade(this is a phantom unit, only exist on paper, no manpower, units, helo assigned)
- 101st Reconnaissance Battalion(better known as Sea Dragon Frogman, has a company station in Kinman, Matsu, 3 in Penghu, and other frontline islands)
- Special Forces Command (特戰指揮部) In charge of 3 training centers
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- Army Airborne Training Center (大武營「陸軍空降訓練中心」)
- Army Special Forces Training Center (谷關「陸軍特戰訓練中心」)
- Army Winter and Mountain Training Center (武嶺寒訓中心)
- Special Operation Command
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- 862 Special Operation Group(originally 862nd Special Operation Brigade, with 3rd, 4th, and 6th battalion that transferred back from aviation brigades)
- 871 Special Operation Group(units unknown)
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- 6th Army Corps (第六軍團司令部): Northern Taiwan
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- 269 Mechanized Infantry Brigade
- 542 Armor Brigade
- 584 Armor Brigade
- 21 Artillery Command
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- 801 MLR Battalion, with 2 company, each with 12 KF-6.
- 53 Engineer Group
- 73 Signals Group
- 33 Chemical Warfare Group
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- 8th Army Corps (第八軍團司令部): Southern Taiwan
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- 298 Mechanized Infantry Brigade
- 564 Armor Brigade
- 43 Artillery Command
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- 802 MLR Battalion, with 2 company, each with 12 KF-6.
- 54 Engineer Group
- 75 Signals 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.
An honor guard stands guard at the National Martyrs Shrine in Taipei.-
- 10th Army Corps (第十軍團司令部): Central Taiwan
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- 200 Mechanized Infantry Brigade(will receive CM-32 "Clouded Leopard" wheeled IFV beginning of 2011)[5]
- 586 Armor Brigade
- 58 Artillery Command
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- 803 MLR Battalion, with 2 company, each with 12 KF-6.
- 52 Engineer Group
- 36 Chemical Warfare Group
- 74 Signals Group
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- Hua-Tung Defense Command (花東防衛司令部): Eastern Taiwan
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- Hualien (花蓮) Defense Team
- Taitung (台東) Area Command
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- Kinmen Defense Command (金門防衛司令部)
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- Jindong (金東, Kinmen East) Defense Team
- Jinshih (金西, Kinmen West) Defense Team
- Shihyu (獅嶼) Defense Team
- Artillery Group
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- Penghu Defense Command (澎湖防衛司令部)
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- Golden (高登) Defense Team, around 3,000 soldiers
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- 1 Armored Battalion, 1 Armored Infantry Battalion, 1 Armored Cav Battalion, 1 mixed Artillery Battalion.
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- Matsu Defense Command (馬祖防衛司令部)
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- Beigao (北高) Defense Team
- Juguang (莒光) Defense Team
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- Tungyin Defense Command (東引防衛司令部)
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- Tungyin (東引) Area Command
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- Armed Force Reserve Command (後備軍人司令部)
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- 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 in 2006.
History
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. After 1949, the ROC Army has participated in combat operations on Kinmen and the Dachen Archipelago 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 Fujian & Guangdong coasts. 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.
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.[6] Recent short term goals in the Army include acquisition and development of joint command and control 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
The CM-32 Armoured Vehicle, currently under production (mobile-gun platform variant is shown).
An ROCA M60A3 Main Battle Tank.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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]
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.[10] and 182 Javelin missiles will also be available with 20 Javelin command launchers and is estimated to cost $47 million.[11][12]
1-29-2010, US government announced 5 notifications to US Congress for arms sales to Taiwan. Of the total 6.392 billion US dollars in the 5 announcements, ROC Army will received 60 UH-60M and other related things for cost of 3.1 Billion.[13]
On August 31, 2010, it was announced for next year's defense budget, ROCA plan for next generation MBT has been put on hold, due to lack of budget.[14]
Armoured Vehicles
Vehicle Origin Type In service Notes M60A3 TTS 
United StatesMBT 480 Some are transferred to ROCMC[15] CM-11 (M48H) Republic of ChinaMBT 450 Assembled in Taiwan 1988-1994. Some transferred to ROCMC CM-12 Republic of ChinaMBT 250 Modified in Taiwan from M48A3[16] M48A3 Republic of ChinaMedium tank 50 Received 309 M48A1/A2 in 1970s, modified in Taiwan to M48A3, 250 upgraded to CM12 standard[16] M41 United StatesLight Tank 775 50 M41D Modified in Taiwan, some M41 are in used by ROCMC CM-32 Republic of ChinaEight-Wheeled IFV ~100 In production, first batch of 600, first unit will be 200th MIB in Central Taiwan.[5] CM-21 Republic of ChinaM113 APC Variant 1,000+ Various variants produced from 1982 to 2009. CM-21/A1 personnel carrier
CM-22 mortar carrier for 107mm/120mm mortar(similar to M106)
CM-23 mortar carrier for 81mm mortar(similar to M125)
CM-24/A1 ammo carrier, can carry either 90 rounds of 155mm or 42 rounds 203mm
CM-25 TOW launcher
CM-26 Command Track(similar to M577)
CM-27/A1 RecoveryM113 United StatesTracked APC 650 Various variants, including personnel carrier, mortar carrier, ammo carrier, TOW launcher(retired), command and recovery [17] V-150S United StatesAmphibious APC 300 With Southern Army Group, 298th Mech Inf Brigade AM General Humvee United StatesGeneral Purpose Armoured Vehicle 2,000-2,500 Various variants, including to carry local made machine guns and TOW 2A launchers, and others. Artillery
Vehicle Origin Type In service M110 United States203 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer 60 M109A2/A5 United States155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer, some transferred to ROCMC 197/28[18] M108 United States105 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer 225[18] M115 United States203 mm Towed Howitzer 90[18] M59 "Long Tom" United States155 mm Towed Howitzer 390[18] M101 United States105 mm Towed Howitzer 650 M1 United States240mm Fixed/Towed Howitzer 30+, stationed in Kinmen/Quemoy and Matsu Kung Feng VI Republic of China117 mm Tracked MRL 72, 24 per Corp [19] Thunderbolt-2000 Republic of ChinaWheeled MRL 57 ordered Helicopters
Aircraft Origin Type In service[3][20] Notes Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III United StatesAttack Helicopter 30 On order Bell AH-1W SuperCobra United StatesAttack Helicopter 62 Boeing CH-47SD Chinook United StatesTransport Helicopter 9 Bell OH-58D Kiowa United StatesObserver/Light Attack Helicopter 39 Bell TH-67A Creek United StatesTraining Helicopter 30 Training helicopters AIDC UH-1H Iroquois United StatesUtility Helicopter Fewer than 40 118 built under licence by AIDC UH-60M Black Hawk United StatesUtility Helicopter 60 Announced/Order. Delivery starts 2013 Anti-Air Weapons
Platform Origin Type In service Notes M1097 Avenger United StatesShort-Range Air Defense 74 In service with Northern and Central Army Group only, came with 1299 Stingers purchased in the same deal [18] FIM-92 Stinger United StatesDual Mounted (not shoulder-launched) SAM 116 55 Stinger DMS launchers with 465 RMP rounds, from US Army stockpile and rebuilt/refurbished, sold to Taiwan May 1996 for 80 million.[21] 61 Stinger DMS launchers with 728 rounds, delivered between 1996 and 1998 for 180 million, some transferred to ROCMC [18] AIM-92 Stinger United StatesAir to Air Stinger AIM-92 Stinger 173 Block I, ordered for AH-64D Block III APACHE Longbow Attack Helicopters[22] MIM-72/M48 Chaparral United StatesTracked short range SAM 40 In service with Southern Army Group only. With 646 rounds of MIM-72F and 302 rounds of MIM-72E/G/J [18] AIM-9 Sidewinder United StatesAir to Air 300 AIM-9S. Carry by AH-1W[23] M42 Duster United StatesTracked twin 40mm AAA ?? Still in service with Northern and Central Army Group anti-air units, 1 battalion each.[24] M55 United StatesTowed Quad 12.7mm MG ?? Limited number still in service with anti-air units.[5] Anti-Tank Weapons
Platform Origin Type In service Notes M72 LAW United StatesRocket-Propelled Grenade Produced locally as the Type 66 M136 United StatesAnti-Tank Weapon APILAS 
FranceAnti-Tank Weapon 1,000 Over 1,000 delivered by 1998 FGM-148 Javelin United StatesAnti-Tank Guided Missile 360 and 40 launchers 182 with 20 launchers on order BGM-71 TOW-2A/B United StatesAnti-Tank Guided Missile 3,100+ rounds and 163+ launchers[25] Used by ROC Army and ROCMC on HUMVEE, M-113, CM-25, and on AH-1W and OH-58D helicopters. After 1997, Taiwan purchased 1786 TOW-2A and 290 TOW-2B[26] Hellfire AGM-114C United StatesAnti-Tank Laser Guided Missile 684 Carry by AH-1W and OH-58D[18] Hellfire AGM-114K3 United StatesAnti-Tank Laser Guided Missile 240 Carry by AH-1W and OH-58D since 1999 Hellfire AGM-114M3 United StatesAnti-Tank Laser Guided Missile 449 Carry by AH-1W and OH-58D, ordered 9/2002[22] Hellfire AGM-114L United StatesAnti-Tank MMW Radar Guided Missile 1,000 On order to be carry by AH-64D Small Arms
Weapon Origin Type Notes T75 Republic of China9 mm Pistol Based on M9/Beretta 92 T51 Republic of China.45 ACP Pistol License-produced M1911A1 Glock 17 
Austria9 mm Pistol T77 Republic of China9 mm Submachine Gun Calico M960 United StatesSubmachine Gun MP5A5 
GermanySubmachine Gun Uzi 
IsraelSubmachine Gun M1014 
ItalySemi-Automatic Shotgun Franchi SPAS-12 ItalyCombat Shotgun T65 Republic of ChinaAssault Rifle T86 Republic of ChinaAssault Rifle Evaluation Only T91 Republic of ChinaAssault Rifle Current Standard Issue M4A1 United StatesCarbine Type 57 Republic of ChinaBattle Rifle License-produced M14 M24 Sniper Weapon System United StatesSniper Rifle DSR-1 GermanySniper Rifle M82A1 United StatesSniper Rifle PSG-1 GermanySniper Rifle SSG-2000 
SwitzerlandSniper Rifle T74 Republic of ChinaGeneral Purpose Machine Gun Based on FN MAG FN Minimi 
BelgiumSquad Automatic Weapon M2 United StatesHeavy Machine Gun T85 Republic of China40 mm Grenade Launcher MGL Mk-1 
South Africa40 mm Grenade Launcher Mk-19 Mod 3 United States40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher Licensed production in Taiwan Future Weapons
Weapon Origin Type Notes XT-97 Republic of ChinaAssault Rifle Designed in 2008 due for service in 2011 for Special forces[27] See also
- Republic of China Armed Forces
- Political status of Taiwan
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force
- Santikhiri, a town in Thailand settled by remnants of the 93rd Division
References & notes
- ^ "Speculative ROC Army ORBAT". Taiwanmilitary.org. http://www.taiwanmilitary.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8213. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
- ^ "ROC Army". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/taiwan/army.htm. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
- ^ a b c "2004 National Defense Report" (PDF). ROC Ministry of National Defense. 2004. Archived from the original on 2006-03-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20060311012134/http://report.mnd.gov.tw/eng/pdf/all-1-360.pdf. Retrieved 2006-03-05.
- ^ August 12, 2007. Retrieved Sept 16, 2009
- ^ a b c "ROC Army 602nd Air Cav Brigade 2010 Open Base Exercise In The Rain". http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/887241. http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/887241. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ^ Roy, Denny (2003) (PDF). Taiwan's Threat Perceptions: The Enemy Within. Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. http://www.apcss.org/Publications/Ocasional%20Papers/OPTaiwanThreat.pdf. See "Reforming the Armed Forces", page 5.
- ^ "Taiwan to Buy Apaches to Counter China Threat". Defense News. 2007-07-09. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2886256&C=asiapac. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
- ^ "Report says Taiwan sold 1 billion rifle bullets to U.S.". http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/11/06/129723/Taiwan-ships.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
- ^ http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/jan/28/today-p4.htm
- ^ http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2008/Taiwan_08-41.pdf
- ^ The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100303240.html.[dead link]
- ^ http://asia.news.yahoo.com/081003/afp/081003211458asiapacificnews.html
- ^ "USDA New Release". dsca.mil. 2010-01-29. http://www.dsca.osd.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2010/Taiwan_09-03.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
- ^ "Next Year Defense Budget Believed To Be Lowest In 5 Years". United Daily newspaper. 2010-08-31. http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/NAT1/5819074.shtml. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
- ^ "ROCMC's 66th Brigade Receiving New Tanks". http://n.yam.com/gpwb/life/201011/20101123103496.html. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
- ^ a b "http://blog.udn.com/YST2000/3306840?f_ORDER_BY=DESC&pno=1&". http://blog.udn.com/YST2000/3306840?f_ORDER_BY=DESC&pno=1&. http://blog.udn.com/YST2000/3306840?f_ORDER_BY=DESC&pno=1&. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
- ^ "ROC Army M113 TOW Launchers are phased out into history". http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/680383. http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/680383. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "armstrade.sipri.org". armstrade.sipri.org. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
- ^ "hojiyi". http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/716295. http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/716295. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ^ "Aviation & Special Warfare Command". Globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/taiwan/army-avn.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
- ^ "www.defense.gov". www.defense.gov. http://www.defense.gov/news/May1996/m052396_m108-96.html. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
- ^ a b "www.taiwanairpower.org". www.taiwanairpower.org. http://www.taiwanairpower.org/contracts.html. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
- ^ "www.taiwanairpower.org". www.taiwanairpower.org. http://www.taiwanairpower.org/army/ah1w.html. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
- ^ "ROCAF air defense open base". http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/838030. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
- ^ "armstrade.sipri.org". armstrade.sipri.org. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
- ^ "2 TOW Missiles Missed During Exercise". http://news.chinatimes.com/realtime/0,5255,110101x112010052600884,00.html. Retrieved 2010-05-29.[dead link]
- ^ "XT-97-Assault-File". http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?163393-XT-97-Assault-File. http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?163393-XT-97-Assault-File. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
External links
- ROC (Taiwan) Army webpage (Chinese)
- ROC Army webpage (English)
Republic of China Armed Forces Branches Army · Navy · Marine Corps · Air Force · Military Police
Organizations Ministry of National Defense · National Security Bureau · Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology · Veterans Affairs CommissionEquipment Sky Bow · Sky Sword I / II · Wan Chien · Hsiung Feng I / II / IIE / III · IDF Ching-kuo · CM-32 · T65 / T86 / T91 assault rifle · T93 sniper rifleIssues Weapons of mass destruction · Political status of Taiwan · Taiwan independence · Taiwan Strait crises (1955/1958/1996)Command Centers Heng Shan Military Command Center · Yuan Shan Military Command CenterCategories:
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