6th Armored Division (People's Republic of China)
| 6th Tank Division (1967–98) 6th Armored Division (1998–2017) 6th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade (2017–) | |
|---|---|
| Country | China |
| Type | Armored |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | 82nd Group Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Luoyang |
The 6th Tank Division (Chinese: 坦克第6师) was formed on 10 September 1968 from the 6th Independent Tank Regiment, the 392nd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of the 187th Army Division, the 393rd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of the 188th Army Division, and the 401st Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of the 196th Army Division.[1]
As of 2 September 1969, the division was composed of:
- 21st Tank Regiment (former 6th Independent Tank Regiment);
- 22nd Tank Regiment (former 392nd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment);
- 23rd Tank Regiment (former 393rd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment);
- 24th Tank Regiment (former 401st Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment).[1]
On 1 September 1971, the 23rd Tank Regiment was detached and redesignated as the tank regiment of the 81st Army Division.[1]
In March 1983, an armored infantry regiment and an artillery regiment were activated. From 1983 to 1984, the division was classified as an army tank division, catalogue B.[1]
On 25 March 1983, the division was assigned to the 38th Army.[1]
In early 1984, the division was reorganized as one of two combined arms army tank divisions (the other being the 3rd Tank Division): the armored infantry regiment was redesignated the mechanized infantry regiment and received a tank battalion and an additional armored infantry battalion. An antiaircraft artillery regiment was also activated.[1]
By 1984, the division was composed of:
- 21st Tank Regiment;
- 22nd Tank Regiment;
- 24th Tank Regiment;
- Mechanized Infantry Regiment;
- Artillery Regiment;
- Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment.[1]
In 1989, the division took part in the enforcement of martial law in Beijing along with the other units of the 38th Army.[2][3]
In the early 1990s, the division re-equipped with Type 88B main battle tanks.[1]
In 1998, the division was redesignated the 6th Armored Division (Chinese: 装甲第6师). The mechanized infantry regiment was disbanded and its personnel absorbed into the tank regiments, which became armored regiments.[1]
The 6th Armored Division was not affected by the 2011 disbandment of armored divisions and was the only armored division in the People's Liberation Army Ground Force from 2011 to 2017.[4]
From 1998, the division was composed of:
- 21st Armored Regiment;
- 22nd Armored Regiment;
- 24th Armored Regiment;
- Artillery Regiment;
- Antiaircraft Regiment.[1]
In April 2017, the division was split into two brigades during the 2015–2016 PLA reorganization: the 6th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade (Chinese: 重型合成第6旅) and the 189th Medium Combined Arms Brigade (Chinese: 中型合成第189旅).[5]
The 6th Armored Division Band is a volunteer garrison military band that represents the 6th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade at official ceremonies. In October 2012, the United States Army Band took part in a goodwill tour of China with the PLA Band titled Friendship and Cooperation Through Music, during which the TUSAB provided a masterclass on music to members of the 6th Armored Division Band.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Blasko, Dennis J. (2006). The Chinese Army Today: Tradition and Transformation for the 21st Century. Asian Security Studies. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-77003-3.
- ^ Brook, Timothy (1998). Quelling the People: The Military Suppression of the Beijing Democracy Movement. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-3638-1.
- ^ "Tiananmen Square, 1989: The Declassified History". National Security Archive. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies, ed. (2012). The Military Balance 2012. London: Routledge.
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies, ed. (2018). The Military Balance 2018. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-85743-955-7.