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
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| Republic of China Army |
| Personnel |
200,000 (2004 est.) |
| Armour |
1,831 (2005 est.) |
| Armoured fighting vehicles |
1,175 (2005 est.) |
| Artillery |
1,465 (2005 est.) |
| Helicopters |
220 (2003 est.) |
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 armoured brigades and 3 mechanized infantry brigades.[1] [2] [3]
- 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 (航空特戰司令部)
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- 3 Air Cavalry/Airborne brigades
- 1 Special Warfare brigade
- 6th Army Corps (第六軍團司令部): Northern Taiwan
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- 7 Infantry brigades
- 1 Motorized Infantry brigade
- 1 Armoured Infantry brigade
- 2 Armour brigades
ROC Military Police special forces disembarking from a UH-1H helicopter from the ROC Army 602nd Air Cavalry Brigade during a counter-terrorism exercise.
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- 8th Army Corps (第八軍團司令部): Southern Taiwan
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- 5 Infantry brigades
- 1 Motorized Infantry brigade
- 1 Armoured Infantry brigade
- 1 Armour brigade
- 10th Army Corps (第十軍團司令部): Central Taiwan
-
- 6 Infantry brigades
- 1 Motorized Infantry brigade
- 1 Armoured Infantry brigade
- 1 Armour brigade
- Hua-Tung Defense Command (花東防衛司令部): Eastern Taiwan
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- Kinmen Defense Command (金門防衛司令部)
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- 3 Infantry brigades
- 1 Armour brigade
- Penghu Defense Command (澎湖防衛司令部)
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- 2 Infantry brigades
- 1 Armour brigade
- Matsu Defense Command (馬祖防衛司令部)
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- Tungyin Defense Command (東引防衛司令部)
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- Armed Force Reserve Command (後備軍人司令部)
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- 24 Reserve brigades (Not active in peace time)
- 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.[4] 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
From the 1990s onwards, the Republic of China Army launched several upgrade programmes to replace dated equipment, 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 Super Cobra attack helicopters, as well as updating existing equipment. 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 rumoured to be located underground in undisclosed locations.
The CM-32 Armoured Vehicle, currently under production (mobile-gun platform variant is shown).
In June 2007, the Taiwanese legislative approved the upgrade of the existing PAC-2 batteries to PAC-3 standard. In July it was reported that the ROCA would request the purchase of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters from in the 2008 defence budget.[5] 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.[6] In November, the Pentagon notified the US Congress of PAC upgrade order[7]
Tanks
Armoured Vehicles
Self-Propelled Artillery
Towed Artillery
Helicopters
Anti-Air Weapons
Anti-Tank Weapons
Small Arms
Rank Structure
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The rank system of the Republic of China Army is based on the Wehrmacht during the Sino-Germany cooperation era. Currently, the rank structure is similar to the United States Army.
See also
References & notes
External links
United States
Republic of China (Taiwan)
France
Germany
Austria
Italy
Israel
Switzerland
Belgium
South Africa
