Chinese Mountain Units/Soldiers

delft said:

I see the horses ( mules ? ) used among vegetation. I wonder to what altitude these animals are used.
Also I expect the neighbours, India, Pakistan, still use animals but to what extend?

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This is more than just an altitude issue Delft, this is to do with covering vast tracks of wilderness, most of which is too rough for any vehicle and where there is no viable fuel supply.
Mules can carry heavy loads up very narrow paths and eat grass.
Likewise you will find infantry on some of the remote grass borderlands that are horse mobile and for the same reasons.

Literally, there is no infrastructure to support mechanised units widely and for any time period, across these stretches.

SampanViking said:

This is more than just an altitude issue Delft, this is to do with covering vast tracks of wilderness, most of which is too rough for any vehicle and where there is no viable fuel supply.
Mules can carry heavy loads up very narrow paths and eat grass.
Likewise you will find infantry on some of the remote grass borderlands that are horse mobile and for the same reasons.

Literally, there is no infrastructure to support mechanised units widely and for any time period, across these stretches.

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I know it. But I suspect in many armed forces serving with the animals has so little prestige that the units are neglected anyway. Better to spend vast amounts on infrastructure, helicopters and other aircraft &ct.

Actually I am wondering... if the troops stationed there are using animals as part of their transportation system because that area was too rough for any vehicle... then if any hostile units travelling from those area into China wouldn't be using ground transport too? Unless they fancy riding horses when they come in?

rhino123 said:

Actually I am wondering... if the troops stationed there are using animals as part of their transportation system because that area was too rough for any vehicle... then if any hostile units travelling from those area into China wouldn't be using ground transport too? Unless they fancy riding horses when they come in?

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These guys are probably there to catch smugglers and the like.

rhino123 said:

Actually I am wondering... if the troops stationed there are using animals as part of their transportation system because that area was too rough for any vehicle... then if any hostile units travelling from those area into China wouldn't be using ground transport too? Unless they fancy riding horses when they come in?

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Hi Rhino

In the remote edges you have vast tracts of undeveloped land transected by a few roads with modern infrastructure etc.
If an mechanised invader moves into such areas, they will be largely restricted to the modern road corridors and have great difficulty operating very far into the green.

If the invader is met by a defender who is also mainly mechanised and likewise largely restricted to the modern road corridors, the defender will have limited options for manoeuvre and deployment and this will tend to benefit the attacker.

The advantage of having significant wilderness mobility for the defender; especially in mountainous areas, is that it gives you the ability to deploy to numerous remote positions, but which give an attack position to large sections of the few roads. The Mujahadinne and Taliban used these tactics in Afghanistan to great effect.

For China though, although rough territory movement does have this potential advantage, Solarz is quite right and that most of their work is border patrol to stop smuggling and terrorism.

I believe your unknown quick-firer is a 120 mm mortar in wheeled mounting.

I also remember that I read in the People's Daily the PLA reported that it had completed the construction of a network of border defense roads such that no post was more than 10 or 20 km away from the road system.

Just for animals...

the last one is wearing acu?

Anybody know what is the status of AH4 light howitzer Norinco said early in the year It has finish development and ready for production This light weight would be ideal for mountainous region in Tibet and can be carried by Z18 Heli

India has ordered 145 M777 light weight howitzer
Here is the video in Chinese




NORINCO IS READY TO PRODUCE THE AH4 LIGHTWEIGHT HOWITZER


China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), China’s leading manufacturer and seller of land armament systems, has completed the development of its . Production will begin once domestic and/or export orders are received.

The AH4 is basically China’s counterpart to the increasingly popular BAE Systems M777, a lightweight artillery system currently in use by the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and – .

Like the M777 (4,200kg), the AH4 is a lightweight system, sitting in the range of 4,500kg (for reference, the 155mm/52 calibre towed howitzer weighs 18,000kg).

According to IHS Jane’s, the AH4 is capable of firing guided munitions, such as laser-guided projectiles (e.g. GP6). The AH4 was also marketed for export on numerous occasions.

Comment and Analysis

While the NORINCO AH4 is in its infancy as a program, China’s possession of a lightweight platform cannot be understated. As the AH4 line matures, the People Liberation Army (PLA) and Chinese defence industry will be among a handful of players in the world capable of fielding lightweight 155mm howitzers.

In the past, lightweight artillery applications made use of smaller shells (e.g. 105mm and 85mm) in order to achieve the weight parameters necessary for aerial lift or easy mobility, which is essential for use in less accessible battlefields, such as mountainous areas.

With the M777, Pegasus (Singapore) and AH4, countries now have the option to bring heavier shells to areas where it was previously not feasible, and in turn, elevate the offensive pressure.

While India is procuring the M777, it is unclear if Pakistan would opt for the AH4 in response. The value of the AH4 rests in its lightweight nature, but to make use of it, one still needs assets capable of lifting a 4500kg gun piece. Pakistan does possess fixed-wing transports such as the C-130 and CN-235, but for rapid field deployment and use, a helicopter capable of pulling the AH4 is necessary.

Pakistan does not have such an aircraft, though it did show interest in acquiring surplus CH-47 from Italy in 2011-2012. It is likely a requirement for heavy-lift helicopters exists. Pakistan was especially pleased at the CH-47’s performance during the aftermath of the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake. Should the Pakistan Army acquire heavy-lift helicopters, either in the form of surplus CH-47 or an alternative (e.g. the Russian Mi-26 or Sino-Russian ALH), the AH4 would be a natural addition.

Pakistan could also consider using the AH4 as a self-propelled solution. This could be done by binding the gun to a truck or wheeled armoured personnel carrier. It is not clear how much use Pakistan would have for such a system, but given the increasing presence of roads in the region as well as potential long-term tensions on its Western front, a lightweight self-propelled howitzer could be of interest to the Army.

Well look like China score export order for AH4 Not sure which country?. Are they now in service with China's mountain unit?. My guess is either UAE or Kuwait
Norinco delivered AH-4 155mm light howitzers to a Middle East country after firing tests in this country's testing range.