PLA News, Pics, and Discussion

jobjed

Captain
The Blue pattern I call Littoral pattern is supposed to be optimized for the South China sea area of operations. In reality it is a purely vanity pattern meant to show the Elite status vs PLA regulars. Lots try to defend it saying its for the ocean but the ocean changes colors based on the lighting. In the late afternoon of the tropical zone sure pristine Blue but just as often emerald green, or Grey to black at night or brown when silted up by a amphibious landing.
The majority of training footage of the PLAN conducting amphibious landings show a blue ocean behind the landing marines. In low light situations, yes, the colour of the ocean can change but low light situations are hardly the time camouflage is most useful.
As your Marines are assaulting they are aiming inland and not just going to play on the beach. If they need camouflage they are likely also to want cover. On a beach the best option for that is the ground, the sand. The ocean is not really going to be the best match again varies based on time of day and conditions. Add in that said beaches are often urbanized or rocky which means frankly better to just wear deserts.
But there is another factor here not all landings are into beaches from the sea some are into rivers and swamplands for those woodland. A even better option would be transitional pattern like Multicam as there is likely sporadic areas of greenery.
Is the Taiwan coastline littered with riverine and swamps? Or is it more packed with beaches? The PLA equips for the most likely scenarios, not possible-but-unlikely scenarios. Like I said, if ever they needed to ditch the ocean camo, they'll do it like my pictures show.
As to Marines fighting in land. That is there function. The amphibious transport and transition, the establishment of a beachhead is impressive but its just getting to the fight, it represents maybe 5% of the actual operations. The PLA knows that, that's why there landing vehicles are armored and Armed like they are. Not for the beach for the battle.
PLAN marines are not US marines. The US sees fit to have her marines fight inland battles and even has them do occupation duties. China does not view her marines that way. China's marines are to do your so-called '5%' and then pack up and go home. The Type 072s and 071s will bring army reinforcements who will continue the fight inland.
What is the use of a pattern meant for the ocean if your landing up a river with water the color of rotten chocolate milk?
And what use is a rotten chocolate milk camo when you end up landing on a Taiwanese beach with the vibrant blue ocean behind your back?
 

plawolf

Lieutenant General
Traditionally, PLA marines are primarily intended for shipboard security/boarding actions and island fights.

For those kinds of battles, once you fight off the beach, you are pretty much done. So their camos would work well enough.

For Taiwan, the PLA marines are only expected to take the beach and secure it. After which regular army will land in sufficient numbers to take over.

And to be honest, the PLA high command probably doesn't expect enough marines to survive taking the beaches to take part much else after in a Taiwan scenario until very recently.

It's only recently that the PLA seems to be toying with the idea of significantly expanding their mandate to include general expeditionary operations, in which case we might expect to see them being given additonal camo patterns to choose from at their discretion and depending on the operational environment.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
And what use is a rotten chocolate milk camo when you end up landing on a Taiwanese beach with the vibrant blue ocean behind your back?
Actually the Rotten chocolate Milk color would probably blend pretty well with the Sand and dunes that PLA Marines would be taking cover and laying prone in. Like I said The Water is transitory in color not always staying the same and has reflective qualities making it so that they would still stand out against the water the sane is pretty predictable though. And if your being shot at a better bet at cover.

Second given the Amphibious vehicles the PLA has created in the ZBD and ZTD they aim to fight beyond the beaches, With more and more potential political flashpoints the PLAMC has to move beyond one location as there only battle plan.
 
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Blackstone

Brigadier
They are not stupid enough to try.
If it was just governor Tsai and her pro-independence cronies, then I wouldn't be so concerned. However, neocons in the West seem to be putting out trial balloons on Taiwan independence (I posted an article from National Interest to that effect just a few days ago), and given their ascendance in Washington DC and in the Pentagon, the landscape looks more favorable for the Taiwan independence people.

It's doubtful governor Tsai would lead the charge for secession, because war is all but guaranteed, but if the independence movement believes US would back it, then the probability of miscalculation goes up. Dangerous time ahead.
 
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