by78
General
Editor's note: User @Tanker_MG discussed with me the need for a dedicated thread for combat engineering vehicles and equipment and their associated ORBAT information. Since @Tanker_MG doesn't yet have the permission to create threads on his own, he asked me to create the thread on his behalf. I'm happy to oblige. Below is the thread starter @Tanker_MG composed. All credit goes to him.
This thread aims to be a central hub for discussion of PLA Ground Force (PLAGF) and PLAN Marine Corps (PLANMC) engineering formations, vehicles, equipment, tactics, and ORBAT. Please share operational insights, photos, doctrinal references, and forum history.
To start, here are three vehicles of the engineer units
GDG‑130 Armored Backhoe Loader
From the ODIN website ( )
• The GDG‑130 Armored Backhoe Loader is Chinese military-engineered version of Australian ADI HSEV, in service since ~2008
• Role: trench digging, obstacle emplacement/clearance, berm construction, site prep.
• Specs: ~13 t, top speed ~90 km/h, 0.2 m³ backhoe (dig up to ~4 m depth), loader bucket ~0.8 m³;
• Variants include armored cabin with bullet-resistant glass
• Manufacture: Guizhou Jonyang Kinetics
• Previous posts in the forum on this vehicle are found here:
PLA Ground Forces news, pics and videos
PLA Ground Forces news, pics and videos
GPZ111A Wheeled Assault Breacher Vehicle (WABV)
From REDDIT website
• The GPZ111A is based on the ZBL08 chassis, with three-man crew. First in service ~ 2019(?)
• Role: Conducting in-stride breaching of minefields and complex obstacles for the Wheeled Combined Arms Brigade (CAB) units.
• Specs: ~22 t, top speed ~100 km/h,
• Mobility (counter-mine) Capabilities: The GPZ111A has three primary capabilities:
• At the front is the wheel width mine plow
• At the top front is the mine detection device that resembles a large wire broom. Some articles declare that this electronic device purpose is to detonate the mines or render the electrical fusing inoperable.
• It has a dual GBP150型爆破带 mine-clearing linear charges (MICLIC) which use the GPZ127 rockets. The GPZ127 rockets are mounted at the rear top in an armored compartment and the GBP150 line charge is in it's own compartment dead center of the vehicle. During operations, a bracket is raised to ensure the MICLIC line does not entangle the Mine Detect boom. Next the GPB150 MICLIC line charge compartment doors open and then the GBP127 rocket compartment opens. This compartment is hinged at the rear, so when cover is raised the GPB127 rocket is at the right launch angle. The cover has rocket rails to hold the GBP127 rockets. The GBP150 MICLIC uses the GPB127 rocket to propel the line charge 100m forward. The MICLIC detonate mines, bombs or improvised explosive devices at a safe distance and create a passage in the minefield with a length of 100 m and a width of 4-5 m.
• At the back of the vehicle is a Clear Lane Marking System. This is a similar system that is found on the GSL133 and GSL130. It is installed at the rear of the vehicle in a cylindrical container, it drops weighted markers on the ground as the vehicle moves forward to mark the clear lane.
• Manufacture: NORINCO
• Previous posts in the forum on this vehicle are found here:
GQC003 Wheeled Armored Scissor‑Bridge Launchers
• The GQC003 is based on the ZBL08 chassis, with three-man crew. First in service ~ 2019(?)
• Role: Conducting gap crossing of obstacles, consisting of rivers, anti-tank ditches or dry stream beds in support of mobility of the PLA GF Medium CABs.
• Specs: ~22 t, top speed ~90 km/h,
• Mobility (gap crossing) capabilities: The GQC003 has one primary capability:
• A 16 meter vehicle launched bridge of unknown weight bearing capacity.
• Manufacture: NORINCO
• Previous posts in the forum on this vehicle are found here:
• Chinese infantry fighting vehicles
Engineer ORBAT Overview
• PLAGF Engineer Corps:
○ Under Group Armies (~six regional TCs across PLA after 2016 reforms) each has attached engineer brigade/regiment or battalion-level elements responsible for route clearance, fortification, bridging, field water and chemical defense support
○ Engineer support is integral to combined arms brigades (heavy, medium, light formations) and modular logistics support brigades
Below graphic is from KushigumoAkane's post
Engineer Battalion from a posted graphic for a Heavy CAB from X user .
• PLANMC Engineer units are assumed to be similar to the PLAGF as there is very little data.
This thread aims to be a central hub for discussion of PLA Ground Force (PLAGF) and PLAN Marine Corps (PLANMC) engineering formations, vehicles, equipment, tactics, and ORBAT. Please share operational insights, photos, doctrinal references, and forum history.
To start, here are three vehicles of the engineer units
GDG‑130 Armored Backhoe Loader
From the ODIN website ( )
• The GDG‑130 Armored Backhoe Loader is Chinese military-engineered version of Australian ADI HSEV, in service since ~2008
• Role: trench digging, obstacle emplacement/clearance, berm construction, site prep.
• Specs: ~13 t, top speed ~90 km/h, 0.2 m³ backhoe (dig up to ~4 m depth), loader bucket ~0.8 m³;
• Variants include armored cabin with bullet-resistant glass
• Manufacture: Guizhou Jonyang Kinetics
• Previous posts in the forum on this vehicle are found here:
PLA Ground Forces news, pics and videos
PLA Ground Forces news, pics and videos
GPZ111A Wheeled Assault Breacher Vehicle (WABV)
From REDDIT website
• The GPZ111A is based on the ZBL08 chassis, with three-man crew. First in service ~ 2019(?)
• Role: Conducting in-stride breaching of minefields and complex obstacles for the Wheeled Combined Arms Brigade (CAB) units.
• Specs: ~22 t, top speed ~100 km/h,
• Mobility (counter-mine) Capabilities: The GPZ111A has three primary capabilities:
• At the front is the wheel width mine plow
• At the top front is the mine detection device that resembles a large wire broom. Some articles declare that this electronic device purpose is to detonate the mines or render the electrical fusing inoperable.
• It has a dual GBP150型爆破带 mine-clearing linear charges (MICLIC) which use the GPZ127 rockets. The GPZ127 rockets are mounted at the rear top in an armored compartment and the GBP150 line charge is in it's own compartment dead center of the vehicle. During operations, a bracket is raised to ensure the MICLIC line does not entangle the Mine Detect boom. Next the GPB150 MICLIC line charge compartment doors open and then the GBP127 rocket compartment opens. This compartment is hinged at the rear, so when cover is raised the GPB127 rocket is at the right launch angle. The cover has rocket rails to hold the GBP127 rockets. The GBP150 MICLIC uses the GPB127 rocket to propel the line charge 100m forward. The MICLIC detonate mines, bombs or improvised explosive devices at a safe distance and create a passage in the minefield with a length of 100 m and a width of 4-5 m.
• At the back of the vehicle is a Clear Lane Marking System. This is a similar system that is found on the GSL133 and GSL130. It is installed at the rear of the vehicle in a cylindrical container, it drops weighted markers on the ground as the vehicle moves forward to mark the clear lane.
• Manufacture: NORINCO
• Previous posts in the forum on this vehicle are found here:
GQC003 Wheeled Armored Scissor‑Bridge Launchers
• The GQC003 is based on the ZBL08 chassis, with three-man crew. First in service ~ 2019(?)
• Role: Conducting gap crossing of obstacles, consisting of rivers, anti-tank ditches or dry stream beds in support of mobility of the PLA GF Medium CABs.
• Specs: ~22 t, top speed ~90 km/h,
• Mobility (gap crossing) capabilities: The GQC003 has one primary capability:
• A 16 meter vehicle launched bridge of unknown weight bearing capacity.
• Manufacture: NORINCO
• Previous posts in the forum on this vehicle are found here:
• Chinese infantry fighting vehicles
Engineer ORBAT Overview
• PLAGF Engineer Corps:
○ Under Group Armies (~six regional TCs across PLA after 2016 reforms) each has attached engineer brigade/regiment or battalion-level elements responsible for route clearance, fortification, bridging, field water and chemical defense support
○ Engineer support is integral to combined arms brigades (heavy, medium, light formations) and modular logistics support brigades
Below graphic is from KushigumoAkane's post
Engineer Battalion from a posted graphic for a Heavy CAB from X user .
• PLANMC Engineer units are assumed to be similar to the PLAGF as there is very little data.
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