Republic of China Army

Not to be confused with People's Liberation Army Ground Force, the military forces of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Republic of China Army 中華民國陸軍 Zhōnghuá Mínguó Lùjūn

Active	1924-present
Country	Republic of China
Size	130,000 (2008 est.)
Part of	Republic of China Armed Forces
Insignia
Insignia

Organization [edit]

The ROC Army's current operational strength includes 3 armies, 5 corps. As of 2005, the Army's 35 brigades include 25 infantry brigades, 5 armoured brigades and 3 mechanized infantry brigades.^[1]^[2]^[3] All infantry brigades stood down and transferred to Reserve Command after 2005.

This update reflects the ROCA ORBAT at the conclusion of the Jinjing Restructuring Plan in 2008.

A new type of units called defense team (守備隊) is being introduced. These are formed by elements of de-activated brigades under each area defense commands. The strength of a defense group may vary from one or more reinforced battalions, making it roughly equal to a regiment. The team CO is usually a full colonel.^[4]

Army General Headquarters (陸軍司令部)

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 (航空特戰指揮部)

601 Air Cavalry Brigade(original special force battalion assigned transferred back to 862nd Brigade)
602 Air Cavalry Brigade(original special force battalion assigned transferred back to 862nd Brigade)
603 Air Cavalry Brigade(this is a phantom unit, only exist on paper, no manpower, units, helo assigned)
101st Reconnaissance Battalion(better known as Sea Dragon Frogman, has a company station in Kinman, Matsu, 3 in Penghu, and other frontline islands)
Special Forces Command (特戰指揮部) In charge of 3 training centers

Army Airborne Training Center (大武營「陸軍空降訓練中心」)
Army Special Forces Training Center (谷關「陸軍特戰訓練中心」)
Army Winter and Mountain Training Center (武嶺寒訓中心)

Special Operation Command

862 Special Operation Group(originally 862nd Special Operation Brigade, with 3rd, 4th, and 6th battalion that transferred back from aviation brigades)
871 Special Operation Group(units unknown)

6th Army Corps (第六軍團司令部): Northern Taiwan

269 Mechanized Infantry Brigade
542 Armor Brigade
584 Armor Brigade
21 Artillery Command

801 MLR Battalion, with 2 company, each with 12 KF-6.

53 Engineer Group
73 Signals Group
33 Chemical Warfare Group

8th Army Corps (第八軍團司令部): Southern Taiwan

298 Mechanized Infantry Brigade
564 Armor Brigade
43 Artillery Command

802 MLR Battalion, with 2 company, each with 12 KF-6.

54 Engineer Group
75 Signals Group
39 Chemical Warfare Group

ROC Military Police Special Forces disembarking from a UH-1H helicopter from the ROC Army 602nd Air Cavalry Brigade during a counter-terrorism exercise.

An honor guard stands guard at the National Martyrs Shrine in Taipei.

10th Army Corps (第十軍團司令部): Central Taiwan

200 Mechanized Infantry Brigade(will receive CM-32 "Clouded Leopard" wheeled IFV beginning of 2011)^[5]
586 Armor Brigade
58 Artillery Command

803 MLR Battalion, with 2 company, each with 12 KF-6.

52 Engineer Group
36 Chemical Warfare Group
74 Signals Group

Hua-Tung Defense Command (花東防衛司令部): Eastern Taiwan

Hualien (花蓮) Defense Team
Taitung (台東) Area Command

Kinmen Defense Command (金門防衛司令部)

Jindong (金東, Kinmen East) Defense Team
Jinshih (金西, Kinmen West) Defense Team
Shihyu (獅嶼) Defense Team
Artillery Group

Penghu Defense Command (澎湖防衛司令部)

Golden (高登) Defense Team, around 3,000 soldiers

1 Armored Battalion, 1 Armored Infantry Battalion, 1 Armored Cav Battalion, 1 mixed Artillery Battalion.

Matsu Defense Command (馬祖防衛司令部)

Beigao (北高) Defense Team
Juguang (莒光) Defense Team

Dongyin Defense Command (東引防衛司令部)

Tungyin (東引) Area Command

Armed Force Reserve Command (後備軍人司令部)

9 active infantry brigades, 24 Reserve brigades (Activated only in time of war)

Logistics Command (後勤司令部)
Education, Training and Doctorine Command (教育訓練暨準則發展司令部)
Republic of China Military Academy, Training & Command Schools, Chemical Warfare Corps, Engineering Corps, Arsenal Development.

ROC Army's former Army Missile Command was transferred to ROC Air Force in 2006.

Training [edit]

The Republic of China Military Academy trains officers for the army in a four year program.

History [edit]

The Republic of China Army was founded as the National Revolutionary Army, the armed wing of Sun Yat-sen's Kuomintang (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. After 1949, the ROC Army has participated in combat operations on Kinmen and the Dachen Archipelago 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 Fujian and Guangdong coasts. 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.

With the reduction of the size of the ROC armed 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. Sbsequent to this shift in emphasis, the ROC Navy and Air Force have taken precedence over the ROC Army in defense doctrine and weapons procurement.^[6] Recent short term goals in the Army include acquisition and development of joint command and control systems, advanced attack helicopters and armored vehicles, Multiple Launch Rocket System and field air defense systems. The Army is also in the process of transitioning to an all volunteer force.^[3]

Equipment [edit]

The CM-32 Armoured Vehicle, currently under production (mobile-gun platform variant is shown).

An ROCA M60A3 Main Battle Tank.

From the 1990s onwards, the Republic of China Army launched several upgrade programmes to replace out-dated equipment with cutting edge state of the art advanced weapons, 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 SuperCobra attack helicopters, as well as updating existing equipment.

Along with the other ROC military branches, the ROC Army has extensive experience in the construction and utilization of underground tunnels and bases gained during the People's Republic of China's bombardments of Kinmen and Matsu during the Cold War and many facilities are rumoured to be located underground in undisclosed locations.

In July 2007 it was reported that the ROC Army would request the purchase of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters from the US in the 2008 defence budget.^[7] 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.^[8] It has been reported that the ROC Army will seek new third generation main battle tanks, as the M60A3s are aging. The possible tanks under consideration are the US M1A2, UK Challenger, German Leopard 2A6, French AMX-56 Leclerc and the Israeli Merkava. However it is expected to procure the US M1A2 due to closer military ties.^[9]

The U.S. government announced on October 3 that it plans to sell $6.5 billion dollars worth of arms to Taiwan ending the freeze of arms sales to Taiwan. Amongst other things, the plans include $2.532 billion dollars worth of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III Attack helicopters with night-vision sensors, radar, 173 Stinger Block I air-to-air missiles and 1000 AGM-114L Hellfire missiles.^[10] and 182 Javelin missiles will also be available with 20 Javelin command launchers and is estimated to cost $47 million.^[11]^[12]

On January 29, 2010, US government announced 5 notifications to US Congress for arms sales to Taiwan. Of the total 6.392 billion US dollars in the 5 announcements, ROC Army will received 60 UH-60M and other related things for cost of 3.1 Billion.^[13]

On August 31, 2010, it was announced for next year's defense budget, ROCA plan for next generation MBT has been put on hold, due to lack of budget.^[14]

Armoured vehicles [edit]

Vehicle	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
M60A3 TTS	United States	MBT	480	Some are transferred to ROCMC^[15]
CM-11 (M48H)	Republic of China	MBT	450	Assembled in Taiwan 1988-1994. Some transferred to ROCMC
CM-12	Republic of China	MBT	250	Modified in Taiwan from M48A3^[16]
M48A3	Republic of China	Medium Tank	50	Received 309 M48A1/A2 in 1970s, modified in Taiwan to M48A3, 250 upgraded to CM-12 standard^[16]
M41	United States	Light Tank	775	50 M41D Modified in Taiwan, some M41 are in used by ROCMC
CM-32	Republic of China	Eight-Wheeled IFV	~100	In production, first batch of 600, first unit will be 200th MIB in Central Taiwan.^[5] 368 vehicles entering service by 2017-2018
CM-21	Republic of China	M113 APC Variant	1,000+	Various variants produced from 1982 to 2009. CM-21/A1 personnel carrier CM-22 mortar carrier for 107mm/120mm mortar(similar to M106) CM-23 mortar carrier for 81mm mortar(similar to M125) CM-24/A1 ammo carrier, can carry either 90 rounds of 155mm or 42 rounds 203mm CM-25 TOW launcher CM-26 Command Track(similar to M577) CM-27/A1 Recovery
M113	United States	Tracked APC	650	Various variants, including personnel carrier, mortar carrier, ammo carrier, TOW launcher(retired), command and recovery^[17]
V-150S	United States	Amphibious APC	300	With Southern Army Group, 298th Mech Inf Brigade
AM General Humvee	United States	General Purpose Armoured Vehicle	2,000-2,500	Various variants, including to carry local made machine guns and TOW 2A launchers, and others.

Artillery [edit]

Vehicle	Origin	Type	In service
M110	United States	203 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer	60
M109A2/A5	United States	155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer, some transferred to ROCMC	197/28^[18]
M108	United States	105 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer	225^[18]
M115	United States	203 mm Towed Howitzer	90^[18]
M59 "Long Tom"	United States	155 mm Towed Howitzer	390^[18]
M101	United States	105 mm Towed Howitzer	650
M1	United States	240mm Fixed/Towed Howitzer	30+, stationed in Kinmen/Quemoy and Matsu
Kung Feng VI	Republic of China	117 mm Tracked MRL	72, 24 per Corp^[19]
Thunderbolt-2000	Republic of China	Wheeled MRL	57 ordered

Helicopters [edit]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	In service^[3]^[20]	Notes
Boeing AH-64E Apache Longbow	United States	Attack helicopter	0	30 on order, deliveries begin in 2014
Bell AH-1W SuperCobra	United States	Attack helicopter	62
Boeing CH-47SD Chinook	United States	Transport helicopter	9
Bell OH-58D Kiowa	United States	Observer/Light attack helicopter	39
Bell TH-67A Creek	United States	Training helicopter	30	Training helicopters
AIDC UH-1H Iroquois	Republic of China	Utility helicopter	Fewer than 40	118 built under licence by AIDC
UH-60M Black Hawk	United States	Utility helicopter	60	Announced/Order. Delivery starts 2013

Anti-aircraft weapons [edit]

Platform	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
M1097 Avenger	United States	Short-Range Air Defense	74	In service with Northern and Central Army Group only, came with 1299 Stingers purchased in the same deal^[18]
FIM-92 Stinger	United States	Dual Mounted (not shoulder-launched) SAM	116	55 Stinger DMS launchers with 465 RMP rounds, from US Army stockpile and rebuilt/refurbished, sold to Taiwan May 1996 for 80 million.^[21] 61 Stinger DMS launchers with 728 rounds, delivered between 1996 and 1998 for 180 million, some transferred to ROCMC^[18]
AIM-92 Stinger	United States	Air to Air Stinger AIM-92 Stinger	173	Block I, ordered for AH-64D Block III APACHE Longbow Attack Helicopters^[22]
MIM-72/M48 Chaparral	United States	Tracked short range SAM	40	In service with Southern Army Group only. With 646 rounds of MIM-72F and 302 rounds of MIM-72E/G/J^[18]
AIM-9 Sidewinder	United States	Air to Air	300	AIM-9S. Carry by AH-1W^[23]
M42 Duster	United States	Tracked twin 40mm AAA	??	Still in service with Northern and Central Army Group anti-air units, 1 battalion each.^[24]

Anti-tank weapons [edit]

Platform	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
M72 LAW	United States	Rocket-Propelled Grenade		Produced locally as the Type 66
M136	Sweden	Anti-Tank Weapon		Licence-built in US
APILAS	France	Anti-Tank Weapon	1,000	Over 1,000 delivered by 1998
FGM-148 Javelin	United States	Anti-tank guided missile	360 and 40 launchers	182 with 20 launchers on order
BGM-71 TOW-2A/B	United States	Anti-tank guided missile	3,100+ rounds and 163+ launchers^[25]	Used by ROC Army and ROCMC on HUMVEE, M-113, CM-25, and on AH-1W and OH-58D helicopters. After 1997, Taiwan purchased 1786 TOW-2A and 290 TOW-2B^[26]
Hellfire AGM-114C	United States	Anti-Tank Laser Guided Missile	684	Carry by AH-1W and OH-58D^[18]
Hellfire AGM-114K3	United States	Anti-Tank Laser Guided Missile	240	Carry by AH-1W and OH-58D since 1999
Hellfire AGM-114M3	United States	Anti-Tank Laser Guided Missile	449	Carry by AH-1W and OH-58D, ordered 9/2002^[22]
Hellfire AGM-114L	United States	Anti-Tank MMW Radar Guided Missile	1,000	On order to be carry by AH-64D

Small arms [edit]

Weapon	Origin	Type	Notes
T75K1	Republic of China	9 mm pistol	Based on M9/Beretta 92
T51	Republic of China	.45 ACP pistol	License-produced M1911A1
Glock 17	Austria	9 mm Pistol
T77	Republic of China	9 mm Submachine Gun
Calico M960	United States	Submachine Gun
MP5A5	Germany	Submachine Gun
Uzi	Israel	Submachine Gun
M1014	Italy	Semi-automatic shotgun
Franchi SPAS-12	Italy	Combat Shotgun
T65	Republic of China	Assault rifle
T86	Republic of China	Assault rifle	Evaluation Only
T91	Republic of China	Assault rifle	Current standard issue
M4A1	United States	Carbine
Type 57	Republic of China	Battle Rifle	License-produced M14
M24 Sniper Weapon System	United States	Sniper rifle
DSR-1	Germany	Sniper rifle
M82A1	United States	Sniper rifle
PSG-1	Germany	Sniper rifle
SSG-2000	Switzerland	Sniper rifle
T74	Republic of China	General purpose machine gun	Based on FN MAG
FN Minimi	Belgium	Squad automatic weapon
M2	United States	Heavy machine gun
T85	Republic of China	40 mm Grenade Launcher
MGL Mk-1	South Africa	40 mm Grenade Launcher
Mk-19 Mod 3	United States	40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher	Licensed production in Taiwan
M16A1/M16 rifle	United States	Assault rifle	Limited use only

Future weapons [edit]

Weapon	Origin	Type	Notes
XT-97	Republic of China	Assault rifle	Designed in 2008 due for service in 2011 for Special forces^[27]

References & notes [edit]

^ "Speculative ROC Army ORBAT". Taiwanmilitary.org. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
^ "ROC Army". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
^ ^a ^b ^c "2004 National Defense Report" (PDF). ROC Ministry of National Defense. 2004. Archived from the original on 2006-03-11. Retrieved 2006-03-05.
^ August 12, 2007. Retrieved Sept 16, 2009
^ ^a ^b "ROC Army 602nd Air Cav Brigade 2010 Open Base Exercise In The Rain". http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/887241. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
^ Roy, Denny (2003). Taiwan's Threat Perceptions: The Enemy Within (PDF). Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. See "Reforming the Armed Forces", page 5.
^ "Taiwan to Buy Apaches to Counter China Threat". Defense News. 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
^ "Report says Taiwan sold 1 billion rifle bullets to U.S.". Retrieved 2007-11-05.
^ http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/jan/28/today-p4.htm
^ http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2008/Taiwan_08-41.pdf
^ The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100303240.html |url= missing title (help). ^{[dead link]}
^ http://asia.news.yahoo.com/081003/afp/081003211458asiapacificnews.html
^ "USDA New Release". dsca.mil. 2010-01-29. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
^ "Next Year Defense Budget Believed To Be Lowest In 5 Years". United Daily newspaper. 2010-08-31. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
^ "ROCMC's 66th Brigade Receiving New Tanks". Retrieved 2010-11-23.
^ ^a ^b "http://blog.udn.com/YST2000/3306840?f_ORDER_BY=DESC&pno=1&". http://blog.udn.com/YST2000/3306840?f_ORDER_BY=DESC&pno=1&. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
^ "ROC Army M113 TOW Launchers are phased out into history". http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/680383. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "armstrade.sipri.org". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
^ "hojiyi". http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/716295. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
^ "Aviation & Special Warfare Command". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
^ "www.defense.gov". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
^ ^a ^b "www.taiwanairpower.org". www.taiwanairpower.org. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
^ "www.taiwanairpower.org". www.taiwanairpower.org. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
^ "ROCAF air defense open base". Retrieved 2010-10-09.
^ "armstrade.sipri.org". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
^ "2 TOW Missiles Missed During Exercise". Retrieved 2010-05-29. ^{[dead link]}
^ "XT-97-Assault-File". http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?163393-XT-97-Assault-File. Retrieved 2010-08-12.

External links [edit]

v t e Taiwan Armed Forces

Branches	Army Navy (Marine Corps) Air Force Military Police

Organizations	Ministry of National Defense National Security Bureau Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology Veterans Affairs Commission

Equipment	Sky Bow Sky Sword I / II Wan Chien Hsiung Feng I / II / IIE / III IDF Ching-kuo CM-32 T65 Assault Rifle(T65K2) T74 Machine Gun T75 Light machine gun T75 Pistol T77 Sub Machine Gun T86 Assault Rifle T91 Assault Rifle T93 Sniper Rifle XT-97 Assault Rifle

Issues	Weapons of mass destruction Political status of Taiwan Taiwan independence Taiwan Strait crises (1955/1958/1996)

Command Centers	Heng Shan Military Command Center Yuan Shan Military Command Center