| 3rd Tank Division (1950–98) 3rd Armored Division (1998–2011) 3rd Armored Brigade (2011–17) | |
|---|---|
| Chinese:战车第3师 | |
| Active | 1950.10.8 - 2017.4 (inactive) |
| Country |  China |
| Type | Armored |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 39th Army before 2017 |
| Garrison/HQ | Siping, Jilin |
| Engagements | Korean War Laotian Civil War Sino-Soviet border conflict |
On October 8, 1950, the3rd Tank Division(Chinese:战车第3师) was formed inSiping, Jilin province from the 1st Independent Division, Northwestern Military Region.
By then, the division was composed of:
The division was equipped with 20 Japanese-made tanks, 6Type 90 75 mm field gun, several trucks and vehicles and 6774 personnel.
In February 1951, the division received equipment from 2 tank self-propelled artillery regiments of the Soviet Army: 60T-34s, 12IS-2s, 8SU-122s, 4 T-34 tank tractors, 10 APCs, 13 repair vehicles and 100 automobiles.
On June 17, 1952, the 3rd Tank Division moved into Korea to take part in theKorean War as part ofPeople's Volunteer Army(CPA). During its tour to Korea, it took part in 267 battles and engagements, destroyed or damaged 22 enemy tanks and 74 aircraft.
On March 24, 1953, the division was renamed as3rd Tank Division(Chinese:坦克第3师, note the change inChinese characters).
From April to May 1954, the division pulled out of Korea and stayed inSiping. In November, the division was reorganized as anArmy Tank Division of the National Defense Force, receiving 61 more T-34s and IS-2s, and 10 light tanks to its reconnaissance battalion. The division was then composed of 5902 personnel.
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In 1958, the division was reorganized as anindependent tank division. All heavy tank companies and self-propelled artillery batteries were detached, and 3 more medium tank companies were attached. Motorized Infantry Regiment was renamed as Mechanized Infantry Regiment. Motorized Artillery Regiment was renamed as Howitzer Artillery Regiment.
By then, the division was composed of:
The division was then equipped with 138T-34s, 62 artillery pieces, 24 antiaircraft guns, and 5803 personnel.
In October 1962, the division was reorganized as atank division, adding its personnel to 7690.
From August to November 1965, the division received 138Type 59 tanks to replace all T-34s.
In January 1967, the Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment was activated.
From 1969 to 1970, the Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment, the 3rd Tank Division, took part in theLaotian Civil War to provide antiaircraft support for Chinese engineer troops. During its deployment, it shot down 4 enemy aircraft and damaged 2.
From March to May 1969, a detachment from Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Tank Division, took part in the recovery of a lost Soviet ArmyT-62 tank during theZhenbao Island conflict. The tank is now preserved in theMilitary Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution.
In April 1969, the 321st Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment from the116th Army Division and the 322nd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment from the117th Army Division attached to the division. On August 18, all 4 tank regiments were renamed. By then the division was composed of:
In May 1970, Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment was inactivated.
In March 1976, the division was converted to anarmy tank division, catalogue A. Its 11th Tank Regiment was detached and renamed as Tank Regiment, 39th Army Corps. Mechanized Infantry Regiment was renamed as Armored Infantry Regiment.
By then the division was composed of:
In January 1983, the division was attached to the39th Army Corps.
In February 1984, the division became acombined arms army tank division (the only other one was the6th Tank Division): Armored Infantry Regiment was renamed as Mechanized Regiment, and Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment reactivated. In October 1986, the Mechanized Regiment was renamed the Mechanized Infantry Regiment.
By then, the division was composed of:
On October 16, 1998, the division was renamed as the3rd Armored Division(Chinese:装甲第3师). The Mechanized Infantry Regiment was disbanded and absorbed into tank regiments, which became armored regiments.
By then, the division was composed of:
In late 2011, the division was split into two: the division itself became the3rd Armored Brigade (Chinese:装甲第3旅), while half of its battalions formed the202nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade.
In April 2017, the 3rd Armored Brigade was deactivated and merged into the 202nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade as the202nd Combined Arms Brigade.
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