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| 73rd Division (1949–53) 73rd Infantry Division (1953–60) 73rd Army Division (1960-65) Independent Division of Heilongjiang Provincial Military District (1965-66) 1st Independent Division of Heilongjiang Provincial Military District (1966-68) 73rd Army Division (1968-69) 69th Army Division (1969-85) 68th Infantry Division (1985-98) 68th Motorized Infantry Brigade (1998-2011) 68th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (2011-17) 68th Combined Arms Brigade (2017-) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1949.2 - |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Branch | People's Liberation Army Ground Force,People's Volunteer Army |
| Type | Mechanized Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 78th Group Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Qiqihar,Heilongjiang |
| Engagements | Chinese Civil War,Korean War,Sino-Soviet Border Conflict |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Leng Pengfei |
The73rd Division (Chinese:第73师) was created in February 1949 underthe Regulation of the Redesignations of All Organizations and Units of the Army, issued by Central Military Commission on November 1, 1948,[1] basing on the 19th Division, 7th Column of theHuadong Field Army. Its history can be traced to the Riverine Detachment of 7th Division,New Fourth Army, formed in February 1943.
The division was part of the25th Corps. Under the flag of the 73rd Division, it was engaged in several major battles in theChinese Civil War, including theMenglianggu Campaign,Huaihai Campaign, andShanghai Campaign.
In July 1952, the division was transferred to23rd Corps and was deployed into Korea in September.
In October 1952, Artillery Regiment was activated, which was later redesignated as 349th Artillery Regiment from 1953.
The division pulled out from North Korea in March 1958. By then the division was composed of:
From 1960 the division was renamed as73rd Army Division(Chinese:陆军第73师).
In April 1965 the division was reorganized intoIndependent Division of Heilongjiang Provincial Military District(Chinese:黑龙江省军区独立师):
In July 1966, the division was renamed as1st Independent Division of Heilongjiang Provincial Military District(Chinese:黑龙江省军区独立第1师) following the activation of2nd Independent Division of Heilongjiang Provincial Military District.
In February 1968 the division was returned to 23rd Army Corps control and reconstituted as73rd Army Division again:
On March 2, 1969, 1st Battalion, 217th Regiment, 73rd Division participated in theZhenbao Island Incident under the command ofLeng Pengfei, during which it ambushed a patrol group from 57th Imanskiy Border Guard Ussuriyskiy Detachment, Soviet Border Troops. The 217th Regiment also engaged in the clash on March 15 with Soviet Border Troops and a detachment from135th Motorised Rifle Division.
In June 1969, 349th Artillery Regiment was renamed as Artillery Regiment, 73rd Army Division.
In December 1969, the division was renamed as68th Army Division(Chinese:陆军第68师). All its infantry regiments were redesignated:
In 1985, the division was renamed as68th Infantry Division(Chinese:步兵第68师) and reconstituted as anorthern infantry division, category B. By then the division was composed of:
In August 1998, the division was reduced and redesignated as68th Motorized Infantry Brigade(Chinese:摩托化步兵第68旅).
In 2003, the brigade was transferred to16th Army following23rd Army's disbandment.
In 2011, the brigade was reconstituted as68th Mechanized Infantry Brigade(Chinese:机械化步兵第68旅).
In April 2017, the brigade was reconstituted as68th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade(Chinese:重型合成第68旅).
The brigade now serves as a maneuver part of PLA78th Group Army, stationing inQiqihar,Heilongjiang.
 Structure of thePeople's Liberation Army Ground Force | |||||||
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| PLAGF Headquarters directly subordinate units |
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| Eastern Theater Command Ground Force |
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| Southern Theater Command Ground Force |
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| Western Theater Command Ground Force |
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| Northern Theater Command Ground Force |
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| Central Theater Command Ground Force |
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