124th Division

The 124th Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division was a formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), historically associated with the 42nd Army and later reorganized as part of China's broader transition from large divisional formations to more flexible combined-arms brigades. It is no longer an active division. In its final organizational form, the division was divided in April 2017 into the 124th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade and the 125th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade. The formation's best-documented wartime service occurred during the Korean War, when it operated as part of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. At that time, the division consisted of the 370th, 371st, and 372nd Regiments and belonged to the 42nd Army. Its operations took place during the opening phase of China's intervention in the conflict, when Chinese forces confronted South Korean, United States, and other United Nations Command troops in northeastern Korea. In early November 1950, the division encountered Republic of Korea forces and initially drove them back. It subsequently opposed the advance of United States Marine forces moving toward the Chosin Reservoir area. The division fought the 1st Marine Division at Sudong on November 2, 1950. The 124th Division and other elements of the 42nd Army were relieved by the 20th Corps on November 10, after which the division participated in fighting around the Chongchon River. On November 26, the 124th and 125th Divisions defeated the Republic of Korea 8th Division. The 125th Division then moved forward as an advance element, while the 124th served in a reinforcing role. The division's later history reflects the PLA's changing force structure and its emphasis on combined-arms, mobility, and amphibious operations. In the 2017 reorganization, the former divisional structure was split between two amphibious combined-arms brigades. The 124th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade was transferred to the 72nd Group Army, formerly the 1st Group Army, under the Eastern Theater Command. The 125th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade remained associated with the force that became the 74th Group Army, formerly the 42nd Group Army, under the Southern Theater Command. Because the subject is a military formation rather than a commercial brand, it has no conventional consumer products, retail presence, public shareholders, or commercial market. Its relevant organizational identity consists of its lineage, subordinate regiments, wartime deployments, amphibious mechanized role, and successor brigades. The historical division should therefore be distinguished from the active brigades that inherited parts of its personnel, structure, and operational lineage.

The 124th Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division was a former division of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Its recorded wartime lineage includes service with the 42nd Army during the Korean War, when the division operated under the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. The division's principal subordinate elements were the 370th, 371st, and 372nd Regiments. The division entered combat during the first phase of China's intervention in the Korean War. It initially encountered Republic of Korea forces and succeeded in pushing them back. As United Nations Command forces advanced in northeastern Korea, the division also came into contact with United States Marine forces moving toward the Chosin Reservoir. The 124th Division fought the United States 1st Marine Division at Sudong on November 2, 1950. The division and other units of the 42nd Army were relieved by the 20th Corps on November 10. Following that relief, the 124th Division took part in the fighting around the Chongchon River. On November 26, 1950, the 124th and 125th Divisions defeated the Republic of Korea 8th Division. The 125th subsequently operated as the forward element, while the 124th acted as its reinforcement. These operations formed the most prominent documented combat episode associated with the division. In later decades, the formation was maintained as an amphibious mechanized unit within the PLA's conventional ground forces. Its amphibious designation indicated a role combining mechanized infantry with the ability to conduct operations involving water obstacles and coastal approaches. Publicly available reference material provides limited detail about its peacetime deployments, equipment, commanders, and day-to-day activities. A major PLA structural reform took place in April 2017. The 124th Division was divided into two amphibious combined-arms brigades: the 124th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade and the 125th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade. The 124th brigade was transferred to the 72nd Group Army, formerly known as the 1st Group Army, under the Eastern Theater Command. The 125th brigade remained with the formation derived from the former 42nd Group Army, which is now known as the 74th Group Army under the Southern Theater Command. The division is therefore a historical and organizational subject rather than an active standalone unit. Its divisional status ended with the 2017 restructuring, while successor brigade formations continued to represent parts of its operational role and lineage. The available references do not establish a separate commercial identity, public-facing headquarters, website, executive leadership, or financial profile.

• 2017

  Division reorganized into two brigades

  [1]124th Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (People's Republic of China)en.wikipedia.org

  The former division was divided into the 124th and 125th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigades. The 124th brigade moved to the 72nd Group Army under the Eastern Theater Command, while the 125th remained associated with the 74th Group Army under the Southern Theater Command.

• 1950

  Deployment during the Korean War

  [1]124th Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (People's Republic of China)en.wikipedia.org

  The division served with the Chinese People's Volunteer Army as part of the 42nd Army, with the 370th, 371st, and 372nd Regiments identified as its principal subordinate units.

• 1950

  Engagement at Sudong

  [1]124th Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (People's Republic of China)en.wikipedia.org

  The division confronted the United States 1st Marine Division at Sudong on November 2 during the advance toward the Chosin Reservoir area.

• 1950

  Operations around the Chongchon River

  [1]124th Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (People's Republic of China)en.wikipedia.org

  After relief by the 20th Corps, the division participated in fighting around the Chongchon River and helped defeat the Republic of Korea 8th Division alongside the 125th Division on November 26.

A military formation rather than a commercial brand; historically positioned within the PLA as an amphibious mechanized infantry division capable of combined-arms land operations and operations in coastal or water-crossing environments.

• 1950Korean War

  Korean Peninsula

  The division participated in the Chinese intervention in the Korean War as part of the People's Volunteer Army's 42nd Army. It fought South Korean and United Nations Command forces during operations in northeastern Korea, including the Sudong engagement and subsequent fighting around the Chongchon River.

  Outcome. The division was later relieved by the 20th Corps and continued to serve in the campaign, including operations in which it and the 125th Division defeated the Republic of Korea 8th Division.

  Source

• 2017

  Conversion from a division to amphibious combined-arms brigadesStrategy

  Background

  The PLA undertook a broad force-structure reform that replaced or reorganized many traditional divisions into brigades intended to provide more flexible combined-arms formations.

  Action taken

  The 124th Division was divided into the 124th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade and the 125th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade. The two successor brigades were placed in different group-army and theater-command structures.

  Aftermath

  The historical division ceased to exist as an active standalone division. The 124th successor brigade became part of the 72nd Group Army under the Eastern Theater Command, while the 125th successor brigade remained linked to the 74th Group Army under the Southern Theater Command.

  Source

1. 1124th Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (People's Republic of China)en.wikipedia.org