1st Armored Brigade (People's Republic of China)
A former People's Liberation Army armored formation that evolved from the 1st Tank Division and was absorbed into the 70th Combined Arms Brigade in 2017.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 1st Armored Brigade (People's Republic of China) was a People's Liberation Army Ground Force armored formation whose lineage began with the Tank Division of the 4th Field Army, activated in Tianjin in February 1949. The formation underwent several changes in designation and organization, including periods as the 1st Tank Division, the 1st Tank Brigade, and later the 1st Armored Division. Its history reflects the PLA's broader transition from infantry-centered forces toward mechanized and armored formations. The formation first entered combat-related service during the Korean War. From March 1951 to November 1952 it deployed to Korea as part of the People's Volunteer Army, and it returned for a second deployment from January to October 1953. After the Korean War it was stationed in the Beijing area and underwent repeated changes to its regimental and artillery structure. It moved from Fengtai to Changping and subsequently to Jixian in Tianjin, while its subordinate units were renamed, reorganized, detached, or reconstituted as the PLA adjusted its armored force. During the 1960s and 1970s the formation expanded and altered its composition. A tank self-propelled artillery regiment was temporarily incorporated as a third tank regiment in 1969, while a mechanized regiment was later reorganized into a tank regiment. An armored infantry regiment was activated in 1976. During the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, a rocket artillery battalion associated with the division was placed under the command of another army division for operations in the Cao Bang region. The formation was also involved in major domestic security events. In 1989, while still known as the 1st Tank Division, it participated in the enforcement of martial law in Beijing during the crackdown on protests. A tank column associated with the division was involved in the widely documented June 5 confrontation in which an unidentified civilian, subsequently known internationally as Tank Man, stood in front of tanks near Tiananmen Square. The episode is one of the most prominent public associations with the formation, although operational details and the identities of personnel involved have been reported with varying degrees of certainty. In the 1980s the division operated Type 59-2 medium tanks and was described in the reference material as the PLA ground force's only Type 59-2 unit. It was placed under different higher commands over time, including the 66th Army Corps, the Tianjin Security District, and later the 24th Army. In October 1998 it was redesignated the 1st Armored Division, with three armored regiments and an artillery regiment after the armored infantry regiment was disbanded and its functions were absorbed into tank regiments. Following the dissolution of the 24th Army, the formation was attached to the 65th Army in 2003. The final major organizational change occurred in late 2011, when the division was split. Its main body became the 1st Armored Brigade, while elements from approximately half of its battalions were reorganized into the 195th Mechanized Infantry Brigade. The brigade remained an armored element under the 65th Army in the Beijing Military Region until April 2017, when it was deactivated and absorbed into the 70th Combined Arms Brigade. It therefore no longer exists as an independent active brigade. As a military formation rather than a commercial organization, it had no consumer products, commercial positioning, public-company status, or conventional brand-management activity.
History
The formation originated in February 1949, when the Tank Division of the 4th Field Army was activated in Tianjin from the field army's Special Troops Tank Command. It was renamed the 1st Tank Division in May 1949 and reorganized as the 1st Tank Brigade in December 1950. By that point its structure included a medium-tank regiment, a light-tank regiment, and a motorized infantry regiment. On November 3, 1950, it again received the 1st Tank Division designation, while its regimental structure remained unchanged. The division deployed to Korea during the Korean War as part of the People's Volunteer Army. Its first deployment lasted from March 1951 through November 1952, followed by a second deployment from January through October 1953. After its Korean service it moved to Fengtai in the Beijing area. During the postwar period its artillery and infantry components were repeatedly renamed and reorganized. The motorized infantry regiment became a mechanized regiment in 1958, and the division moved to Changping in 1959 before relocating to Jixian, Tianjin, in 1962. The division's organization continued to change during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1969, the 402nd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was attached and redesignated as a third tank regiment, but it was transferred away the following year. The former mechanized regiment was then reorganized as the third tank regiment. An armored infantry regiment was activated in July 1976. During the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, a 130 mm self-propelled rocket artillery battalion from the division's artillery regiment was placed under the command of the 124th Army Division for an operation in the Cao Bang region. In January 1983 the division came under the 66th Army Corps. During the 1980s it was equipped with Type 59-2 medium tanks and was described as the only Type 59-2 formation in the PLA ground force. After the 66th Army Corps was disbanded, the division was attached to the Tianjin Security District in July 1985. In 1989 it participated in the enforcement of martial law in Beijing during the suppression of protests. A tank column associated with the division became part of the historical record of June 5, when an unidentified man stood in its path near Tiananmen Square and temporarily halted the column. The division was transferred to the 24th Army in April 1996. In October 1998 it was renamed the 1st Armored Division. Its armored infantry regiment was disbanded and absorbed into the tank regiments, which became armored regiments. The resulting structure consisted of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Armored Regiments and an Artillery Regiment. After the dissolution of the 24th Army in 2003, the division was attached to the 65th Army. In late 2011 the division was divided into two formations. Its principal body became the 1st Armored Brigade, while portions of its battalions were reorganized as the 195th Mechanized Infantry Brigade. The brigade served as an armored formation under the 65th Army in the Beijing Military Region until April 2017. It was then deactivated and absorbed into the 70th Combined Arms Brigade. The subject is consequently a historical military formation and not an active commercial brand.
- 2017
Deactivation
[1]The 1st Armored Brigade was deactivated and absorbed into the 70th Combined Arms Brigade.
- 2011
Division-to-brigade reorganization
[1]The division was split, with its main body reorganized as the 1st Armored Brigade and other elements forming the 195th Mechanized Infantry Brigade.
- 2003
Attachment to the 65th Army
[1]Following the dissolution of the 24th Army, the division was attached to the 65th Army.
- 1998
Redesignation as the 1st Armored Division
[1]The 1st Tank Division became the 1st Armored Division and adopted a structure of three armored regiments and an artillery regiment.
- 1989
Beijing martial-law operation
[1]The division participated in the enforcement of martial law in Beijing and was associated with the June 5 tank-column incident.
- 1983
Transfer to the 66th Army Corps
[1]The division was placed under the 66th Army Corps.
- 1979
Support during the Sino-Vietnamese War
[1]A 130 mm self-propelled rocket artillery battalion was placed under another army division for operations in the Cao Bang region.
- 1976
Armored infantry regiment activated
[1]An Armored Infantry Regiment was established within the division.
- 1969
Temporary addition of a third tank regiment
[1]The 402nd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was attached and redesignated as the third tank regiment.
- 1958
Mechanization of the infantry component
[1]The motorized infantry regiment was renamed the Mechanized Regiment.
Products and positioning
A military armored formation within the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, rather than a commercial brand. Its operational role centered on armored warfare, mechanized ground operations, and military readiness.
Brand decisions
2017
Absorption into the 70th Combined Arms BrigadeM&ABackground
The brigade was subject to a further PLA force-structure reorganization.
Action taken
It was deactivated and absorbed into the 70th Combined Arms Brigade.
Aftermath
The 1st Armored Brigade ceased to exist as an independent formation.
2011
Reorganization from division to brigadeStrategyBackground
The formation was restructured during a broader change in the organization of PLA ground forces.
Action taken
The division's main body became the 1st Armored Brigade, while other elements were reorganized into the 195th Mechanized Infantry Brigade.
Aftermath
The new brigade continued as an armored formation under the 65th Army until its 2017 absorption into another combined-arms brigade.
Sources1 sources
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