4th Armored Brigade
The 4th Armored Brigade is a People's Liberation Army armored formation that originated as the 4th Tank Division in 1969.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 4th Armored Brigade is a People's Liberation Army armored formation whose institutional history began with the establishment of the 4th Tank Division on 1 April 1969. The division was created during a period of major reorganization of China's armored forces, drawing its initial component regiments from self-propelled artillery units associated with several existing army divisions. Its founding elements were the 237th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment from the 32nd Army Division, the 252nd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment from the 46th Army Division, the 253rd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment from the 47th Army Division, and the 397th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment from the 192nd Army Division. By August 1969, the division had four tank regiments: the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Tank Regiments. Its equipment changed over time as the People's Liberation Army modernized its armored inventory. In 1972, the formation retired its SU-76 vehicles and operated with T-34 tanks. Between 1980 and 1982, it transitioned to Type 59 and Type 59-1 medium tanks, with five battalions receiving the newer equipment. This period marked a move away from the division's earlier mixed and older Soviet-derived equipment toward standardized Chinese-built armored vehicles. The formation also underwent repeated changes to its subordinate structure and command relationships. In February 1976, the 14th Tank Regiment was transferred to become the tank regiment of the 16th Army Corps, while the 16th Tank Regiment was transferred to become the tank regiment of the 68th Army Corps. The 1st Independent Tank Regiment of the Shenyang Military Region was subsequently attached and redesignated as the new 14th Tank Regiment. On 1 January 1983, the division came under the 16th Army Corps and activated an Armored Infantry Regiment and an Artillery Regiment alongside its tank regiments. It was attached to the 16th Army in 1985. In 1998, the formation was renamed the 4th Armored Division. Its Armored Infantry Regiment was disbanded, and its personnel and capabilities were absorbed into the tank regiments, which were redesignated as armored regiments. The resulting structure consisted of the 13th Armored Regiment, 14th Armored Regiment, 15th Armored Regiment, and an Artillery Regiment. In late 2011, the division was divided into two formations. The original divisional organization became the 4th Armored Brigade, while approximately half of its battalions formed the 204th Mechanized Infantry Brigade. The brigade therefore represents the later organizational form of a formation that had evolved from a tank division into an armored division and subsequently into a brigade under the People's Liberation Army's broader force-restructuring process. Publicly available reference material provides detailed information on its historical lineage, equipment transitions, subordinate units, and reorganizations, but does not establish a current headquarters, commander, public-facing operating profile, or present operational status.
History
The formation's history begins on 1 April 1969, when the 4th Tank Division was established from four tank self-propelled artillery regiments transferred from other army divisions. These constituent units became the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Tank Regiments. The division's original structure reflected the People's Liberation Army's effort to consolidate and expand armored formations during the late 1960s. By 19 August 1969, the four-regiment structure had been formalized. The division initially operated a range of armored equipment inherited from its predecessor organizations. In 1972, it retired its SU-76 vehicles and became equipped exclusively with T-34 tanks, according to the referenced historical account. During the 1980–1982 period, it re-equipped five battalions with Type 59 and Type 59-1 medium tanks, reflecting the gradual standardization of Chinese armored forces around domestically produced derivatives of Soviet tank designs. The division's subordinate units and command affiliations changed significantly in the 1970s and 1980s. In February 1976, the 14th Tank Regiment was detached and converted into the tank regiment of the 16th Army Corps. The 16th Tank Regiment was likewise detached and assigned as the tank regiment of the 68th Army Corps. To restore the division's structure, the 1st Independent Tank Regiment of the Shenyang Military Region was attached and redesignated as the new 14th Tank Regiment. On 1 January 1983, the formation was placed under the 16th Army Corps. It expanded beyond a purely tank-centered structure by activating an Armored Infantry Regiment and an Artillery Regiment. At that stage, its reported organization comprised the 13th, 14th, and 15th Tank Regiments, the Armored Infantry Regiment, and the Artillery Regiment. In 1985, the division was attached to the 16th Army, another change in its wider command relationship. A major nomenclature and structural change occurred in 1998, when the 4th Tank Division became the 4th Armored Division. The Armored Infantry Regiment was disbanded, with its personnel and capabilities absorbed into the tank regiments. Those regiments were then redesignated as armored regiments. The post-1998 organization consisted of the 13th Armored Regiment, 14th Armored Regiment, 15th Armored Regiment, and an Artillery Regiment. The final major change described in the available reference material occurred in late 2011. The division was split into two formations: the division itself became the 4th Armored Brigade, while half of its battalions were used to form the 204th Mechanized Infantry Brigade. This transition placed the formation in brigade rather than divisional form and reflected a broader reorganization of the People's Liberation Army's ground forces. The supplied sources do not provide sufficient information to identify current leadership, headquarters, equipment holdings after the 2011 restructuring, or whether the brigade remains active under the same designation.
- 2011
Conversion into the 4th Armored Brigade
[1]In late 2011, the division was split: the remaining divisional formation became the 4th Armored Brigade, while half of its battalions formed the 204th Mechanized Infantry Brigade.
- 1998
Renaming as the 4th Armored Division
[1]The 4th Tank Division was renamed the 4th Armored Division, and its tank regiments became armored regiments after the Armored Infantry Regiment was absorbed into them.
- 1985
Attachment to the 16th Army
[1]The formation was attached to the 16th Army.
- 1983
Placement under the 16th Army Corps
[1]On 1 January, the division came under the 16th Army Corps and activated Armored Infantry and Artillery Regiments.
- 1980
Re-equipment with Type 59 tanks
[1]From 1980 to 1982, five battalions received Type 59 and Type 59-1 medium tanks.
- 1976
Transfer and replacement of tank regiments
[1]The 14th and 16th Tank Regiments were detached for service with other army corps, while the 1st Independent Tank Regiment of the Shenyang Military Region became the new 14th Tank Regiment.
- 1972
Retirement of SU-76 vehicles
[1]The division retired its SU-76 vehicles and operated with T-34 tanks.
- 1969
Formation as the 4th Tank Division
[1]The 4th Tank Division was established on 1 April from four tank self-propelled artillery regiments drawn from the 32nd, 46th, 47th, and 192nd Army Divisions.
- 1969
Initial four-regiment organization
[1]By 19 August, the formation consisted of the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Tank Regiments.
Products and positioning
A military armored formation rather than a commercial brand. Its organizational role has centered on armored warfare, tank operations, mechanized support, and associated artillery capabilities within the People's Liberation Army.
Brand decisions
2011
Division-to-brigade restructuringStrategyBackground
The formation was reorganized during a broader restructuring of People's Liberation Army ground-force formations.
Action taken
In late 2011, the division became the 4th Armored Brigade, while half of its battalions were used to create the 204th Mechanized Infantry Brigade.
Aftermath
The formation continued under a brigade designation in the supplied historical account, although its subsequent status and organization are not established by the available sources.
1998
Conversion from tank division to armored divisionGeneration changeBackground
The formation underwent a structural modernization and nomenclature change after operating for decades as the 4th Tank Division.
Action taken
It was renamed the 4th Armored Division, and the Armored Infantry Regiment was absorbed into the tank regiments, which became armored regiments.
Aftermath
The reported organization was reduced to three armored regiments and an Artillery Regiment.
1969
Creation of a dedicated tank divisionStrategyBackground
The People's Liberation Army consolidated four tank self-propelled artillery regiments from existing army divisions into a new armored formation.
Action taken
The 4th Tank Division was established with four tank regiments.
Aftermath
The formation became the institutional predecessor of the later 4th Armored Division and 4th Armored Brigade.
Sources1 sources
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