TODAY
How does the PLA win a border war on the plateau and mountains?
(Editor's note: This article was written in 2017, and there are some differences from the current situation in China and India, so you can read it as appropriate)
Recently, a new concept has frequently appeared among the American and Indian populations, that is, the "Indo-Pacific Strategy". Behind this, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US Defense Secretary Mattis both visited South, Southeast asia and Northeast Asia. This was followed by US President Donald Trump's trip to Northeast and Southeast Asia. A new "Asia strategy" has emerged in the travels and speeches of three of the most important figures of the U.S. government authorities in Asia, and in Trump's APEC speech, this "Asia strategy" has been largely presented to the people.
Although the "New Asia Strategy" is dominated by the United States, Japan, India and Australia, one of the roles is more important than ever. That is India, which just ended its confrontation with China in the border area just a few months ago. The United States wants to pull India to balance China and bring India closer to the Pacific. In an attempt to win India over, when Trump decided to increase troops to Afghanistan at the end of August 2017, he delivered a speech criticizing India's sworn enemy, Pakistan, while vigorously promoting India's importance.
The praises of countries such as the United States and Japan have also made India flutter, and the ambition of "great power diplomacy" has reached the peak of recent decades. In this context, looking at India's various moves in the past six months, an important question has been examined by many people, "If the confrontation between China and India on the border area turns into a conflict, how will the PLA fight a high-altitude mountain war?" ”
01
Don't underestimate India
During U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to India at the end of October 2017, the two sides talked about strengthening cooperation and seeking a "strategic partnership" and the details of U.S. arms sales to India. In addition to the F-16 and F-18 fighters on the arms sales list, there is also the most advanced maritime unmanned reconnaissance aircraft that India wants to buy. India wants to balance China's rising military power in the Indian Ocean and overcome its anxiety about Chinese submarines.
The Doklam standoff seems to have allowed Indians to regain confidence lost in the 1962-China-India war
The doklam standoff, which ended earlier, seems to have allowed some in India to regain confidence lost in the 1962 Sino-Indian war. In this standoff, the Indian army showed more tough than ever, and near Doklam, India has 3 mountain divisions ready for battle. Meanwhile, India deployed nearly 10,000 troops in the Ladakh region near the China-India border, which was not evacuated until early November.
According to a november 4, 2017 report by India Today, sources revealed that during the previous China-India standoff, the Indian side deployed nearly 10,000 soldiers on the Indian side of the China-India border under the pretext of conducting exercises. "After we cancelled the alarm 10 days ago, two brigades (6,000 soldiers) were evacuated first and returned to their actual cantonments," the source said. According to reports, these soldiers are from the 17th Mountain Strike Regiment.
In addition, in order to prevent a repeat of the so-called "PEOPLE's Liberation Army Crossing the Border" and doklam confrontation, the Indian Border Police Force plans to establish and deploy a mechanized team to accelerate the pace of mobilization at the China-India border, the first time in their more than 50 years of existence.
According to the Times of India, India's Federal Ministry of Home Affairs recently adopted a decision to fully deploy snowmobiles for border security forces at high-altitude border outposts along the China-India border. It was then decided to establish a mechanized unit under the Indian Border Police. The mechanized force will have more than 250 jeeps, all-terrain off-road vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles, excavators and medium-sized four-wheeled transmission vehicles. An Indian official said that although the Indian Army has mechanized infantry regiments, these border police are the first to bear the brunt of both peacetime and wartime, so it is necessary to have mechanized troops.
As for why India attaches so much importance to the highland mountain troops, perhaps the most important factor is that Indians have always wanted to regain the face lost in the 1962 Sino-Indian border war. Therefore, after 1962, the Indian army's mountain combat capability has been steadily improving, and many fields can be called world leaders. In 1984, the armed conflict between India and Pakistan broke out in the Siachen Glacier, and the Indian army won the victory with the rational use and perseverance of the air force and mountain artillery, so that it still controls most of the glacier and all the higher outposts. It was considered to be the highest and coldest battle in the world, because the Siachen Glacier averaged an altitude of more than 6,000 meters above sea level, and the highest outpost was at an altitude of 6,749 meters, which was the highest record for human combat!
The highest outpost in the Siachen Glacier, with an average altitude of more than 6,000 meters, is at 6,749 meters above sea level, the highest record for human combat
At the same time, the Indian army also has a very rich experience in mountain warfare. For example, all explosive weapons and machine guns are strictly limited, because this may trigger an avalanche, which is much more terrifying than the enemy. In addition, the geographical and climatic conditions of mountains and high altitudes will have a relatively large impact on the range and accuracy of shells and bullets. The Indian Mountain Strike Corps, which operates in this area all year round, is clearly more aware of this.
02
The mountain troops of the Indian Army are heavily armed
From a purely military point of view, if there is a confrontation or even conflict between China and India in the border area, the two sides will need to deal with difficult alpine terrain and complex weather conditions. In preparation for this sudden situation, both India and China have invested a great deal of financial and material resources in military forces capable of fighting wars in high-altitude mountainous and plateau areas. The answer to the question of "how the PLA fights a high-altitude border conflict" depends not only on China, but also on the opponents of this conflict.
In the case of the 2017 China-India Doklam standoff, for example, although India has said it wants to resolve the confrontation through peaceful dialogue, they have also acknowledged military preparations and the long-term deployment of large troops along the China-India border. For example, the composition of the Indian army in the area around Doklam includes the 17th Mountain Division (stationed in Gangtok), the 20th Mountain Division (stationed in Binnaguri) and the 27th Mountain Division (stationed in Kalundborg), which are approximately more than 10,000 soldiers each and are in a state of high combat readiness.
In addition, as previously reported by Indian media, between June and July, more than 2,500 soldiers from the 164th Brigade moved towards the zuluk and nathan valleys in Sikkim. Prior to this, the 63rd Brigade (deployed at Nathu la Pass) and the 112th Brigade (deployed in Qiongtang), which had been deployed in eastern and north-eastern India, numbered approximately 6,000 troops, with more than 2,500 soldiers of the 164th Brigade reinforcing the previous deployment.
A large number of troops have been deployed on the Sino-Indian border for a long time
All three mountain divisions were actually subordinate to the Indian 33rd Army in Siliguri, stationed in India, which was responsible for the sikkim, Bhutan and Nathurah passes at the western end of the eastern front, and had an army aviation squadron with a total strength of 45,000 to 60,000 troops. Among them, the 17th Mountain Division, a front-line force on the Sino-Western border in Sikkim, was formed in World War II, nicknamed the "Black Cat" Division, participated in the counter-offensive against Burma, and was awarded the Victoria Cross 7 times in the battle against japan. In the Sino-Indian conflict, more than 200 soldiers of the division were killed by our side. In the case of The Indian 17th Mountain Infantry Division, which has a staff of 12,700 men, has 3 mountain infantry brigades, 1 artillery brigade (equipped with 155 mm, 105 mm tow howitzers and 120 mm heavy mortars) and a signal regiment, etc., each of which usually has three infantry battalions and one artillery regiment. The 17th Division attaches particular importance to the construction and use of artillery and aviation, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter gunships, and transport helicopters are widely used, and its mountain infantry can no longer leave the artillery and aviation units and carry out combat tasks alone.
The mountain infantry could no longer leave the artillery and aviation and carried out combat tasks alone
In recent years, India has significantly strengthened the strength of the 27th Mountain Division stationed in the Indian-occupied Sikkim region, with a basic strength of about 15,000 troops, as well as the superior-strengthened electro-resistance battalion and land aviation brigade. After 2009, the division showed signs of a "finger zone" north of Sikkim, intended to quickly seal the Siliguri Corridor during the war.
The Indian Mountain Infantry Division generally has 3 infantry brigades, 1 artillery brigade, 1 engineer regiment, 1 signal regiment and other subordinate detachments. Both the Corps of Engineers and the Regiment of Signals were particularly increased to cope with the special operational environment of the troops in the highland mountains. Previously, the artillery of the Indian Mountain Division was only equipped with two caliber heavy guns of 105 mm and 130 mm, and the maximum range of india's domestic 105 mm howitzer was 11 kilometers, and the combat rate of fire was 5 rounds per minute, which was considered to be the backbone equipment of the mountain army artillery battle duel. In order to improve long-range strike capabilities, India has urgently purchased 140 M777 ultralight 155 mm howitzers from the United States.
India is willing to invest in the construction of mountain troops, not only giving priority to equipment, but also using this as a pretext to invite the instructors of the US 10th Mountain Division to serve as visiting professors and specially teach advanced mountain tactics to Indian officers and men. In addition to the weapons that the first-line battalions and companies could carry, in order to strengthen their strength, the Indian army also deployed T-72 tanks in the mountain division. The Indian mountain artillery also dismantled the large-caliber guns into parts and transported them to the snowy mountains for reassembly and firing, and also deployed 6 anti-aircraft missile squadrons in an attempt to blockade the Chinese helicopter airborne troops.
The Indian military has also begun to deploy four Blah mos cruise missile regiments along the China-India border to strengthen long-range strike capabilities and military deterrence. In the Himalayas, the Indian army has set up a Su-30 fighter base and a transport aircraft base; the Indian army has also recently actively purchased helicopters suitable for high-altitude flight and imported C-130 and C-17 transport aircraft from the United States, but the number is limited enough to change the balance of transport forces on the Sino-Indian border.
At the Himalayas Pass, the Indian army set up a fighter base and a transport aircraft base
However, it is worth noting that in recent years, India has attached great importance to the construction of border areas and the construction of mountain military forces. Amid the ongoing confrontation between China and India in the Doklam area, India's Ministry of Defence urgently seeks an additional allocation of Rs 200 billion (about 21.05 billion yuan) from the government. The funds will allegedly be used for the modernization of the Indian Army and for day-to-day operating expenses.
03
Light equipment and air mobility are key
Unlike ordinary ground combat, such terrain in mountain plateaus can usually only be used with light equipment and air mobility, and although small heavy strike groups can advance along the flat terrain of roads, some valleys or plateaus, or provide support for lightly equipped troops, narrow movement channels make encirclement and flanking attacks difficult, while also reducing the normal rhythm of combat. Of course, mountainous terrain can also conceal the concentration and movement of troops. Mountain warfare relies on non-linear operations, with a focus on rapid penetration, flanking attacks, encirclement, ambushes, air strikes, and "deeper" special operations. Contactless and information warfare operations of combined fire strikes are critical to the success of the campaign.
Mountainous areas tend to have low population densities, limiting the ability to rely on local supplies and support. Difficult terrain and weather conditions increase the requirements for logistical, equipment and operational support. The demand rate for supplies, fuel and medical supplies is higher than in general terrain. The lack of local maintenance support, coupled with harsh terrain and weather conditions, has increased the requirements for repair and maintenance.
According to some Chinese military experts, the PLA is developing some light combat equipment, mainly for better military operations in the mountains. For example, the troops in the former Tibet region have been equipped with some specialized light mobile equipment, including 8×8 all-terrain vehicles and PCL-09 122 mm vehicle-mounted howitzers. According to military media, China has developed a new light tank to replace the Type 62 light tank that has been deployed to many units in the southern mountains. According to the assessment of Western defense scholars, this tank can be quickly transported by Y-20 transport aircraft and deployed to front-line positions. "China has deployed new tanks on the Tibetan border near India." United Press International said that this summer the People's Liberation Army organized exercises on the Tibetan plateau, and an unspecified model of "new light tank" appeared. The British "Jane's Defence Weekly" believes that due to changes in the combat environment, light tanks have once become outdated ground warfare weapons, but now China has shown a "maverick" posture in this field, which surprises the outside world.
VT-5 light tank
Video footage shows that the new tank was tested for fire in Tibet, but reports did not provide technical details about the tank. It is thought that the tank is likely to be the VT-5 light tank unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show in October 2016, equipped with a 105 mm main gun, a 35 mm grenade launcher and a 12.7 mm machine gun. These weapons have a large angle of fire elevation in order to adapt to mountain combat. Experts estimate that the total combat weight of light tanks that appeared in Tibet is 35 to 38 tons, which is more adaptable to the plateau environment.
Although the main battle tanks represented by the M1A2, T-90 and 99A2 undoubtedly occupy the hegemonic position of the armored forces of various countries, the main battle tanks are generally getting heavier and heavier, and the weight of 50 tons or even more makes it difficult to use them in areas such as mountainous and hilly areas with more complex terrain and large ground ups and downs, and it is also difficult to use tactical transport aircraft to deploy rapidly by air. The surrounding armies either use outdated second-generation main battle tanks or have a small number of third-generation main battle tanks, which are clearly inferior to China's new light tanks due to poor terrain adaptability.
04
Border infrastructure determines victory or defeat
In addition to the mountains, there are many places on the Sino-Indian border that belong to the plateau. The plateau has a very special geographical and climatic environment, the most important of which is that the average altitude is more than 4,000 meters, and in some places even more than 7,000 meters. This battlefield environment exists on the Tibetan Plateau and will also affect combat operations during the Sino-Indian conflict. The highland environment is characterized by harsh weather and snowfall, thin air, severe cold, lack of oxygen, high-intensity ultraviolet radiation, and generally harsh living conditions. In addition, the terrain is complex and weak infrastructure, including sparse and poor roads and airports, pose serious problems with mobility and resupply.
The People's Liberation Army has established a sound infrastructure in the plateau
It can be said that on the ground, whoever can quickly mobilize troops and seize the opportunity to seize the advantage will have a greater certainty of winning. And these are related to who has more complete infrastructure such as roads and railways under the harsh terrain of the plateau and mountainous terrain. Obviously, India is also engaged in border infrastructure construction, but the speed is much worse than That of China. Therefore, India uses various untenable reasons such as "changing the status quo" and even crosses the border to obstruct, the ultimate purpose of which is to delay china's road construction progress in the border areas, so as not to lose this "fatal race".
India's Business Standards Daily reported on April 6, 2017, that a bulldozer was clearing the obstacles that landslides had caused to a winding road. This narrow road leads from Tispur to Tawang (china claims sovereignty, currently occupied by India). On the nearly vertical steep slopes of the eastern Foothills of the Himalayas, workers are blasting and cutting dangerous rocks as they build a military facility that is classified as a top priority: a 34-mile road leading to a disputed border area with China. It's far from India's capital, New Delhi, and by foot, road, rail and plane, it takes a total of 6 days to get there. India's Prime Minister's Office is overseeing the progress of construction on the road as the Modi government has stepped up funding for infrastructure in the disputed area and drawn up a multibillion-dollar construction plan. The aim is to strengthen India's ability to deal with its "powerful neighbors."
India is accelerating the construction of strategic roads so that troops and supplies can be transported more quickly to the border areas, and advanced weapons can be deployed more quickly in the event of a military conflict. A senior Indian government official overseeing road construction projects said, "China has built a lot of roads and railways on the other side." This is not the same as the usual transaction, we have shifted gears to speed up."
The Indian side believes that the situation of India's land connection in the border area is relatively bad. For example, the border post in Barahoti relies on only one road and is 20 kilometres from the line of actual control. In addition, it was only up to porters and pack animals to transport supplies to border posts. On both sides of the Line of Actual Control, China and India are undertaking a large number of road and railway construction projects on their respective sides. However, China's progress and speed have clearly far outpaced India's.
Roads on the Indian side have deteriorated due to natural conditions such as landslides, and rail links are even more absent, so India is increasingly worried that poor land links with areas of the line of actual control on the border could cost it dearly if there is a military confrontation with China.
In the alpine mountains of the plateau, the army equipment will be greatly affected. There is a clear negative impact on the non-combat attrition of personnel, as well as a decrease in the performance of weapons and equipment. These factors have greatly reduced the combat effectiveness of the troops, and in the course of the battle, the combat effectiveness of the troops will continue to decline due to environmental factors other than combat. Even those who adapt to high altitudes experience physical and mental decline and are vulnerable to a variety of medical conditions. Vehicles experience reduced power, increased fuel consumption, and high maintenance requirements. Weapons have a higher failure rate, a higher number of duds for ammunition, and long-range missiles that deviate in course during use. The snow season lasts for up to 6 months, while during the rainy season floods break out, the rivers are at deep water levels, and the muddy roads hinder mobility. Climate and terrain limit the size of the troops and the scale of the battles. Heavy equipment such as armored vehicles and large-caliber artillery will be limited in mobility.
Therefore, in addition to ground forces, air force units are gradually involved in highland mountain operations. Last summer, the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducted air force training on the Tibetan Plateau, which consisted mainly of aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, radar units and communications units. According to the People's Liberation Army Daily, the training includes joint operations with army units, long-range maneuvers, ground attack and air defense, emergency operations, and operations under complex meteorological conditions.
Image analysis shows that the increase in THE DEPLOYMENT OF PLAAF aircraft and the improvement of related facilities over the past few years, as well as the recent increase in the number of aircraft and drones at air bases in the region, can better support operations along the China-India border. Of particular note is that the PLA has deployed Rainbow 4 reconnaissance/strike drones in the area.
"Rainbow" 4 reconnaissance/strike drones
China does not want a military conflict on the Sino-Indian border, but it has sufficient military capabilities to contain the war. In October 2017, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying expressed the Indian side's willingness to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area on the basis of abiding by the historical boundary and relevant agreements between the Two Sides on the indian defense minister's visit to the Sikkim section of the China-India border and the friendly interaction with the Chinese border guards. (Editor's note: The content of this article only represents the views of the author, and this journal does not make any confirmations and comments, and is for the reference of readers only.) ）