Chinese military sharpening amphibious assault skills, state TV report on landing drill says
- Amphibious landing by PLA Navy Marine Corps, seen as a key force in any Taiwan attack, showcased capabilities of a combined arms battalion, CCTV says
- ‘Flatter command method’ conforms to needs of modern warfare and will increase combat efficiency, analyst explains
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Marine Corps exercise showcased the capabilities of a combined arms battalion, as troops tried out multiple types of weapons, equipment and combat models, according to the report on Thursday.
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PLA tests its amphibious combat capability during beach-landing drill on China’s southeastern coast
The land, sea and air drills by an unidentified brigade of the PLA Navy Marine Corps combined multiple tasks, including obstacle removal, reconnaissance and firing while functioning as a single battalion, CCTV said.
According to the report, dozens of amphibious armoured vehicles and assault boats carrying marines headed towards the target area, while helicopters carrying the reconnaissance and attack unit took off to conduct infiltration and attack manoeuvres to the enemy’s rear.
The amphibious armoured vehicle then fired smoke bombs to cover the troops for obstacle removal tasks, before marines made a surprise landing and broke through the enemy’s beach defences, the report said.