2nd Tank Division (People's Republic of China)
| Tank Division(1949-50) 2nd Tank Division (1950–98) 2nd Armored Division (1998–2011) 2nd Armored Brigade (2011-) |
|
|---|---|
| Country |
 China |
| Type | Armored |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 12th Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Xuzhou, Jiangsu |
| Engagements | Korean War, Sino-Vietnamese War |
The 2nd Armored Brigade, originally the 2nd Tank Division and the 2nd Armored Division, is an armored formation of the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China.
On October 8, 1949, the Tank Division, 3rd Field Army (Chinese: 三野战车师) was formed in Shanghai from the 1st Tank Regiment, Special Troops Column, PLA 3rd Field Army.
The division had three regiments; a tank regiment comprising three battalions, an amphibious tank regiment comprising three battalions; and an armored regiment comprising two battalions. In total, this division had 179 tanks, 95 armored vehicles, 162 automobiles and 3,135 personnel.
On January 8, 1950, the division was renamed the "2nd Tank Division"(Chinese: 战车第2师). Initially, the 2nd Tank Division included the tank, amphibious tank, and armored regiments, renamed the 4th, 5th and 6th tank regiments, respectively. However, in August 1950, the 4th Tank Regiment was enlarged and renamed "2nd Tank Brigade" while the 5th and 6th tank regiments detached and formed the 3rd Tank Division.
On November 3, 1950, the division was renamed again to the "2nd Tank Division"(Chinese: 坦克第2师. By then this division was composed of the:
From 11-12 November 1950, the division received equipment from two self-propelled artillery regiments from the Soviet Army: 60 T-34s, 12 IS-2s, 8 SU-122s, 4 T-34 tank tractors and 24 artillery pieces. The equipment apparently came from unidentified "Ukrainskaya Guards" and "Moskovskaya Guards" tank regiments which were newly organized by 6th Guards Mechanized Army.
On May 30, 1951, the division moved to Korea to take part in the Korean War as a part of the People's Volunteer Army (PVA). During its deployment to Korea, the 2nd Division took part in 267 battles and engagements, destroying and damaging 28 enemy tanks, 24 artillery pieces, and 101 aircraft. The No. 215 T-34 from 4th Tank Regiment, 2nd Tank Division, allegedly destroyed four and damaged an M46 Patton tank during its fight from 6 to 8 July, 1953. That tank is now preserved in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution.
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