63RD ARMY, BEIJING MILITARY REGION, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01355A000100780001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 15, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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63rd Army, Beijing Military Region, China (TO
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IAR-0097/80 25X1
AUGUST 1980
Copy 16 7
Imagery analysis report
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Warning Notice
Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
(WNINTEL)
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
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Contractor/Consultants
PROPIN- Caution-Proprietary Information Involved
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ORCON- Dissemination and Extraction of Information
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63RD ARMY, BEIJING MILITARY REGION, CHINA (TSR
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1. (TSR"This report discusses the status of the 63rd Army of the People's Liberation 25X1
Army in the Beijing Military Region of China Physical changes to facilities,
order of battle changes, and fluctuations in the levels of activity from June 1975 through March
1980 are described in this report. The functions and locations of the units were derived primarily
from KEYHOLE imagery. Numbered unit designators were derived primarily from collateral
data. National Basic Reference Graphics published in 1976 by DIA were used as aids in determin-
ing the associations of various facilities.
2.
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2. (TSRL_~No extensive force upgrading/improvements within the 63rd Army have been 25X1
observed on limited coverage during the period covered by this report. The low level of activity
within units, the introduction of a minimal amount of new equipment, and minor construction
suggest that this army may be in a reduced state of readiness. The majority of the units in the 63rd
Army are equipped with older weapons systems and support equipment.
3. (U) This report contains two location maps, two annotated photographs, four charts, and
one table.
4. (TSROThe 63rd Army' is one of eight main force armies in the Beijing Military Region
(MR) of China. The organizational structure of the army is generally the same as that of ground
force units throughout China.' Numbered unit designators were derived primarily from collateral
data.' National Basic Reference Graphics (NBRGs) published in 1976 by DIA were used as aids in
determining the associations of various facilities.' The headquarters (hq) of the 63rd Army is
housed in Taiyuan (at 37-46-52N 112-34-52E; Figure 1 and Table 1); the army is bounded by the
28th Army approximately 110 nautical miles (nm) to the southwest and by the 69th Army approxi-
mately 150 nm to the north. Two divisions within the 63rd Army are north of Taiyuan; the third is
approximately 10 nm southeast of the city (Figure 2). The orientation of these units is along a
north/south axis, which suggests that a mission of the 63rd Army is to protect the western
approaches into the region. However, the lack of any built-up defensive areas indicates that the
primary mission of the 63rd Army may be to augment the 69th Army and/or reinforce the
Northern Front. Provision of forces for the protection of routes into the region and Taiyuan
would then become a secondary mission. The proximity of the units within the army to major lines
of communication supports both of these postulated missions.
5. (TSRL_]The 63rd Army consists of an army headquarters, army-level support units, the
187th Infantry Division, the 188th Infantry Division, and the 189 Infantry Division (Chart 1).
Headquarters and Support Units
6. (TSR^The headquarters of the 63rd Army is at Taiyuan Headquarters Army and Bar-
racks AL-9. In addition to the headquarters, the installation may house an engineer battalion (bn).
A previously associated antiaircraft artillery (AAA) battery,' consisting of ZPU AAA heavy ma-
chine guns (AAHMGs), has not been seen since 1976, and it is believed that this battery has
rejoined the AAA regiment housed in the Taiyuan city area.
7. (TSR[JThe AAA regiment housed at Dayu Army Barracks AL-1 has 25X1 1
not been seen since late 1976. An army-level AAA regiment has been housed in a new barracks
area (Taiyuan Army Barracks AL-12; Figure 3) since March 1979; construction has been underway
-2-
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in this area since mid-1977. Earlier observations of AAA equipment in the vicinity of and at the
adjacent Taiyuan Army Barracks Southeast AL-2' indicate that the regiment may have been
moved into the area as early as the spring of 1977. The lack of AAA equipment at Dayu Army
Barracks AL-I since 1977, and at other area installations, indicates that this is the AAA regiment
that is organic to the 63rd Army.
8. (TSRNo significant change has been observed at the 166th Artillery Regiment housed
at Taiyuan rmy Barracks North AL-3 since 1976. The NBRG3 for this facility indicates the
presence of a rocket launcher (rl) battalion subordinate to this regiment. The presence of a rocket
launcher battalion cannot be confirmed at present. Field artillery equipment has been observed in
four separate barracks areas subordinate to this regiment. This does not appear to conform to the
standard battalion-level integrity usually seen at other facilities.
187 Infantry Division
9. (TS The 187th Infantry Division consists of the division headquarters, division sup-
port units, t e 559th Infantry Regiment, the 560th Infantry Regiment, and the 561st Infantry
Regiment.
10. (TSRL The headquarters of the 187th Infantry Division is at Yuci Headquarters Infan-
try Division and Barracks AL-2, 6 nm south of Taiyuan. In addition to the headquarters, the
installation supports the division AAA battalion, an engineer battalion, and several of the rear
service support units, e.g., motor transport and medical. The original dispersal of the units within
the installation has changed, but the units housed in this facility remain unchanged.
11. (TS If The 467th Artillery Regiment is housed at Taigu Army Barracks AL-1 and is
under the older organizational structure.' The regiment consists of one mortar battalion, one field
gun battalion, and one howitzer battalion. Since 1977, ten vehicle storage and support buildings-
including two 19-bay and two ten-bay vehicle sheds-have been constructed, which expands the
storage and maintenance capability at this installation. Although no new or additional equipment
has been seen at this facility, the fact that the previously established normal equipment counts are
still seen in open storage-with new storage facilities available-indicates that new and/or unde-
termined types of equipment may be stored in these vehicle storage sheds.
12. (TSRP The 559th Infantry Regiment is housed at Taiyuan Army Barracks Southeast
AL-2. Since 1976, significant construction has occurred at this installation. A second barracks
complex adjacent to the southeast corner of the housing area was completed prior to 1976 and has
been included as part of the installaton. A large firing range, southeast of both barracks com-
plexes, was completed in late 1978 or early 1979. A third barracks area, initially associated with
this regiment, has been reevaluated and separately targeted as Taiyuan Army Barracks AL-12
(Figure 3). During 1977, Taiyuan Army Barracks Southeast AL-2 appeared to have been used to
support both the infantry and AAA artillery regiments until new facilities for the AAA regiment at
Taiyuan AL-12 were completed.
13. (TS"he 560th and 561st Infantry Regiments are housed at Yuci Army Barracks AL-
I and Qixian Army Barracks AL-1, respectively, and have remained relatively unchanged. A firing
range has been added to the Qixian Barracks complex. A nine-gun ZPU AAHMG AAA battery (a
minor upgrading) was added to this regiment in 1978. No other significant activity was observed.
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188th Infantry Division
14. (TSR^The 188th Infantry Division consists of the division headquarters, division-level
support units, the 562nd Infantry Regiment, the 563rd Infantry Regiment, and the 564th Infantry
Regiment.
15. (TSRI:]The headquarters of the 188th Infantry Division is housed at Xinxian Head-
quarters Infantry Division and Barracks AL-1 along with the division AAA battalion and possibly
the engineer battalion. The northeast corner of the headquarters area has been separately secured
and now appears to serve no military function. The AAA battalion is equipped with the standard
37mm AA guns found in battalion-sized units. There has been no equipment (bridging or service
related) to indicate that the engineer battalion is present. However, there is a distinctly delineated
battalion-sized area with sufficient vehicle/equipment storage space to accommodate the battal-
ion.
16. (TSRLl Equipment and facilities within the 468th Artillery Regiment housed at Jicun
Army Barracks AL-I have been upgraded since 1976. The mortar battalion has been replaced by a
gun-howitzer battalion. The addition of 18 BM-14/-19 multiple rocket launchers in May 1977
makes the 468th the only regiment with a known rocket launcher battalion in the 63rd Army. The
barracks area housing the rocket launcher battalion is approximately 1.5 nm east of the regimental
headquarters. A firing range, 1,000 meters south of this barracks area, has been built and opera-
tional since mid-1978 (Figure 4).
17. (TSRE No significant activity or change has been observed since 1976 at the 562nd, the
563rd, and the 564th Infantry Regiments.
189th Infantry Division
18. (TSRU The 189th Infantry Division consists of the division headquarters, division-level
support units, the 565th Infantry Regiment, the 566th Infantry Regiment, and the 567th Infantry
Regiment.
19. (TSRP The headquarters of the 189th Infantry Division is at Yuanping Headquarters
Infantry Division and Barracks AL-3. Division units also associated with this installation are the
AAA battalion, the engineer battalion, and a motor transport battalion. Observations of TPP
bridge sections and powerboats in September 1976 and the continued observations of service and
construction equipment on a regular basis support the supposition that the engineer battalion is
still housed at this facility. However, the ponton bridge company has not been seen since Septem-
ber 1976. Sufficient storage space does exist to keep this equipment from view.
20. (TSREThe 469th Artillery Regiment is housed at Kou-hsien Army Barracks AL-I and
consists of mortar, gun, and howitzer battalions. The mortar battalion is collocated with the
headquarters; the gun and howitzer battalions are housed in separate barracks facilities to the
south and north, respectively.
21. (TSREI Little activity to date has been seen at the 565th Infantry Regiment housed at
Ningwu Army Barracks AL-l. Activity has been limited to the addition of three vehicle/equipment
storage buildings in 1978 and 1979.
22. (TSRE Little activity was seen at the 566th Infantry Regiment, housed at Fan-chih
Army Barracks AL-1, during the period covered by this report.
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I Ins [able in its enriren is rIasci/ied T() P SE(REI Rt ET
Taiyuan Hq Army and
Barracks A L-9
Taiyuan Army Barracks AL-12
166th Artillery
Regiment
187th Infantry Division
187th Infantry
Division Hq
AAA Bn
Engineer Bn
559 Infantry
Regiment
560 Infantry
Regiment
561 Infantry
Regiment
467 Artillery
Regiment
188th Infantry Division
188th Infantry
Division Hq
Engineer Bn
AAA Bn
562 Infantry
Regiment
563 Infantry
Regiment
564 Infantry
Regiment
468 Artillery
Regiment
189th Infantry Division
189th Infantry
Division Hq
AAA Bn
Engineer Bn
565 Infantry
Regiment
566 Infantry
Regiment
567 Infantry
Regiment
469 Artillery
Regiment
Taiyuan Army Barracks
North AL-3
Yuci Hq Infantry Division
and Barracks AL-2
Same
Same
Taiyuan Army Barracks
Southeast A L-2
Yuci Army Barracks AL-I
Qixian Army Barracks AL-I
Taigu Army Barracks Al.- I
Xinxian Hq Infantry Division
and Barracks North AL-I
Same
Same
Yen-tsun Army Barracks AL-I
Dingxiang Army Barracks
South AL-2
Dingxiang Army Barracks AL-3
Yuanping Hq Infantry Division
and Barracks AL-3
Same
Same
Ningwu Army Barracks AL-I
Fan-chih Army Barracks AL-I
Dai Xian Army Barracks AL-I
Kou-hsien Army Barracks AL-I
37-46-$2N
1 12-34-52 L
37-47-30N
112-37-051:
38-04-OON
112-18-32F
37-42-28N
112-44-S31:
37-48-1 I I N
112-36-26L
37-43-47N
1 12-44-31 F
37-21-46N
112-19-33
37-25-04N
112-35-18E
38-25-ION
1 12-43-2S E
38-18-12N
1 12-41-20F
38-28-25N
112-57-15E
38-30-01 N
112-43-53E
38-32-24N
1 12-36-16L
38-42-35N
112-41-50F
38-59-30N
112-17-20F
39-II-21N
113-I5-181
39-04-45N
112-57-28 F
38-53-20N
112-45-25F
Collocated engineer hit
not confirmed by imagery analysis
Not confirmed by
collateral data
No evidence of rl hn observed,
standard three-gun hns verified
Imagery analysis indicates
motor transport unit at facility
No significant activity
No significant activity
New firing range added
1978/79; second barracks com-
plex added to installation
No significant activity
Imagery indicates 9-gun AAIIM(i
battery upgrading in 1978
Old TO&F; one field gun,
one mortar, and one how-
iVer bns: no rl hn observed
Not confirmed by imagery
No significant activity
Weapons hn: equipped
with 160mm mortar
No significant activity
Only known rl hn in
arnrv: twit 122mm howiVCr
hns & one field gun hn
complete 1O&F
Imagery indicates a motor transport
unit collocated with hq
No significant activity
No significant activity
No significant activity
No significant activity
No significant activity
No significant activity
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23. (TSRL__]A low level of activity, similar to that seen at the other two regiments, was seen
at the 567th Infantry Regiment at Dai Xian Army Barracks AL-1. However, an infantry assault
course with mockups of vehicles and personnel trenches was built adjacent to the headquarters
area during late 1978 or early 1979. This is the first such course seen in any regimental-sized unit
within the 63rd Army.
24. (TSRuDuring the approximately five-year period covered by this report, most of the
units and installations of the 63rd Army were imaged an average of one to two times a year.
Because of the presence of vehicle storage sheds and the lack of imagery during normal seasonal
training exercises, it has not been possible to determine if extensive force upgradings/improve-
ments have occurred throughout the divisions or regiments within the 63rd Army. Of particular
note was the apparently older table of organization and equipment (TO&E) structure of the units
and the overall low level of activity seen throughout the army. The fact that only one rocket
launcher battalion was identified within the Army-and that being at division level-does not fit
the usual echelon replacement schedule. For example, the highest echelon units are expected to
receive equipment before their subordinate counterparts (i.e., regiments receive equipment before
battalions). Further, only one artillery battalion was upgraded during the reporting period-mor-
tars were replaced by howitzers. During a period when the People's Liberation Army has been
making an effort to upgrade its AAA capabilities throughout China, not one of the division AAA
battalions of the 63rd Army was increased to regimental size. Additionally, in most observations
engineering equipment, especially ponton equipment, was all but nonexistent, although engineer-
ing equipment was evident in many other installations across the region.
25. (TSI Analysis of the level of activity, construction, and equipment change seen at
installations within the 63rd Army suggests that the army may either be in a reduced state of
readiness or considered to be of secondary importance by senior military officials who determine
replacement and construction expenditures. This, in turn, would mean that the mobilization time
for the 63rd Army would be much slower than for the 69th Army to the north and thus reduce the
overall effectiveness of military operations within the region.
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DMA. Topographic Center, Series 1301, Sheet NJ 49, 3d ed., Dec 77, scale 1:1.000,000 (UNCLASSI-
F I ED)
DMA. US Air Target Chart: Series 200: Sheets 0382-8, -9, -12, -13, and -18: scale 1:200,000 (UNCLAS-
SIFIED)
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2. DIA. DDB-1100-209-79, Tables of Organization and Equipment People'% Republic of China :Iron,
(PRA(') (U), Sep 79 (SECRET)
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