PLANS FOR ENLARGING THE ARMORED FORCE COMMAND, AND ITS REPAIR FACILITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R009800250013-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 30, 2001
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: January 18, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

CLASSIFICATION CONFIDaITIAL
Approved 82-00457f
FOR A RE OWr CD NO. 25X1A
COUNTRY China
SUBJECT Plans for Enlarging the Armored Force Command,
25X1C and its Repair Facilities
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
DATE DISTR. 18 JAIL' 52
NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
1. As of mid-.1951 the Chinese Communists had the following plans for expanding
their Armored Force Command (AFC) units:
a. To organize ten divisions of modern armored force troops by the end of 1953.
b. To complete the organization of five armored divisions and four =_ndependent
armored regiments by the end-f 1951.1
c. To organize five additicnal armored divisions during 1952; four of these will
be organized around the independent armored regiments mentioned above. This
will bring the total strength to ten armored, divisions.
d. To increase the combat strength of each division during 1953. Each armored
regiment will be given three additional tank companies. The battalion will
be introduced as an organization unit so that an armored regiment, will consist
of three battalions, each comprising three companies.2
e. To train additional armored cadres simultaneously with this schedule of
expansion.
2. In November 1950, the 1 Central Technical Factory of the Supply and Service
Command, Chinese Communist AFC, was established at Ch'anghsintien (116-12, X19-49).
The predecessor of this plant was the Repair and Installation Shop, Supply and
Service Command of Special Army Units (sic), North China Army Group. When the
factory was established, its capacity was very small and it employed only 30
workers. This factory began to increase its capacity after December 1950, when,
with the consent of the Ministry of Railways, it recruited 50 technicians from
the Ch'anghsintien Railway Workshop.
3. In July 1951 the 1 Central Technical Factory received 40 large cases of machinery
from the USSR. This shipment totaled 300 ton and contained machinery for
repairing armored vehicles. The old lathes )were replaced immedia,ely;
and according to workers in the factory the shop was equipped to perform all types
of repairs to armored vehicle bodies and to dismantle and repair weapons mounted
on tanks.
 Approved For Release 2001/09/06 : CIA-RDP82-00457R009800250013-7
CC FIDSENTIAL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
4. As of early November 1951 the 1 Central Technical Factory was employing 2
Soviet technical officers, 7 Chinese tec ical officers, 40 technicians,
and 120 general workers. A that time ;had a monthly capacity for making
major repairs on 15 tanks 416d minor repairs on 50 tanks.
s of mid-1951 the AFC planned to expand its repair facilities as follows:
a. To establish two fully equipped central technical factories and five
repair and installation workshops before the end of 1951.
b. To establish five additional repair and installation workshops during
1952.
c. To expand the central technical factories during 1953 to tank manufacturing
plants which will produce armored vehicles; to improve the facilities of
the ten repair and installation workshops so that each one will be capable
of handling all repairs required by a full strength armored division.
25X1A
25X1A
1.
25X1A
25X1A
2.
Comment. reported reorganization of the AFC and
f the
5 Tank Division and 3 and 4 Independent Tank Regiments.
Comment. See M for previous information on the organi--
tank division.
Approved For Release 2001/09/06: CIA-RDP82 B4 7ROO98 r3-7