GROUND FORCES TRAINING ACTIVITY, WUHAN MIILTARY REGION, CHINA, NOVEMBER 1974

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000400010082-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 82
• Publication Date: May 1, 1975
• Content Type: REPORT

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PHOTOGRAPHIC
NTERPRETATION
REPORT
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
GROUND FORCES TRAINING
ACTIVITY, WUHAN MILITARY
REGION, CHINA, NOVEMBER 1974
oT p S~ret-
MAY 1975
cop,, 21
PIR-016/75
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Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
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GROUND FORCES TRAINING ACTIVITY, WUHAN MILITARY REGION, CHINA
NOVEMBER 1974
1. This report summarizes the extensive ground forces training activity observed in the Wuhan
Military Region (MR) of China on KEYHOLE photography during November 1974. A map depicts
KEYHOLE photography of the Wuhan MR, and another map shows the locations of major training
exercises during November. Also included in the report are three photographs.
2. During November 1974 indications of extensive ground forces training activity were observed
in the Wuhan MR. This activity included river-crossing, antiaircraft artillery (AAA), field artillery
(FA), armor, and airborne units, and one possible combined arms training exercise. While the majority
of this training activity took place in the Honan Military District (MD) of the Wuhan MR, exercises
involving river-crossing and airborne units were observed in the Hupeh MD. Figure 1 depicts all
KEYHOLE photography of the Wuhan MR, and Figure 2 shows the locations of major training
exercises during November.
River-Crossing Training
3, ariver-crossing exercise was in progress on the southern border of the
Hupeh MD. Three ponton bridge companies consisting of 66 ponton bridge carriers and 60 cargo
trucks were parked on the south bank of the Yangtze River, approximately 3.5 nautical miles (nm)
south of Hung-hu. Twelve bridging sections, each consisting of either four or six deck-covered end
and center sections, and three powerboats were in the water.
AAA Training
4. A large AAA training exercise took place at the Chueh-shan AAA Training Area AL 5
for at least three weeks during November. 175 AAA guns, eight
ZPU-2/4, four FIRE CAN radars, 12 PUAZO-6, nine pieces o equipment, and 357 cargo trucks
were deployed within the training area. This training exercise was still in progress
when 164 AA guns, six FIRE CAN radars, six PUAZO-6, 20 pieces of equipment, and 361 cargo
trucks were observed throughout the area. Figure 3 shows a portion of the AAA training exercise.
Armor Training
A large group of armor was observed at the Chueh-shan AAA Training Area AL 5 on
Seventy-six tanks, 14 M-1967 armored personnel carriers, three armored vehicles, and
12 cargo truc s were parked in the mountains south of the training area (Figure 4). It appears that
this unit may have arrived in the area recently, since no evidence of actual training could be discerned.
Part of the armor ma have come from the Ming-Chiang Headquarters Infantry Division and Army
Barracks NW AL 1 approximately 20 nm to the southeast. Usually, 35 to 40
tanks are seen at Ming-Chiang; however, no armor was present
Field Artillery Training
6. During November several FA units were noted in training exercises away from their barracks
areas. A majority of the 100 FA feces for the division at Chueh-shan Head uarters Artiller Division
and Army Barracks AL 1 were involved in field trainin
only five artillery pieces were in the barracks area, and 48 guns were observed
at various ocations away from the barracks only 16 artillery pieces were in the
barracks area, with an additional 80 guns observed in the field.
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FIGURE 2. LOCATIONS OF~GROUND FORCES TRAINING EXERCISES, WUHAN
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a shortage of railcars.* Finally the observation of this unit in southern Honan
the case, travel by rail exists in spite of recent reports from China concerning rail problems, especially
7. Ian artillery regiment was deployed around the village of Huang-kang. This
training exercise was nearing an end when a portion of the regiment was observed
in a convoy near Wang-kang. Figure 5 shows a part of this convoy headed east toward the rail terminus
at Ming-chiang. The artillery regiment appeared to be from the Hsu-chang Infantry Division
Headquarters and Army Barracks AL 5 If this regiment were from Hsu-chang,
this particular exercise would reveal several items of interest concerning Chinese training methods.
For example, it shows the distance that some units travel to perform training exercises. Huang-kang,
the village where the artillery regiment was sighted is approximately 125 nm by
road and rail from Hsu-chang. Also, the movement of this regiment for this distance suggests that
the Chinese are using their railroads to move some of their units to training areas, and if this is
gives some indications of the length of time some of these exercises may last.
8. A portion of the artillery unit from the Hsin-hhiang Army Barracks AL 1
g was observed in the field
Fifteen artillery pieces were deployed around a village
approximately 12 nm south of the barracks area.
Combined Arms Training
and Army Barracks NW AL 1. Although no equipment was seen in the training area
9. Photography of the Ming-chiang area during November indicates that a possible combined
arms exercise was taking place in the training area west of Ming-chiang Headquarters Infantry Division
fresh track activity was seen, and the trenches and antitank ditches which had
been dug for an exercise in November 1973 appeared to have been used. Aircraft from the Ming-chiang
Airfield North may have been involved in this exercise. BAT, FARMER, and HOUND
aircraft were observed at Ming-chiang Airfield North during November 1974. These aircraft are not
usually seen at Ming-chiang; the last time they were present was during the November 1973 combined
arms training exercise.
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Airborne Training
10. During November evidence of training was observed near three airborne installations in the
Wuhan MR. an active drop zone was identified approximately 16 nm west of the
Kai-feng Airborne Division Headquarters and Army School/Barracks AL 2 In
addition, 17 COLT were observed at the Kai-feng Airfield where only four or
five COLT are usually seen. the drop zone was inactive, an no COLT were present
at the Kai-feng Airfield.
11. 16 HOUND were observed at Hsiao-kan Airfield ~. No
HOUND were present at this field on Hsiao-kan Airfield supports the
airborne units at the Hsiao-kan Airborne Army Headquarters and Barracks AL 1
12. A large airborne training exercise was observed in progress) )approximately
10 nm northwest of the Ying-shan Airborne Division Headquarters and Barracks AL 1 C
At least 235 parachutes were on the ground in the drop zone. A training area with
drop markers and numbered hillside positions was identified 4 nm west of the drop zone. Eighteen
FA pieces and over 300 cargo trucks were observed in the area of the drop zone.
13. Training exercises in the Wuhan MR during November coincide with the annual fall/winter
training cycle observed throughout much of China.
REQUIREMENT
Project 120901ND
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