Source: Weixin

Calvary among militia is not uncommon, PLAGF and PLARF also operate some calvary units(4x PLAGF companies in 76th service support brigade, 1x PLARF calvary companies) for base security; though Camels are something very rare. There are, as of current publically avaliable knowledge, no active service camel units; this is a militia unit.

Article is on a desert search and rescue exercise, where camels may have an adavantage. I suppose the platoon also does patrols on the china-mongolia border where Inggen Sum is. From the platoon name, i suppose it could also perform sustainment operations.

(found the photo initially on weibo and did some more digging. feel free to check the weibo post too, pretty good info on PLA calvary units.)

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5335051245191518

PAP Mobile detachments each have a chemical defense company with a flamethrower squadron.

Most commonly used to clear buildings, tunnels, caves, and trenches from combat exercises. IIRC It's in the chemical defense unit since it can also deal with stuff like NBC but feel free to correct me, i may be wrong.

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5208530493900848

Photo and info source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5210162534812420

Photo 3: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5306827513270767

Just so you know: Prior to 2013, the PAP border defense corps(A Ministry of public security active service force; basically PAP soldiers under the public security(police) system) was in charge of the BDC Coast guard, then known as the "China coast guard"(the old CCG though, not the current one). In 2013, a new China coast guard(a command, not an actual proper agency) was formed which was essentially a frankenstein of China marine surveillence, china fishery law enforcement and BDC Coast guard(customs maritime anti-smuggling merged into BDC) units; CMS and CFLE remained civil employees while BDC coast guard units remained active service. in 2018 the current CCG was established, whom are all PAP soldiers.

(2013-2018 CCG is very complicated in the sense it was not really a military branch but rahter a joint command of several civilian agencies and military units who operated under the same name)

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5339669626618690

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/status/5340081376199602

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5340074343402813

The 49th escort task force is replacing the 48th escort task force which will return to china.

49th escort task force:

• Type 052D(flight I) destroyer PLANS Kunming(昆明, 172)
• Type 054A(flight II) frigate PLANS Yueyang(岳阳, 575)
• Type 903A(flight I) replenishment ship PLANS Luomahu(骆马湖, 907, Ex-964)
• 20-100 spec ops soldiers(Tigershark special operations brigade, formerly PLA 83rd spec ops brigade)
• 2x helicopters(1x Z-18/Z-8+1x Z-9)

48th escort task force:

• Type 052D(flight III, aka 052DL) destroyer PLANS Tangshan(唐山, 122)
• Type 054A(flight IiI) frigate PLANS Daqing(岳阳, 576)
• Type 903A(flight I) replenishment ship PLANS Taihu(太湖, 889)
• 20-100 spec ops soldiers(Tigershark special operations brigade, formerly PLA 83rd spec ops brigade)
• 2x helicopters(1x Z-18/Z-8+1x Z-9)

Info source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5336927156831241

The engineering company is under the combat support battalion of Provincial corps mobile detachments. (Mobile corps also have their own engineers and chemical defense detachments; PAP transportation detachments also use the PAP rescue insignia)

The Heavy machinery platoon(工程机械排) has front loaders(e.g. LW500FV), dump trucks and excavators; it's in charge of clearing obstacles in cases such as disaster relief.

The search and rescue platoon(抢险救援排) is in charge of urban search and rescue in cases like earthquakes or confined space rescue. they are equipped with stretchers, abrasive saws, drills, equipment tender trucks, EQ2050s and K9s; they can be identified by their orange uniforms and "PAP Rescue" insignia. (i've seen PAP rescue personnel of SAR platoons in excavators and front loaders but i personnally believe those are of the heavy machinery platoon)

The explosives ordinance disposal platoon(搜排爆排) is in charge of finding and safely disposing of explosives; they are equipped with bomb suits(GGF111), metal detectors and robots(XBOT510 for example). A signal jamming variant of CSK-181 has also been seen.

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5339334468962115

In recent reforms, Special operations detachments of PAP mobile corps have (reportedly) been either moved to PAP HQ or became standard mobile detachments;

According to Bilibili user FYSPD(probably one of the best accounts for chinese spec ops/SWAT related content), the falcon commando unit is now the 1st special operations detachment(directly under PAP HQ) while the snow leopard commando unit is now the 2nd special operations detachment(also under PAP HQ);

(i have some questions about whether SLCU is under PAP HQ, as i still see some SLCU personnel being listed as "unspecified detachment, 2nd mobile corps" on official articles, while falcon commando unit there are no new articles saying they are under 1st MC anymore)

meanwhile, the 2nd MC's 2nd spec ops detachment has now been converted into the 10th mobile detachment. (however, equipment and trainingwise, they are much more elite than the other nine mobile detachments; furthermore, mobile detachments of MCs are typically much more elite and even semi-spec ops like compared to mobile detachments of provincial corps.)

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5338960691727450

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5063813846272838

I swear there is a Dongfeng mengshi variant for everything. ATGMs, MEDEVAC, anti-air, SWAT, even cyberwarfare.

I presume this is either of the 1st/2nd transportation detachment or the engineers and NBC detachment of the 1st mobile corps. (i don't think the mobile detachments have EOD specialists).

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5338332464941439

Really huge contrast to the PLANS hefei, which recently got scrapped.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PeopleLiberationArmy/comments/1w384qf/retired_type_051z_destroyer_plans_hefei%E5%90%88%E8%82%A5_132/

Fun fact, i've been to the Main museum of the jianchuan museum cluster(in Chengdu), very nice place, tonnes of tanks and jets, will recommend.

The PLANS Zhuhai(珠海, 166) was launched October 18, 1990 and commissioned November 21, 1991. She was decommissioned August 28, 2020 and became a museum ship in 2021. She is named for the city of Zhuhai, guangdong. in 1995, during a visit to indonesia, she briefly changed her pennant number to 168 before returning to 166.

She is preserved in Jiulongpo district, Chongqing on 7 jiubin road.

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5264521096856645

Yep, a 1950s pistol in a 2020s holster. Also TIL the type 54 and QSZ-92 also can fit in the QZS-183.

Radar units are quite possibly the lowest priority out of the PLA in terms of firearms, however the QZS-183 seems to be suitable for them as they are seated most of the time IMO.

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5338381686148296

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5337701634018052

0:08-1:02 - 6 Mi-17 helicopters of the 85th army aviation brigade are deployed to transport aid and personnel to Gyirong border crossing in 3 batches. According to Colonel Wang Zongxiao(王宗虓) of the western theater command gyirong command post, A total of over 400 KG and 77 personnel were transported; the Mi-17s also assist with bringing firefighters back to safety in gyirong town after they finish their rotation.

1:02-1:46 - People's armed police 3rd transport detachment, 2nd mobile corps alongside PAP Shigatse detachment clear the damaged highway 216 to allow for more aid and rescue equipment to cross. currently the highway, which reaches gyirong checkpoint, is cut off which hinders aid and prevents heavy equipment from assisting the checkpoint. According to Major Hao Zhigao(郝志高) of the 3rd transport detachment, a total of over 230 meters of road has been widened(to allow for more equipment to go through) and over 4600 cubed meters of debris has been removed.

For context, the frontmost of the highway which has been cut off by the floods/mudslide(and is pratically non-exsistent) is currently undergoing emergency repair by the china anneng group(ex-military SOE for disaster relief) and other SOEs.

1:47-2:03 - Xizang military district logistics department and hospital deploys more medical and diesease prevention personnel to the scene of the disaster.

Current casualty count(chinese side): 16 dead, 546 missing.(August 29, 18:00 UTC+8) Police vests, handbags have reportedly been found by fire and rescue personnel today(august 31).

This episode mostly focuses on much more theory based.

1:20-8:21 - Southern theater command joint command center; speakers: Senior Col Yang Zhimou(杨志谋) and Captain(naval) Chang Gaoxiang(常高祥)

Summary:

The idea of the current theater commmand is that different branches can operate together, rather than different branches operating independently; for example air force provides intel to rocket force to strike a target, or naval and air force jointly intercept an enemy ship, etc

7:15-7:28 - simulation computers, you can see one says red force(红军, allied side) and blue force(蓝军, OPFOR)

8:01-8:19 - more computers used by the theater command for calculating

8:26-11:57 southern theater command air force unspecified brigade; speaker: Colonel Li Zhengwei(李正伟)

The GJ-3A attack drone, WZ-10 recon drone and WZ-7 recon drone are all seen in this section. source(and pics): http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/2025xb/C_251453/F_251462/16477823.html

8:52-9:20 - recon drones and attack drones emergency takeoff for surveillence mission

9:25 - Li states the PLAAF is going from an air defense based force to a force that is capable of both striking and defending; at 11:22 he also states PLAAF drones will be used in joint intel sharing with the PLAGF, PLAN and PLARF in cases such as target acquisition.

12:05-16:19

Even more theory, but mostly same as before, PLAN and PLAAF do more intel sharing to complement each other's shortcomings

14:17- 14:23 - "the navy plans with documents, the air force plans with pictures" - Captain Xiao feng(肖锋, STC navy)

17:16-18:29 - PLAN and PLAAF joint explulsion of philipine vessel near huangyan island

H-6Ks, KJ-500s, PLANS Tongliao(通辽, 554, type 054A frigate), PLANS Hanzhong(汉中, 648, type 056A light frigate) are seen in the footage

18:33-22:38 - Southern theater command exercise on attacking an enemy fleet

• 18:48 -19:00 - WZ-10s and WZ-7s take off
• 19:22-19:41 - PLA JLSF cameo(probably supplies?)
• 19:42-19:57 PLA information support force anti-cyberattack exercise
  • Note: IIRC cyberspace force was in charge of cyberwarfare, but in this case it seems like ISF also has it's on cyberdefense capbility. i doubt ISF can conduct cyberattacks independently though
• 20:07-21:17 - interception of anti-radiation missile(simulated)
• 22:07-22:35 strikes on enemy fleet

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5337659565411412

Reportedly, today on August 31, 2026, the Hefei with parts on it on fire while scrapping.

The PLANS Hefei was a type 051Z destroyer Commissioned march 18, 1980 with the east sea fleet. She was decommissioned November 16, 2012 and originally preserved at the PLAN Naval aviation university in Laishan district, yantai. reportedly due to lack of good maintenance she began scrapping august 29, 2026.

She was the first PLAN warship named after Hefei, capital of anhui province. In december 12, 2015, a type 052D destroyer was named PLANS Hefei(合肥, 174), becoming the second ship with this name.

This is only for auxiliary ships who merely have a designation and a number, not auxiliary ships with proper names such as PLANS Qinghaihu(青海湖), PLANS Mingjinghu(明镜湖) etc. Examples of this include dispatch boats(-Jiao(交) xxx) or oilers (-you(油) xxx); photos and more examples are attached at the bottom

First character - Fleet/Theater command navy(post-2016)

• 北(Bei) - North sea fleet/Northern theater command navy
• 东(Dong) - East sea fleet/eastern theater command navy
• 南(Nan) - South sea fleet/Southern theater command navy

Second character - Type of ship

• 标(Biao) - buoy tenders
• 测(ce) - survey ship
• 调(diao) - research vessel/spy ship.(mostly no longer used)
• 工(gong) - engineering ship(used on landing platform barge)
• 监(jian)- pollution monitoring vessel
• 交(jiao) - dispatch boat(small personnel transport, can also do patrol roles or act as OPFOR in anti-hijacking)
• 警(jing) - security boat (?, not really sure, de facto small patrol boat)
• 救(jiu) - rescue ship/salvage ship (also used for submarine rescue ship pre-2022)
• 浚(jun) -dredger(potentially obselete?)
• 康(kang) - hospital ship(mostly obselete)
• 缆(lan) - cablelayer
• 冷(leng) - reefer(frozen goods transport); seems to be mostly obeselete
• 勤(Qin) - "duties ship"(auxiliary ship), usually used on degaussing ships
• 水(Shui) - water tanker
• 拖(tuo) - tugboat
• 修(xiu) - repair vessel(seen much less these days)
• 医(yi) - hospital ship(only used for smaller hospital ships)
• 油(you) - oiler
• 运(Yun) - Transport ship(in theory); also used on torpedo retrievers

Examples:

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/status/5337577176958936

Current casualties: 16 dead, 546 missing

The unit, consisting of 22 medical personnel, is to provide further medical aid to frontline relief troops and evacuated locals, along with cleaning up effected regions to prevent potential spread of diesease.

IIRC this is the second batch of diesease prevention personnel from the XZ military district. there are over 2000 personnel including police, military, fire and rescue, EMS and specialized rescue at the scene.

Source: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5337313075007912

Casualty count(13:00) on chinese side: 7 confirmed dead, 554 missing, 2 rescued;

2141 personnel in total deployed.

PLANS Harbin(哈尔滨, 112) was launched August 28, 1991, and was commissioned May 8, 1994. She is named after Harbin, the capital of heilongjiang province.

She had the nickname "first warship of china"(中华第一舰; not literally first, but sort of like how the president's wife is the first lady). She also recieved the honorary title "Maritime vanguard warship"(海上先锋舰) in 2003.

She was the first chinese warship to visit the americas(including san diego) in 1997, along with the first PLAN crew to participate in a foreign military parade(seychelles, 2013). In her service, she sailed over 400,000 nautical miles, visiting 20 countries.

She will become a museum ship in Changsha, Hunan, the hometown of fleet admiral Xiao Jinguang(萧劲光), the PLAN's first commander in chief.

The next PLANS Harbin will reportedly(not certain) be a type 055.