58th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (China)

History

Under the flag of 58th division it was part of took part in several major battles during the Chinese Civil War such as the battle of Yangtze Crossing and the Battle of Shanghai.

In November 1950 the division entered Korea as part of the People's Volunteer Army. At this time, the division consisted of the 172nd, 173rd, and 174th Regiments.

The 58th Division engaged U.N forces at Hagaru-ri and Kot’ori during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. The division's attacks at Hagaru-ri were unsuccessful. The division's attacks at Kot'ori were unsuccessful in halting UN forces from reinforcing their positions Hagaru-ri, but it, along with the 60th division, inflicted severe losses on the convoy. Per official Chinese lore, Yang Gensi, commander of 3rd Company, 172nd Infantry Regiment, sacrificed himself when holding a strategic position with one of his platoons by throwing himself himself into a group of more than 40 UN soldiers while holding a satchel charge, killing himself and some UN soldiers. Yang was posthumously awarded the titles of "First Class Hero of People's Volunteer Army", and "Hero of Democratic People's Republic of Korea".

In October 1952 the division pulled out from Korea and renamed the 58th Infantry Division (). The division was then composed of:

• 172nd Infantry Regiment;
• 173rd Infantry Regiment;
• 174th Infantry Regiment;
• 263rd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment;
• 338th Artillery Regiment.

On November 9, 1956, 263rd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was detached from the division and renamed Tank Crew Training Regiment of Jinan Military Region.

In 1960, the division was renamed the 58th Army Division ().

In 1969, 338th Artillery Regiment was renamed Artillery Regiment, 58th Army Division.

In March 1979, the division took part in the Sino-Vietnamese War. During its deployment in Vietnam, it inflicted 629 KIA and 3 POW on the opposing PAVN forces while suffering 64 killed and 165 wounded.

In October 1985, the division was renamed the 58th Infantry Division (). Tank Regiment, 20th Army Corps was attached to the division and renamed as Tank Regiment, 58th Infantry Division; Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment was activated from an unknown unit. Since then, the division was composed of:

• 172nd Motorized Infantry Regiment;
• 173rd Motorized Infantry Regiment;
• 174th Motorized Infantry Regiment;
• Tank Regiment;
• Artillery Regiment;
• Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment.

The division maintained as a Northern Motorized Infantry Division, Category A from 1985 to 1998.

In 1998 the division was reduced and renamed as the 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade (). The brigade conversion in 1998 was part of the PLA's effort to experiment with a Corps-Brigade-Battalion force structure instead of the traditional Corps-Division-Regiment structure.

In 1999 the brigade was further re-organized as the 58th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (), becoming the first mechanized brigade of the PLA Ground Force.

The brigade is one of the units of the Jinan MR tasked to serve as one of the mobile response elements capable of reinforcing Groups Armies in other Military Regions in case of emergency or war.

In 2017 the brigade was reorganized as the 58th Medium Combined Arms Brigade () and transferred to the 83rd Group Army, following 20th's disbandment.

References

References

1. Mossman, Billy C.. (1990). "Ebb and Flow November 1950-July 1951". [[United States Army Center of Military History]].
2. Mossman, Billy C.. (1990). "Ebb and Flow November 1950-July 1951". [[United States Army Center of Military History]].
3. Mossman, Billy C.. (1990). "Ebb and Flow November 1950-July 1951". [[United States Army Center of Military History]].
4. Mossman, Billy C.. (1990). "Ebb and Flow November 1950-July 1951". [[United States Army Center of Military History]].
5. 杨根思与四十多个敌人同归于尽, https://web.archive.org/dangshi.people.com.cn/GB/146570/199127/12342912.html
6. [https://web.archive.org/web/20050301040028/http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-02/26/content_2621715.htm 永远的丰碑：杨根思]