The 78th Group Army (Chinese: 第七十八集团军; pinyin: Dì Qīshíbā Jítuánjūn), Unit 31669, formerly the 16th Group Army, is a military formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF). The 78th Group Army is one of thirteen total group armies of the PLAGF, the largest echelon of ground forces in the People's Republic of China, and one of three assigned to the nation's Northern Theater Command.[1]
History
The origins of this army go back to Nanchang Uprising. After People's Republic of China was established, it belonged to the 62nd Group Army for a while.
On February 19, 1949, column 1 of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region in Henan Shenqiu area became the 16th Army of the People's Liberation Army, was placed under the 5th Corps of the PLA Second Field Army. Yin Xianbing (尹先炳) was appointed army commander.
Organization
It was composed of the 69th, 46th, 48th,[2] and 4th Armored Divisions, the 68th brigade and an artillery brigade.
78th Engineering and Chemical Defense Brigade (工化第78旅)[9]
78th Service Support Brigade (勤务支援第78旅)
Notable members
General Xu Caihou, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) who was detained as part of a high-profile anti-corruption campaign, was a former member of the 78th Group Army.[10]
