79th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (People's Republic of China)

The 79th Division was a military formation of the People's Volunteer Army (Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) or Chinese Communist Forces (CCF)) during the Korean War. They were a component of the 27th Army.

Two CCF Divisions, the 79th and 89th, attacked the 5th Marine Regiment west of the Chosin Reservoir in the Yudam-ni area. The marines killed the Chinese by the hundreds but were in danger of being cut off from the division headquarters at Hagaru-ri, at the southern end of the reservoir.^[1]

The 79th Division was ordered to attack Yudam-ni from the north. East of the Chosin, the 80th Division, with one regiment of the 81st attached, would attack and destroy the army forces there. By November 29, they realized the offensive was not going well. The forces at Yudam-ni had failed to break into the perimeter. That evening they changed the plan and shifted the principal effort to the 31st RCT east of the reservoir. They committed the two additional regiments of the 81st Division to the attack, with, possibly an additional regiment of the 94th Division.^[2]

In September 1952 the 24th Army replaced the 27th Army and they rotated the 27th Army back to China.

During the 2nd Sino-Vietnamese War (1984–1988), the 79th Division (reinforced with the 241st Regiment from the 81st Division) fought from April 1987 to April 1988. They were supported by the 14th Artillery Division (10th and 37th Artillery Regiments), Beijing Military Region. During the 1year period, they sustained 63 KIA and 172 WIA.^[3]

References

1. Stewart, Richard W. The Korean War: The Chinese Intervention. United States Army Center of Military History. p. 17. CMH Pub 19-8.
2. Chinese Military Leaders During the Korean War, Chinese Lieutenant General Nie Fengzhi
3. ChinaDefense.com PLA Combat Units of the 2nd Sino-Vietnamese War (1984-1988)