The 39th Group Army (GA), headquartered in Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province, is one of the three group armies subordinated in the Shenyang Military Region (MR). The group army serves as a strategic reserve in China’s northeast region, and can be rapidly deployed anywhere in the country if necessary. The group army is armour- and artillery-heavy, and has been given higher priority in receiving modernised weapon equipments and more training opportunities.
The 39th GA was formed in 1985 on the basis of the PLA 39th Corps, which saw some impressive action during the 1950s Korean War. The corps has been stationed in the Liaodong Peninsula since its return from Korea in 1953. In the early 1980s, the 38th Corps in the Beijing MR and the 39th Corps in the Shenyang MR were chosen to pilot the PLA’s “Combined-Arms Group Army”, using the heavy mechanised group army TO&E. The 39th GA was given the 3rd Tank Division, an artillery brigade, and an AAA brigade, and saw its 116th Infantry Division transformed into a mechanised infantry division.
In 1987, the 39th GA formed the 9th Army Aviation (Helicopter) Group.
In 1997, the 117th Infantry Division of the 39th GA was transferred to the People’s Armed Police (PAP).
In 1998, the 3rd Tank Division was reorganised into the 3rd Armoured Division. The army aviation group was expanded into a regiment. The AAA brigade was reorganised into an air defence (SAM/AAA) brigade. The 190th Mechanised Infantry Division of the disbanded 64th GA was also reassigned to the 39th GA.
In 2003, the 190th Mechanised Infantry Division was downsized to a brigade.
