The 42nd Group Army (GA), headquartered in Huizhou, Gungdong Province, is one of the two group armies subordinated to the Guangzhou Military Region (MR). One of the seven “Class-A” group armies in the 1980s, in peace time, the 42nd GA is responsible for the defence of the Pearl River Delta, one of the PRC’s most developed and wealthy regions. In a major conflict with Taiwan, the 42nd GA will be tasked with an amphibious assault operation at the southern coast of the Taiwan Island, using its specially equipped and trained amphibious mechanised forces.
The 42nd GA was formed in 1985 on the basis of the PLA 42nd Corps, which originally consisted of three infantry divisions (124th, 125th, and 126th). Upon its establishment, the group army received the 163rd Infantry Division previously organic to the 55th Corps, the 1st Artillery Division, a tank brigade and an AAA brigade. At the same time, its 125th Infantry Division was disbanded.
In 1987, the group army formed the 6th Army Aviation Group, which was later expanded into an army aviation regiment.
In the early 1990s, the 124th Motorised Infantry Division became one of the PLA’s “Rapid Reaction Units” (RRU), ready to mobilise within 24~48 hours. The division was also a “show unit” that accept foreign military visitors.
In 1994, the 42nd GA was ordered to prepare for the establishment of the PLA Garrison in Hong Kong SAR. The garrison infantry brigade was formed on the basis of the 487th Infantry Regiment of the 124th Division. The then commander of the 42nd GA Major General Liu Zhenwu was appointed the first commander of the Hong Kong Garrison unit.
In 1996, the 126th Motorised Infantry Division was transferred to the People’s Armed Police (PAP).
In 1998, the group army’s tank brigade was reorganised into an armoured brigade, and the AAA brigade was reorganised into an air defence brigade.
In 2001, the 124th Motorised Infantry Division was reorganised into the 124th Amphibious Mechanised Division, equipped with specially designed amphibious armoured vehicles.
The special operations group previous under the direct command of the Guangzhou MR was reassigned to the 42nd GA, possibly around 2003.
