Anti-Tank Warfare of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army in the Korean War

Abstract

This article aims to discuss how Chinese People's Volunteer Army responded to the attack from the United Nation Force's tank divisions under unfavorable military condition during the Korean War. This research utilizes an array of primary materials produced by Chinese Communist military authorities and the U.S. Army. Although the Chinese had had relevant knowledge and experience in anti-tank warfare, these were outdated and inefficient to deal with those cutting-edge tanks used by UN forces. The quantity of Chinese tanks was far from enough. Even worse, Chinese army was not equipped with sufficient anti-tank guns. This forced them to seek for a new anti-tank system. Eventually, the Chinese invented a unique anti-tank warfare which fitted into the military context they had, and demonstrated their outstanding performance of military adaptation in the battles against UN tank divisions in the Korea War.