The 63rd Group Army (), former 63rd Corps and 63rd Army Corps, was a military formation of China's People's Liberation Army existed from 1949 to 2003.
Chinese Civil War and Korean War
The 63rd Corps () was created in January 1949 under the Regulation of the Redesignations of All Organizations and Units of the Army, issued by Central Military Commission on 1 November 1948, basing on the 3rd Column of the Jinchaji Military Region. Its lineage could be traced to the Jizhong Column formed in 1945.
As of its formation, the Corps was composed of three divisions: 187th, 188th and 189th.
The Corps was a part of 19th Army Group. It took part in many battles, especially the Pingjin Campaign during the Chinese Civil War.
In May 1949, the Artillery Regiment, 63rd Corps activated. From February 1951 the regiment was renamed as 170th Artillery Regiment.
In February 1951 the Corps entered Korea with all its subordinated divisions as a part of the 19th Army Group, People's Volunteer Army. During its deployment in Korea, it took part in the Fifth Phase Offensive and the Battle of Cheorwon, during which the corps suffered heavy casualties but halted the UN offensive.
In October 1953 the corps returned from Korea and was stationed at Shijiazhuang, Hebei. During the same month Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (85 mm) activated.
In 1954, the 170th Artillery Regiment detached from the Corps and transferred to 190th Infantry Division as 1st Howitzer Regiment, 1st Mechanized Division. In May Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (85 mm) disbanded.
In November 1955, 170th Artillery Regiment and 88th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment were re-activated.
63rd Army Corps
In April 1960 the corps was renamed as 63rd Army Corps (). By then the Corps was composed of: Corps Headquarter 170th Artillery Regiment 88th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 187th Army Division 559th Infantry Regiment 560th Infantry Regiment 561st Infantry Regiment 567th Artillery Regiment 392nd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment 188th Army Division 562nd Infantry Regiment 563rd Infantry Regiment 564th Infantry Regiment 568th Artillery Regiment 393rd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment 189th Army Division 565th Infantry Regiment 566th Infantry Regiment 567th Infantry Regiment 569th Artillery Regiment 394th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment
In May 1966, 189th Army Division detached from the corps and transferred to Beijing Guard District, and 88th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment was disbanded.
In December 1966, following the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution, the corps moved to Beijing and stationed in Xicheng district for a security mission. In December the corps returned to its barracks.
In December 1966, the 7th Engineer District of Beijing Military Region Engineer Troops was transferred to the 63rd Army Corps' control. In December 1968 the district returned to Beijing Military Region Engineer Troops' control.
From January 1967 to March 1969, anti-aircraft artillery detachments from the Army Corps, with a total of 1579 personnel, moved to North Vietnam to take part in the Vietnam War.
In January 1968, 6th Engineer District of Beijing Military Region Engineer Troops was transferred to the 63rd Army Corps' control. In December 1969 the district detached and attached to 69th Army Corps as 206th Army Division.
In October 1969, 186th Army Division was activated under the corps from 2nd Engineer District, Beijing Military Region Engineer Troops and later renamed as 189th Army Division in December. In December 1969, 170th Artillery Regiment was renamed as Artillery Regiment, 63rd Army Corps.
In November 1969, the corps moved to Taiyuan, Shanxi and stationed there until its disbandment.
In January 1976, the 1st Independent Tank Regiment of Beijing Military Region joined the army corps as Tank Regiment, 63rd Army Corps, and Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, 63rd Army Corps was activated.