The 190th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade is a military formation of the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China. It is famous for being the first mechanized PLA division. The 190th Division 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 November 1, 1948, basing on the 10th Brigade, 4th Column of Jinchaji Military Region. Its history can be traced to 4th Military Sub-district of Jinchaji Military Region formed in November 1937. Under the command of 64th Corps it took part in many major battles during the Chinese civil war. In February 1951 it moved into Korea to took part in the Korean War under the command of the Corps. Since then it became a part of the People's Volunteer Army until August 1953. In January 1953 the 395th Tank Self-propelled Artillery Regiment was formed and attached to the division. By then the division was composed of:
1st Mechanized Regiment -- received equipment from 17th Mechanized Regiment;
2nd Mechanized Regiment -- received equipment from 63rd Mechanized Regiment;
3rd Mechanized Regiment -- received equipment from 64th Mechanized Regiment;
31st Tank Regiment -- received equipment from 41st Guards Tank Regiment;
32nd Tank Regiment -- received equipment from 55th Heavy Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment;
1st Howitzer Artillery Regiment ;
2nd Artillery Regiment ;
Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment.
In August 1961 32nd Tank Regiment and 1st Howitzer Artillery Regiment detached from the division. All tank battalions in mechanized regiments maintained, and mechanized regiments were renamed motorized regiments. The 1st Mechanized Division was renamed as the 190th Army Division and returned to the 64th Army Corps's control. After that the division maintained as a motorized army division. By then the division was composed of:
From November 1968 to May 1970, Reconnaissance Company, 190th Army Division moved to Zhenbao Island for up-coming border conflict with the Soviet Army. However the company did not took part in direct engagement. In August 1969 395th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was renamed Tank Regiment, 190th Division. 570th Artillery Regiment was renamed as Artillery Regiment, 190th Army Division. The division was not further affected in the re-designation during December 1969. In 1985 the division was renamed the 190th Motorized Infantry Division, as a northern motorized infantry division, catalogue A, while its 568th Regiment became mechanized infantry. The division took part in the enforced martial law and the crack down on protests in Beijing, June 1989. In 1998 the division was reorganized as a motorized division: its 569th Motorized Infantry Regiment was disbanded. The Tank Regiment was renamed Armored Regiment. As 64th Army was disbanded, the division was transferred to 39th Army. By then the division was composed of:
In 2003 the division was reduced to brigade-size and renamed as the 190th Mechanized Infantry Brigade. In 2017 the brigade was reorganized as the 190th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade.
