Mongolian People's Army

This article is about the history of the armed forces of Mongolian People's Republic for the 1920s, 1930s and WWII periods. For the current armed forces of Mongolia, see Mongolian Armed Forces.

Mongolian People's Revolutionary Army
Монголын Ардын Арми or Монгол Ардын Хувьсгалт Цэрэг
Emblem of Mongolian People's Army
Founded	March 1921
Disbanded	February 1992
Service branches	Mongolian People's Army Ground Forces Mongolian People's Air Force
Headquarters	Ulaanbaatar
Personnel
Military age	18
Conscription	yes
Industry
Foreign suppliers	Soviet Union Template:PPR East Germany Vietnam Democratic People's Republic of Korea Cuba Bulgaria

The Mongolian People's Army (Mongolian: Монголын Ардын Арми or Монгол Ардын Хувьсгалт Цэрэг) or Mongolian People's Revolutionary Army was an institution of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party constituting as the armed forces of the Mongolian People's Republic.

It was established on 18 March 1921 as a secondary army under Soviet Red Army command during the 1920s and during World War II. In 1992, the army's structure changed and then reorganized and renamed as the General Purpose Force.

Sükhbaatar in around 1920-1922

Creation of the army

One of the first actions of the new Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party authorities was the creation of a native communist army in 1920 under the leadership of adept cavalry commander Damdin Sükhbaatar in order to fight against Russian troops from the White movement and Chinese forces. The MPRP was aided by the Russian SFSR Red Army, which helped to secure the Mongolian People's Republic and remained in its territory until at least 1925.

1930s conflicts

Initially during the native revolts of the early 1930s and the Japanese border probes beginning in the mid-1930s, Soviet Red Army troops in Mongolia amounted to little more than instructors for the native army and as guards for diplomatic and trading installations.

However, in the 1939 Battles of Khalkhin Gol (or Nomonhan) heavily armed Red Army forces under Georgy Zhukov assisted by Mongolian troops under Khorloogiin Choibalsan decisively defeated Imperial Japanese Army forces under Michitarō Komatsubara.

Georgy Zhukov and Khorloogiin Choibalsan (left) consult during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol

Cold war era

Main article: Sino-Soviet split

During the Pei-ta-shan Incident, elite Qinghai Chinese Muslim cavalry were sent by the Chinese Kuomintang to destroy the Mongols and the Russians in 1947.

The military of Mongolia's purpose was national defense, protection of local communist establishments, and collaboration with Soviet forces in future military actions against exterior enemies, up until the 1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia.

Political indoctrination

The central Political Administration Unit was established in the army in 1921 to supervise the work of political commissars (Politruk) and party cells in all army units and to provide a political link with the Central Committee of the MPRP in the army. The unit served to raise morale and to prevent enemy political propaganda. Up to one third of army units were members of the party and others were in the Mongolian Revolutionary Youth League.

The Red Mongol Army received sixty percent of the government budget in early years and it to expanded from 2,560 men in 1923 to 4,000 in 1924 and to 7,000 in 1927. The native armed forces stayed linked to Soviet Red Army intelligence groups and NKVD, Mongolian secret police, and Buryat Mongol Comintern agents acted as administrators and represented the real power in the country albeit under direct Soviet guidance.

Training

By 1926 the government planned to train 10,000 conscripts annually and to increase the training period to six months. Chinese intelligence reports in 1927 indicated that between 40,000 and 50,000 reservists could be mustered at short notice. In 1929 a general mobilization was called to test the training and reserve system. The expected turnout was to have been 30,000 troops but only 2,000 men presented. This failure initiated serious reforms in recruiting and training systems.

Strength

In 1921-1927 the land forces, almost exclusively horsemen, numbered about 17,000 mounted troops and boasted more than 200 heavy machine guns, 50 mountain howitzers, 30 field guns, seven armored cars, and a maximum of up to 20 light tanks.

Basic units and motorization

The basic unit was the 2,000-man cavalry regiment consisting of three squadrons. Each 600-plus-man squadron was divided into five companies, a machine gun company, and an engineer unit. Cavalry regiments were organized into larger units--brigades or divisions—which included artillery and service support units. The chief advantage of this force was mobility over the great distances in Mongolia: small units were able to cover more than 160 km in 24 hours.

Mongolian cavalry in the Khalkhin Gol (1939)

List of Mongolian Army divisions and other units

• 1st Cavalry Division
• 2nd Cavalry Division
• 3rd Cavalry Division
• 4th Cavalry Division
• 5th Cavalry Division
• 6th Cavalry Division
• 7th Cavalry Division
• 8th Cavalry Division
• 9th Cavalry Division
• 10th Cavalry Division
• 7th Motorized Armored Brigade
• 3rd Separate Tank Regiment
• 3rd Artillery Regiment
• Aviation Mixed Division
• Chemical defence-engineering regiment

Army ranks and insignia (since 1992)

Main article: Mongolian military ranks

Rank Insignia of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Army until 1992

• Conscript soldiers

Private (PVT)

Lance Corporal (LCPL)

Corporal (CPL)

Senior Corporal (SCPL)

• NCO's

Junior Sergeant (JSGT)

Sergeant (SGT)

Senior Sergeant (SSG)

Training Sergeany (TSGT) = (SM)Sergeant Major

Lead Sergeant (LSGT) or Command Sergeant Major (CSM)

• Officers

2nd Lieutenant (2LT)

1st Lieutenant (1LT)

Captain (CPT)

Major (MAJ)

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)

Colonel (COL)

Brigadier General (Br Gen)

Major General (MAJ GEN)

Lieutenant General (LT GEN)

General (GEN)

Uniform

Because establishment of the Armed Forces was based on a Soviet military system in 1920s, the Mongolian People's Army used similar uniforms with the Red Army, only with Mongolian distinctions. Until 1924, People's Army personnel wore traditional deel, which had their respective shoulder insignias. In the mid-1930s, the army adopted Soviet Gymnasterka and developed its true rank and distinction system. All personnel were distinct by their sleeve and collar insignias from the general population when the gymnastyorka was rather popular. After the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, slight modifications were made. In 1944 all uniforms and insignia were significantly changed to include shoulder insignia and camouflage cloaks, similar to Soviet uniform modifications but on olive green.

From the 1960s, the equipment and uniforms of the Mongolian People's Army were included a program to modernize the military. As before, the Mongolian People's Army (a Warsaw pact ally) was similar to the Soviet Red Army in appearance and structure.

The Soviet-Russian and Mongolian tiled mural at the World War II en:Zaisan Memorial, Ulan-Bator, from the People's Republic of Mongolia era.

A Horseman with Soviet-style uniform performs during the opening ceremony for exercise Khaan Quest 2013 at the Five Hills Training Area in Mongolia Aug. 3, 2013

Military actions

Main article: Participants in World War II § Mongolia

Further information: Mongolia in World War II

Units of Mongolian People's Army were supported and allied with the Soviet Red Army in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939 and on the western flank of the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in 1945. Domestically, it took part in the suppression of the 1932 armed uprising. It also involved in many border conflicts against Manchukuo and the Kwantung Army (one of the largest parts of the Imperial Japanese Army) and the Chinese National Revolutionary Army. The Imperial Japanese Army recorded 152 minor incidents on the border of Manchuria between 1932 and 1934. The number of incidents increased to over 150 per year in 1935 and 1936, and the scale of incidents became larger.

In January 1935, the first armed battle, Halhamiao incident (哈爾哈廟事件, Haruhabyō jiken) occurred on the border between Mongolia and Manchukuo. Scores of Mongolian cavalry units engaged with a Manchukuo army patrol unit near the Buddhist temple of Halhamiao. The Manchukuo Army incurred slight casualties, including a Japanese military advisor.

Between December 1935 and March 1936, the Orahodoga incident (オラホドガ事件, Orahodoga jiken)(ja) and the Tauran incident (タウラン事件, Tauran jiken) (ja) occurred. In these battles, both the Japanese and Mongolian Armies use a small number of armoured fighting vehicles and military aircraft.

Khalkhin Gol George Zhukov and Khorloogiin Choibalsan 1939

Stalinist repressions against Mongolian People's Army

Main article: Stalinist repressions in Mongolia

Mongolian troops fight against it took part Japanese counterattack on the western beach of river the Khalkhin Gol, 1939

Light equipment

Mosin–Nagant

Soviet Union PPSh-41

Soviet Union PPSh-43

Russia and Soviet Union Russian M1910 Maxim

Soviet Union SG-43 Goryunov

Soviet Union DShK

Soviet Union Degtyaryov machine gun

Artillery and mortars

Soviet Union 76 mm regimental gun M1927

Soviet Union 37 mm anti-tank gun M1930 (1-K)

Soviet Union 45 mm anti-tank gun M1937 (53-K)

Soviet Union 76 mm regimental gun M1943

Multiple Rocket Launchers

Soviet Union Katyusha - 150

Anti-aircraft Weapon

Although little attention was paid to anti-aircraft weaponry in the Mongolian People's Army, a few dozen units of Soviet origin were known to be distributed to light armored outfits.

Vehicles

• Soviet Union GAZ-61
• Soviet Union GAZ-64
• Soviet Union GAZ-67
• Soviet Union ZIS-5
• Soviet Union GAZ–MM
• Soviet Union ZiS-42
• United States Studebaker US6
• United States Dodge WC-51

Armoured corps

Main article: Revolutionary Mongolia tank brigade

Under Soviet support campaign for mechanization, the army formed its first mechanized unit in 1922. Also it was by structure in the ground force half-mechanization cavalry in the other units distributed to light armored vehicles until 1943. It began to process to motorised since 1943. This is a list of Mongolian People's Army tanks and armour during the 1922s-World War II period.

Armoured cars

• Russia Austin Putilov- 2/3
• Soviet Union FAI- 15
• Soviet Union BA-6
• Soviet Union BA-10
• Soviet Union BA-64

Light Tanks

• Soviet Union T-27- 10
• Soviet Union BT-5 - ? (Unknown number)
• Soviet Union BT-7 - 27

Medium Tanks

• Soviet Union T-34/76- 40
• Soviet Union T-34/85- 33

A World War II memorial in Ulaanbaatar, featuring a T-34-85 tank.

Sps Tank destroyers

• Soviet Union SU-100

Mongolian People's Army Air Force in 1925–1945

Main article: Mongolian Arat Air Squadron

The Mongolian People's Army Aviation drastically improved with Soviet training and vastly ameliorated within a time span of several years. In May 1925, a Junkers F.13 entered service as the first aircraft in Mongolian civil and military-related aviation. In March 1931, the Soviet Union donated three Polikarpov R-1s to the Mongolian People's Army, with Mongolia further purchasing three R-1s. In 1932, an uprising broke out against Collectivization, which saw both Soviet and Mongolian-operated R-1s taking part in actions against the rebellion. The aircraft carried out reconnaissance, leaflet dropping, and bombing missions Chinese intelligence reports that in 1945 the Mongolian People's Air Force had been with a three-fighter and three-bomber aviation-regiment, and one flight training school and greater air squadrons. It was reported that headquartered in the Mukden Manchukuo spy-section in October 1944 air force whole units had been 180 aircraft and 1231 airmen. The Mongolian People's Army Aviation demonstrated its full potential during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, which was its largest engagement. Apart from intercepting intruding aircraft, People's Aviation was used heavily to repress domestic rebel movements.

The Mongolian People's Air Force has operated a variety of aircraft types.

Trainer

• Soviet Union Po-1
• Soviet Union Po-2
• Soviet Union Yakovlev UT-2
• Soviet Union Yak-11

Bomber and ground-attack aircraft

• Soviet Union Polikarpov R-1-Unknown number
• Soviet Union Polikarpov R-5-40
• Soviet Union Ilyushin Il-2-70

Fighter aircraft

• Soviet Union Lavochkin La-5- 12
• Soviet Union Polikarpov I-15- 50
• Soviet Union Polikarpov I-15bis- Unknown number
• Soviet Union Polikarpov I-16- 1
• Soviet Union Yak-7- Unknown number
• Soviet Union Yak-9- 34

Transport aircraft

• Soviet Union Lisunov Li-2
• Soviet Union Putilov Stal-3
• Soviet Union Kalinin K-5
• Soviet Union Yakovlev Yak-6
• Soviet Union Yakovlev AIR-6
• Germany Junkers F-13
• Germany Junkers W 33- 1
• Japan Nakajima Ki-34-12

Mongolian People's Army capability (1950-1990)

Equipment	Origin	Versions	Number	Notes
Main Battle Tank/Medium Tank
SU-100	Soviet Union	Self-propelled gun	10
T-34/85		Medium Tank	40
T-54			250
T-55			250
T-62		Main Battle Tank	100
Infantry Fighting Vehicle/Armored Personnel Carrier
BMP-1	Soviet Union	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	400
BTR-40		Wheeled armoured personnel carrier	200
BTR-60			50
BTR-152
BRDM-1		Armored Personnel Carrier	150
BRDM-2		Armored Personnel Carrier	120
Multiple rocket launcher
BM-21 Grad	Soviet Union	122 mm Multiple rocket launcher	130
Towed artillery
85 mm divisional gun D-44	Soviet Union	85 mm divisional gun	unknown number
122 mm gun M1931/37 (A-19)		122 mm towed gun	20
152 mm howitzer M1943 (D-1)		152 mm field gun	unknown number
122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)		122 mm howitzer	50
122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30)			100
130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)		130 mm towed field gun	unknown number
152 mm howitzer-gun M1937 (ML-20)		152 mm howitzer gun
Mortar
BM-37	Soviet Union	82 mm calibre mortar	unknown number
PM-43		120 mm calibre smoothbore mortar
M-160		160 mm Divisional mortar
Anti-tank gun
SPG-9	Soviet Union	73 mm anti-tank gun	unknown number
85 mm antitank gun D-48		85 mm anti-tank gun
100 mm field gun M1944 (BS-3)		100 mm field gun	25
T-12 antitank gun		100 mm anti-tank gun	25

Mongolian People's Army Air Force (1950-1990)

Name	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Fighter aircraft
Polikarpov I-15	Soviet Union	Fighter	I-15	1+
Polikarpov I-16			I-16	1+
Polikarpov Po-2 Mule			U-2a	20
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 Fagot			MiG-15bis	48
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 Fresco			MiG-17F	36
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed			MiG-21PFM/MF	30+12
Bomber
Polikarpov R-Z	Soviet Union	Light Bomber	R-Z	unknown number
Transport aircraft
Boeing 727	United States of America	Narrow-body jet airliner	Boeing 727-200	unknown number
Tupolev Tu-104 Camel	Soviet Union	Transport aircraft	Tu-104	2
Tupolev Tu-154 Careless			Tu-154B-2	unknown number
Ilyushin Il-2 Bark			Il-2		Could be up to 72
Ilyushin Il-12 Coach			Il-12
Ilyushin Il-14 Crate			Il-14	6
Antonov An-2 Colt			An-2	30
Antonov An-12 Cub			An-12	15
Antonov An-14 Clod			An-14	2
Antonov An-24 Coke			An-24	22
Antonov An-26 Curl			An-26	4
Antonov An-32 Cline			An-32	1
Harbin Y-12	China	utility aircraft	Y-12	5
PZL-104 Wilga	Poland		Wilga-2	3
Training aircraft
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 Fagot	Soviet Union	Transport aircraft	MiG-15UTI	1
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 Fresco			MiG-17PF	8
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed			MiG-21US	unknown number
Yakovlev UT-2 Mink			UT-2	1+
Yakovlev Yak-6 Frank			Yak-6	unknown number
Yakovlev Yak-9 Frank			Yak-9U
Yakovlev Yak-11 Moose			Yak-11	10
Yakovlev Yak-12 Creek			Yak-12	unknown number
Yakovlev Yak-18 Max			Yak-18	10
Attack Helicopter
Mil Mi-24 Hind	Soviet Union	Attack helicopter	Mi-24D/V	10	Ground support/Anti tank
Transport Helicopter
Mil Mi-1 Hare	Soviet Union	Light helicopter	Mi-1	5	Transport
Mil Mi-2 Hoplite			Mi-2	1
Mil Mi-4 Hound			Mi-4A	5
Mil Mi-8 Hip			Mi-8T/MT	10
Kamov Ka-26 Hoodlum		Light utility	Ka-26	unknown number
SAM
S-75 Dvina	Soviet Union	Strategic SAM system	S-75 Dvina	1	24 missiles
S-200 Angara/Vega/Dubna			S-200	unknown number
9K31 Strela-1		Vehicle-mounted SAM system	9K31 Strela-1
Strela-2		Man portable SAM launcher	Strela-2	1250
Air Defence Artillery
ZPU-4	Soviet Union	Anti-aircraft machine gun	ZPU-4	unknown number
ZU-23-2		Anti-Aircraft Twin Autocannon	ZU-23-2
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"		Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	ZSU-23-4
S-60		Autocannon	57 mm S-60
61-K		Air defense gun	37 mm M1939

See also

Group of Soviet Forces in Mongolia

17th Army Soviet Union

39th Army Soviet Union

References

• Walg, A.J. "Wings Over the Steppes: Aerial warfare in Mongolia 1930–1945: Part One". Air Enthusiast. No. 66, November/December 1996. pp. 18–23. ISSN 0143-5450.
• Walg, A.J. "Wings Over the Steppes: Aerial warfare in Mongolia 1930–1945: Part Two". Air Enthusiast. No. 67, January–February 1997. pp. 25–23. ISSN 0143-5450.
• Walg, A.J. "Wings Over the Steppes: Aerial warfare in Mongolia 1930–1945: Part Three". Air Enthusiast. No. 68, March–April 1997. pp. 70–73. ISSN 0143-5450.