the Joint Staff Department and the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). 18,000 marines are under the Southern Theater Command, with 6,000 being under Eastern Theater Command and 12,000 being under Northern Theater Command. These brigades possess combined arms units, including armor, artillery, missile, air defense, and logistics. The Six brigades are as follows: 1st and 2nd (ex-164th) Marine Brigades – both based in Zhanjiang 3rd Marine Brigade based in Jinjiang 4th Marine Brigade based in Jieyang 5th Marine Brigade in Laoshan 6th Marine Brigade based in Haiyang . Each Marine Brigade is organized into the following elements: 1 × Brigade HQ and Service Company 3 x Marine Combined Arms Battalion (1 x Heavy with ZTD-05 Amphibious Tank, 1 × Medium with ZBD-05 Amphibious IFV and 1 × Light with VP4 ATV ) 1 x Air Assault Battalion 1 x Marine Artillery Battalion 1 × Air Defense Battalion Marine Reconnaissance Battalion Combat Support Battalion Service Support Battalion PLAN Marine Corps is not the only force capable of amphibious operations in People's Liberation Army. Marine Corps are primarily composed of light infantry, supplementing the heavily armed PLA Ground Force amphibious combined-arms brigades. Under the joint-operation command structure, Marine Corps will establish landing parameters before the ground force engages. Equipment Personnel equipment Type 95 Assault Rifle Type 95B Carbine QBB-95 Squad Automatic Weapon QBU-88 Designated Marksman Rifle QCW-05 Submachine Gun QSZ-92 Pistol QBS-06 underwater rifle QLZ-87 grenade launcher QBU-10 sniper rifle QLU-11 grenade launcher/sniper PF-89 rocket launcher PF-97 rocket launcher DZJ-08 rocket launcher Armour Type 15 tank ZTL-11 Amphibious Assault Gun ZBL-08 Amphibious IFV ZSL-10 Amphibious APC ZTD-05 Amphibious Assault Gun ZBD-05 Amphibious IFV ZSD-05 Amphibious APC WZ551 Wheeled APC Aircraft Z-9WA attack helicopter Z-9C utility helicopter Z-18 transport helicopter Artillery and ammunition PLZ-07B self-propelled howitzer PLL-09 self-propelled howitzer Type 89 self-propelled howitzer HJ-8 Anti-tank missile HJ-73 Anti-tank missile Chinese marines use the QBZ-95 as their main armament, though this is set to change as the PLA is set to replace the QBZ-95 with the QBZ-191 as its standard service rifle. The Type 07 Oceanic Camouflage used by the marines is likewise scheduled to be replaced by the Xingkong camouflage pattern. The marines also make use of GPS and night vision systems to enhance their fighting capabilities. The PLAN marines are equipped with amphibious light tanks and armored personnel carriers. The Type 63A is the newest light tank in Chinese service.