Stride-2009: "Tiger" crosses Yellow River

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Eight days into an exercise code-named Stride-2009, People's Liberation Army troops from the Jinan military command have crossed the Yellow River. The exercise simulated a scenario in which the bridge over the Yellow River is destroyed by hostile forces. A division called "The Fierce Tiger" had to advance across the river under incoming artillery fire.

Division engineers raced against time and set up a pontoon bridge within 28 minutes. At 9 am, tanks, cannons and transports began to cross the river under the protection of armed helicopters and AA Guns. All the troops crossed the bridge within 25 minutes. Stride-2009 is the PLA's largest-ever tactical drill and aims to test its long-distance mobility.