TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Authorities transported the first batch of the 38 M1A2T tanks purchased from the U.S. to the Army Armor Training Command (裝甲兵訓練指揮部) in Hukou (湖口), Hsinchu, from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Monday (Dec. 16). The tanks arrived at the Port of Taipei (台北港) a day earlier.
Civilian-operated large flatbed trucks carried the tanks in four batches along the West Coast Expressway, with police and military police managing traffic and escorting the convoy. Alongside the tanks, four M88A2 armored recovery vehicles (M88A2裝甲救濟車) also arrived to support subsequent training exercises.
Taiwan has procured a total of 108 M1A2T tanks, 14 M88A2 recovery vehicles, 16 M1070A1 transporters, and 16 M1000 trailers from the U.S. The M88A2, an upgraded version of the M88A1, features a larger engine to accommodate the increased weight of the M1 tanks, boasting 1,050 horsepower and weighing 63 tons. This allows it to independently conduct recovery missions for the M1 tanks.
The arrival of these tanks marks a significant step in Taiwan's defense capabilities. Observers anticipate further deliveries as part of the broader procurement plan, enhancing the nation's armored forces.
