CM-12 tank

CM-12 tank
A CM-12 at the ROCA Infantry School
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originTaiwan
Service history
In service1990–present
Production history
DesignerArmored Vehicle Development Center
ManufacturerArmored Vehicle Development Center
Unit costUS$ 3.5 million
No. built100
Specifications
Mass48.5 tonnes (53.5 short tons; 47.7 long tons)
Length6.95 meters (22 ft 10 in) (hull)
9.30 meters (30 ft 6 in) (cannon forward)
Width3.65 meters (12 ft 0 in)
Height3.1 meters (10 ft 2 in)
Crew4
Main
armament
105 mm (4.1 in) M68A1 gun
Secondary
armament
.50 BMG (12.7×99mm) M2 Browning
7.62×51mm NATO M240 machine gun
7.62×51mm NATO T74 machine gun
EngineContinental AVDS-1790-2C air-cooled Twin-turbo diesel engine
750 hp (560 kW)
Power/weight15.46 hp/t
SuspensionTorsion bar suspension
Operational
range
203 kilometers (100 mi)
Maximum speed 48 km/h

The CM-12 tank is a modified M48A3 made for the Republic of China Army situated on Taiwan. The Armored Vehicle Development Center (AVDC) used the extra 100 fire-control system units from the production of the CM-11 Brave Tiger to modify the existing M48A3 tanks of the ROC Army. The modification was completed as of 1993.[1] The CM-12 can be distinguished from the CM-11 by the rounded glacis plates, and from the M48A3 by the 105mm M68A1 cannon, which is longer than the 90mm T139/M3A1 cannon on the M48A3 and lacks a muzzle brake, and by the different commander's cupola.

Modifications

The CM-12 program selected some M48A3 hulls and replaced the petrol engines with diesel engines, installed a new transmission, replaced the tracks, and replaced the turret with the CM-11's turret. The modified tank was renamed CM-12.[2]

During the Brave Tiger (CM-11) upgrade program, AVDC received an M48A5 for reference. The idea of the CM-12 was derived from the M48A5. The exterior of CM-12 and M48A5 are similar, but the interior is completely different; the main difference being that replacing the original engine and turret of the M48A3 cost interior fuel capacity, decreasing its range. The CM-12 also has an upgraded fire-control system due to it using the same turret as the CM-11. The M48A5 has no upgraded fire-control system.

The armament of CM-12 is identical to CM-11's. The main cannon is an M68A1 105mm cannon, which can fire ammunition such as armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot (APFSDS) Rounds. It can carry up to 60 rounds on board. One M2HB machine gun is mounted on the commander's cupola, one T74 machine gun on the gunner's cupola, and one coaxial M240 machine gun inside the turret.[3]

The protection on CM-12 is outdated, being unable to stop shells fired from the 125mm smoothbore cannon mounted on tanks used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army such as the Type 96, and the material used is inferior to that used on newer tanks, being made of cast steel instead of more modern composite materials. After the great disarmament of Ching Shih (精實案) and Ching Chin (精進案), the existing CM-11 and M60A3 TTS tanks are enough for the ROCA, and almost half of the CM-12s are now retired.

  • Close up of the CM-12's turret
    Close up of the CM-12's turret
  • Side view of the CM-12
    Side view of the CM-12
  • Rear view of the CM-12
    Rear view of the CM-12
  • A ready-to-transport CM-12
    A ready-to-transport CM-12
  • Soldiers removing machine guns from a CM-12
    Soldiers removing machine guns from a CM-12

References

  1. ^ 自由時報電子報 (2018-02-21). "妥善率不佳 CM12戰車擴大封存 - 政治". 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  2. ^ "M48 Patton". fas.org. Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  3. ^ "CM-11 Brave Tiger (M48H) Main Battle Tank (MBT) - Taiwan". Retrieved 2018-11-09.
  • Media related to CM-12 at Wikimedia Commons