The Republic of China has purchased 108 M1A2T tanks from the United States, known as the “strongest tank on the surface”. The first batch of 38 tanks arrived in Taiwan on the 15th and were unloaded at the Port of Taipei today (16th), marking the first time the appearance of this type of tank has been exposed domestically.
The initial 38 M1A2T tanks purchased by Taiwan from the United States were shipped from the West Coast of the U.S. by a national carrier and arrived at the Port of Taipei in the early morning hours of the 15th. The army plans to keep 10 M1A2T tanks at the Armor Training Command and the remaining 98 will be used by the Army’s 269th Brigade stationed in Linkou, New Taipei City, and the 584th Brigade stationed in Hukou, Hsinchu.
According to military news reports, on the morning of the 16th, after being unloaded from the Port of Taipei, all 38 M1A2T tanks were transported to the Armor Training Command by heavy-duty tow trucks. Around 8 a.m., they underwent unloading operations, exposing the appearance of this type of tank domestically for the first time.
The Defense Ministry think tank and Deputy Researcher of the Institute for National Defense and Security Studies, Huang Enhao, stated that the joint air-to-ground combat capability of the tanks is crucial. In addition to coordinating with mechanized infantry and cavalry units, they must also be able to effectively engage in coordinated operations with aerial assets. For example, the effective coordination between the M1A2T tanks and the AH-64E Apache attack helicopters would significantly enhance Taiwan’s shore-based enemy suppression capability.
Huang Enhao explained that the Taiwanese military’s Combined Arms Battalions are modeled on the U.S. military, combining mechanized infantry brigades, armored brigades, and mixed mechanized infantry and tank battalions under the Guandu Area Command to form a joint combat capability. Therefore, the subsequent joint operational training after receiving the M1A2T tanks is crucial for Taiwan to enhance its anti-landing capabilities.
Su Ziyun, Director of the Institute for Defense Strategy and Resources at the Institute for National Defense and Security Studies, stated that based on research, when an attacking force is conducting a landing operation, they need to have five times more troops than the defending force. The attacking force also assesses the defending force’s troop strength, so the inclusion of the M1A2T tanks undoubtedly strengthens the ground forces’ combat capabilities, increasing the difficulty of an enemy landing.
Regarding concerns about Taiwan’s roads and bridges being unable to withstand the weight of the M1A2T tanks, Su Ziyun explained that one of the main features of the M1A2 is its lower ground pressure compared to a small car. Additionally, it is understood that the Taiwanese military and U.S. personnel have conducted on-site inspections and tests on Taiwan’s bridges and roads, and have evaluated that they can withstand the weight of the tanks without any issues.