42 M1A2T Abrams tanks arrive in Taiwan

The second batch of 42 M1A2T Abrams tanks purchased by Taiwan from the US arrived at the Port of Taipei late Sunday night and was transported to the Army Armor Training Command in Hsinchu’s Hukou Township around 12:10 a.m. Monday.

The Army operates around 1,000 tanks, including CM-11 Brave Tiger and M60A3 models, many of which have been in service for over two decades, per CNA. To modernize its forces, the military allocated NT$40.52 billion (US$1.37 billion) from 2019 to 2027 to purchase 108 M1A2T tanks for deployment with the Sixth Army Corps in northern Taiwan.

The first batch of 38 Abrams arrived in December last year. On July 10, four of them conducted live-fire drills at the Kengzikou Range in Hsinchu, firing 19 rounds at mock PLA tanks and achieving full accuracy using the “hunter-killer” targeting system.

The second batch was originally scheduled to arrive on Saturday but was delayed due to nearby tropical storms.

At around 12:10 a.m. Monday, several tanks were transported from the port on civilian flatbed trucks covered in black tarps. The convoy traveled via Provincial Highway No. 61 to Hukou, escorted by military police and supported by local police traffic control.

In addition to the 108 M1A2T tanks, Taiwan also procured 14 M88A2 recovery vehicles, 16 M1070A1 heavy equipment transporters, and 16 M1000 semi-trailers.