CM-12 Tank

The CM-12 Tank is a modified M48A3 for 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 to modify the existing M48A3 tanks of the ROC Army. The modification was completed before 1993.

CM-12 Tank
A CM-12 in ROCA Infantry School
TypeMain battle tank
Place of origin Republic of China
Service history
In service1990-present
Production history
DesignerArmored Vehicle Development Center
ManufacturerArmored Vehicle Development Center
Unit costUS$ 350 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) M68 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

Modifications

The CM-12 program selected some M48A3 hulls and replaced the petrol engines with diesel engines, installed a new transmission and replaced the turret with the CM-11's turret. The modified tank was renamed CM-12.[1]

During the Brave Tiger Case (CM-11), AVDC received a M48A5 for reference. The idea of the CM-12 derived from M48A5. Some of the M48A3 received modifications and were upgraded to M48A1/A2. The exterior of CM-12 and M48A5 are similar, but the interior is completely different; the main difference that replacing the engine and turret of M48A3, cost interior fuel capacity, decreasing its range.

The Armament of CM-12 is identical to CM-11's. The main cannon is a M68A1 105 mm cannon, which can fire ammunition such as Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot (APFSDS) Round. It can carry 60 rounds on board. One M2HB machine gun is mounted on the commander's cupola, one T-74 machine gun on the gunner's cupola, and one coaxial M240 machine gun inside the turret.[2]

The protection on CM-12 is outdated, and the material used is inferior to newer tanks. After the great disarmament of Ching Shih (精實案) and Ching Chin (精進案), the existing CM-11 and M60A3 TTS are enough for ROCA, therefore almost half of the CM-12s are now retired.

  • Near View of CM-12 turret
  • A Ready-to-Transport CM-12
  • Soldiers removing machine guns on CM-12

References
  1. "M48 Patton". fas.org. Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  2. "CM-11 Brave Tiger (M48H) Main Battle Tank (MBT) - Taiwan". Retrieved 2018-11-09.
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