Taiwan's M1A2T Abrams tanks conduct 1st off-base exercise

Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) The M1A2T Abrams tanks that Taiwan purchased from the United States participated in a combat readiness exercise in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan, on Tuesday, marking the first time they had operated outside their base.

The Army's 584th Armored Brigade conducted a battalion-level exercise to test troops' ability to respond to contingencies and protect key facilities, according to the Military News Agency.

The drill involved the deployment of M1A2T main battle tanks alongside a range of armored and support vehicles, including CM32, CM33 and CM34 infantry fighting vehicles, CM22 mortar carriers, and Humvees equipped with TOW anti-tank missiles, the agency reported.

Through the use of live troops, real terrain and actual vehicles, the exercise aimed to deepen battlefield familiarity while demonstrating the armored unit's mobility and combat capabilities, according to the report.

Before dawn, personnel completed checks of equipment, communications and vehicles. After receiving orders, the brigade commander delivered a mission briefing and issued operational instructions before leading the convoy out of the base, the agency reported.

Upon arrival at the target area, the unit moved into tactical positions to conduct force protection tasks. By simulating realistic combat scenarios, troops familiarized themselves with the surrounding terrain, while continuing to refine joint operations and inter-unit coordination, according to the report.

The exercise also served to assess commanders' ability at all levels to apply tactics and respond to changing situations, the report said.

Taiwan in 2019 earmarked NT$40.52 billion (US$1.29 billion) to procure 108 M1A2T tanks from the U.S. As of December, it has received 80 of the tanks, with the remaining 28 scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2026.