Following upgrades to air defense capabilities, Taiwan is now turning its attention to armored vehicles. This Friday saw the official departure of a legendary tank, which protected Taiwan for decades.
An M41A3 Walker Bulldog tank rolls onto a platform in what will most likely be its last hurrah. After protecting Taiwan for more than 60 years, tanks of this model are finally being retired from service.
In a symbolic disarmament, the decommissioning ceremony involved a tank crew handing in an element of the firing mechanism from the main gun.
Commander Hu Ching-wei says this old comrade-in-arms served as a protector for decades. Now time has come for it to be protected and preserved.
In 2020 an accident involving an M41 tank resulted in the death of its commander and injury to the driver. After an investigation it was decided that the model should be retired.
M41s, nicknamed Walker Bulldogs, were in active service in Taiwan for 64 years. However, the tank became obsolete over the decades, while maintenance proved ever more costly and difficult. It will be replaced by new platforms purchased from the US, like the M1 Abrams, which will also eventually take over from slightly newer, but rapidly aging M60A3 and CM11 main battle tanks.
Decades of service to Taiwan won’t be quickly forgotten as the legendary M41 rolls off the military rosters and into the annals of history.