The first batch of thirty-eight M1A2T and four M88A2 armored vehicles purchased by Taiwan from the United States arrived at the Port of Taipei via civilian cargo on Sunday and was police-escorted to Armor Training Command in Hukou Township in Hsinchu.
This shipment is part of a purchase order of one hundred and eight M1A2Ts, more commonly known as a variation of the M1 Abrams tank, fourteen M88A2 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System) vehicles, sixteen M1070A1 Oshkosh tank transporter tractor units, and sixteen M1000 semi-trailers.
Institute of National Defense and Security Research associate researcher Hsu Hsiao-huang (舒孝煌) said that he is hoping the M1A2T will gradually replace the national army's older vehicles, greatly improving combat firepower, mobility, and protection capability, and strengthen the country's last line of defense for land operations.
As for the deployment plans for the 108 Abrams tanks, the military said that 10 will be retained at Armor Training Command and the remaining 98 will be distributed elsewhere in Taiwan to strengthen its garrison capabilities.