I started this with something I thought would be easy, well there I go thinking again
!?! The tanks I'm talking about are Taiwan's
CM-11/or H-48 "BRAVE TIGER" these tanks just recently have been modified to carry an ERA package of French origin and NOT as must have been reported at some point the Israeli "BLAZER" ERA package. This needs some further investigation on my part to narrow down the French ERA.
http://www.janes.com/article/48422/i...n-s-cm11-tanks
http://snafu-solomon.blogspot.co.uk/...tanks-get.html
http://forums.spacebattles.com/threa...-tanks.326500/
And for the new units here are some Pics:
Before I go any further,
it is important to note that Taiwan's American made tanks were
unmodified when shipped to Taiwan. Therefore using the
game ENCYCLOPAEDIA the below information is drawn on that data as well.
Further background is that the CM-11 is a "hybrid" MBT the hull is from the
M-60A3 while the turret is from the
M48A5 but with modifications such as the Cupola .50 cal has been replaced by an unprotected .50 Cal M2. (Plus it has a roof mounted sighted 7.62mm.) plus smoke dischargers. I'm assuming this modified turret is the reason for the difference in the protection numbers from the standard
M-48A5 turret when these units were entered. When fielded in 1990 it also retained the full M-60A3 TTS FCS. Below is the only ref I can find that shows the placement of the ERA in question...
http://www.jedsite.info/tanks-mike/m...a/cm11era.html
Click on the second from the left bottom image. This from a Taiwanese or Chinese site.
The next issue deals with the fact that the CM-11 might have received another upgrade to the FCS with something between the
M60A3TTS and
M1A1. The TTS has a game FC of 35 the M1A1 FC is 40, I did not get the Stabilizer numbers sorry. The LFR is good as is. So in conclusion is the wiggle room is between what adjustment between the FC and Stab. numbers are necessary. One possible option is to give it
EITHER the full FC or Stab. increase only. This issue does make sense to me to improve their FCS in that all attempts to get the M1A1 have failed and that Taiwan was seeking another source for an advanced MBT (200 Units) both from America and
internally due the the rough mountainous center of the country and stress that a heavy MBT would be on road network infrastructure. This upgrade would also buy America a little political breathing room with both Taiwan and China (They REALLY didn't like the fact that we upgraded Taiwan's
PATRIOT's to the
PAC-3 version.). Given all the data and supposition I believe the best time for an improved CM-11 is about
JAN/2005 or JAN/2010 either would fit the political/military exercises and a rising more aggressive China of that time frame and continuing currently. Look for
key words in these refs...
http://www.deagel.com/Main-Battle-Ta...002634001.aspx
http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor...p?armor_id=219
Two other issues...
All the Taiwanese
M60A3TTS tanks FC need to be changed to
35 vice 30 as currently shown, this will make them equal to the U.S. counterpart as noted at top.
Also in the ENCYCLOPAEDIA for
Taiwan the notes you made for the reason you put the
M1A1ROC appear in the
second M60A3TTS listed on the first page. I'll assume this
M1A1ROC is locked out by the note above?
Pics for the base CM-11 from Taiwan below...
An older but still relevant article on Asian armor...
http://www.defencereviewasia.com/art...-TANKS-IN-ASIA
And finally the most current in depth view of Taiwan's military arms situation to include all U.S. arms status...
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...ization-04250/
"Hey Don how about an ERA upgrade to the CM-11?" I should've known that something that simple would lead to all this above
!?! Don I'll save you the trouble I know just the thing to deal with me right now-
I think that about covers it.
Regards,
Pat
Something else he might wish is for me to do sail away!!
CM-11 UNITS 380/381/545/546
M60A3TTS UNITS 022/023/027
CM-12 UNITS 385/386 UPDATED M-48A5 with complete TTS FCS installed hope I beat the clock!!!!