6 M1A2T Tanks Maneuver 22km at Dawn in Drill Simulating Hsinchu Airport Capture
The Army's 584th Brigade M1A2T Tank Battalion conducted its second off-base combat readiness patrol on the morning of May 20th. The drill simulated an enemy capture of Hsinchu Airport, with six M1A2T tanks maneuvering 22km from Hukou to Hsinchu Air Force Base to test rapid response and joint-service operational capabilities. During the exercise, tanks crossed bridges individually to mitigate risks, successfully verifying the high adaptability of the nearly 70-ton tanks to Taiwan's road environment and deepening battlefield management in northern Taiwan.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 10:20
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 10:31 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 10:37 (6 min after Collected)
The Army's 584th Combined Arms Brigade's M1A2T Tank Battalion conducted its second off-base combat readiness patrol early this morning, simulating an enemy capture of Hsinchu Airport. Six tanks maneuvered 22 kilometers from Hukou to Hsinchu Air Force Base. During the process, the tanks crossed the Baidi Bridge and Jiougang Bridge in batches and one by one to disperse risk. This move not only deepens battlefield management in northern Taiwan but also verifies the high adaptability of the nearly 70-ton tanks to Taiwanese roads.
After receiving the M1A2T tanks, the Army's 584th Combined Arms Brigade formed Taiwan's first M1A2T tank battalion in October of last year. Following its first off-base combat readiness patrol last December, the second one was carried out early this morning. A formation of six tanks and two platoons departed from the Shengli Road area in Hukou, heading towards the vicinity of Hsinchu Air Force Base in Nanliao, covering a total distance of about 22 kilometers.
Reporters on site observed soldiers sequentially completing personnel and equipment inspections, communication tests, and vehicle checks (chassis, turret, loading, etc.) in their tank bunkers before dawn. After receiving orders, the combat team commander used the Team Awareness Kit (TAK) mobile system to conduct a mission briefing and issue operational commands. Simulating an enemy capture of our important facilities such as the airport, the convoy then departed from the barracks.
Unlike the roaring sound of the Army's M60A3 and CM11 tanks when starting up, the M1A2T, which uses a gas turbine engine, emits a high-frequency, sharp sound during maneuvers. Upon reaching the key target area, the unit immediately moved into tactical positions to execute force preservation and protect important objectives. Through this simulated real-world exercise, they familiarized themselves with the surrounding environment and maneuver routes of the operational area, continuously refined joint operations and cross-unit coordination training, and validated the unit's command and response capabilities in tactical applications.
In addition to driving on regular roads, this M1A2T combat readiness patrol also crossed Hsinchu's Baidi Bridge and Jiougang Bridge, proving that Taiwan's road infrastructure can withstand the nearly 70-ton weight of the M1 tank. Lieutenant Colonel Huang Jhen-yong, commander of the 584th Brigade's 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, explained in an interview that the tank's weight is evenly distributed on the road surface through seven road wheels, resulting in a ground pressure of only 1.1 kg per square centimeter, far lower than the nearly 9 kg of a heavy-duty truck, thus not affecting the bridge structure.
Huang also pointed out that since tanks are a definite target for the enemy, they cross bridges in batches and one by one. This prevents a scenario where the destruction of the lead vehicle obstructs subsequent vehicles, making them concentrated targets. Furthermore, during combat readiness patrols, the military always establishes bridgehead outposts in advance to disperse risk and ensure the unit can sustain continuous operations.
The Nanliao area, including Hsinchu Airport, has always been a key defensive stronghold for northern Taiwan. This drill rehearsed how heavy armored units can rapidly project firepower and conduct a joint, cross-service counter-attack and protection of important targets with the base's defense forces in the event of an enemy attempt to land on the Hsinchu coast or conduct an airborne assault.
Moreover, the frequent movement of M1A2T tanks into urban and suburban main roads allows soldiers to familiarize themselves with the terrain, landmarks, and force preservation locations, deepening battlefield management in northern Taiwan. It also directly verifies the tank's maneuvering adaptability on Taiwan's urban roads and tests the rapid repair capabilities of logistics and maintenance units during long-distance mobilization, holding substantial defensive value for validating the overall anti-landing operation plan.
After receiving the M1A2T tanks, the Army's 584th Combined Arms Brigade formed Taiwan's first M1A2T tank battalion in October of last year. Following its first off-base combat readiness patrol last December, the second one was carried out early this morning. A formation of six tanks and two platoons departed from the Shengli Road area in Hukou, heading towards the vicinity of Hsinchu Air Force Base in Nanliao, covering a total distance of about 22 kilometers.
Reporters on site observed soldiers sequentially completing personnel and equipment inspections, communication tests, and vehicle checks (chassis, turret, loading, etc.) in their tank bunkers before dawn. After receiving orders, the combat team commander used the Team Awareness Kit (TAK) mobile system to conduct a mission briefing and issue operational commands. Simulating an enemy capture of our important facilities such as the airport, the convoy then departed from the barracks.
Unlike the roaring sound of the Army's M60A3 and CM11 tanks when starting up, the M1A2T, which uses a gas turbine engine, emits a high-frequency, sharp sound during maneuvers. Upon reaching the key target area, the unit immediately moved into tactical positions to execute force preservation and protect important objectives. Through this simulated real-world exercise, they familiarized themselves with the surrounding environment and maneuver routes of the operational area, continuously refined joint operations and cross-unit coordination training, and validated the unit's command and response capabilities in tactical applications.
In addition to driving on regular roads, this M1A2T combat readiness patrol also crossed Hsinchu's Baidi Bridge and Jiougang Bridge, proving that Taiwan's road infrastructure can withstand the nearly 70-ton weight of the M1 tank. Lieutenant Colonel Huang Jhen-yong, commander of the 584th Brigade's 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, explained in an interview that the tank's weight is evenly distributed on the road surface through seven road wheels, resulting in a ground pressure of only 1.1 kg per square centimeter, far lower than the nearly 9 kg of a heavy-duty truck, thus not affecting the bridge structure.
Huang also pointed out that since tanks are a definite target for the enemy, they cross bridges in batches and one by one. This prevents a scenario where the destruction of the lead vehicle obstructs subsequent vehicles, making them concentrated targets. Furthermore, during combat readiness patrols, the military always establishes bridgehead outposts in advance to disperse risk and ensure the unit can sustain continuous operations.
The Nanliao area, including Hsinchu Airport, has always been a key defensive stronghold for northern Taiwan. This drill rehearsed how heavy armored units can rapidly project firepower and conduct a joint, cross-service counter-attack and protection of important targets with the base's defense forces in the event of an enemy attempt to land on the Hsinchu coast or conduct an airborne assault.
Moreover, the frequent movement of M1A2T tanks into urban and suburban main roads allows soldiers to familiarize themselves with the terrain, landmarks, and force preservation locations, deepening battlefield management in northern Taiwan. It also directly verifies the tank's maneuvering adaptability on Taiwan's urban roads and tests the rapid repair capabilities of logistics and maintenance units during long-distance mobilization, holding substantial defensive value for validating the overall anti-landing operation plan.