The CM-32 "Clouded Leopard" (), officially Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle (TIFV), is an eight-wheeled armoured vehicle currently being produced for the
Republic of China Army
The Republic of China Army (ROCA), previously known as the Chinese Nationalist Army or Nationalist Revolutionary Army and unofficially as the Taiwanese Army, is the largest branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. An estimated 80% of the ...
. It is based on the 6x6 CM-31 designed by the relatively unknown
Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland and is further developed by the Ordnance Readiness Development Center.
According to the ''Taipei Times'', it was named after the
Formosan clouded leopard, an indigenous animal, to show that the vehicle is "agile and swift".
Development
Production started in 2007, with an initial order for 600 units. It is estimated that up to 1,400 CM-32s may end up being in operational service.
The Delco LAV-25 turret was tested on the first two prototypes but was not adopted on ground of cost and marginal firepower advantage compared to foreign vehicles; instead an indigenous turret armed with a 20 mm
T75 revolver cannon was planned in the interest of getting the IFV into service as quickly as possible, and a prototype was demonstrated in 2009. It was hoped that any deficiency in terms of firepower can be alleviated by adopting the cannon to use the Mk 244 Mod 0
APDS ammunition already being ordered by the
Republic of China Navy
The Republic of China Navy (ROCN; ), also called the ROC Navy and colloquially the Taiwan Navy, is the maritime branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces (ROCAF).
The service was formerly commonly just called the Chinese Navy during World Wa ...
alongside the
Phalanx Block 1B weapon systems, but issues with barrel life proved insurmountable, and in the meantime the 30 mm Bushmaster II chaingun was ultimately chosen instead and will be acquired from
Orbital ATK
Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (NGIS) was a sector (business segment) of Northrop Grumman from 2018 through 2019. It was formed from Orbital ATK Inc. a company which resulted from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alli ...
. A prototype turret built on this definitive requirement was spotted in May 2015 and unveiled to the public in August 2017.
In 2019 the Ministry of National Defense announced that over the course of the development process 17 shortcomings with the system had been identified and corrected.
Shortcomings identified included flaws in the types steel armor, oil leaks, and a lack of interchangeable spare parts. It was discovered that the vehicles had to cover at least 5 km every two weeks to remain in optimal condition.
Design
![Firecar1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Firecar1.jpg)
The project was launched in 2002, at a cost of NT$700 million (US$21.9 million).
The armor of the CM-32 provides protection of 7.62 mm AP rounds, while the frontal arc withstands 12.7 mm AP rounds. NBC protection and fire suppression systems are also standard. The V-shaped hull provides protection from landmines and can withstand 12 kg of TNT under any wheel. In its basic APC form the CM-32 is armed with a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and a 7.62 mm co-axial machinegun, both mounted in a remote weapons station.
Production and service history
In 2012 Chung-Hsin Electric and Machinery Manufacturing Corp. (CHEM) was awarded the contract for chassis production. CHEM violated their contract by allegedly substituting a number of poor quality Chinese parts in to save money. This affected the first 326 chassis.
CHEM’s chairman, president, vice president and other officials were found guilty and sentenced to jail time over the scandal in 2021.
Performance records from 2008 to 2018 indicate an engine lifespan of 780,000 km.
The type is a regular participant in the
Han Kuang Exercise
The Han Kuang Exercise () is the annual military exercise of the Republic of China Armed Forces in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu for combat readiness in the event of an attack from the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of Chin ...
s.
Variants
In addition to the infantry carriers, other planned variants include command vehicle, NBC reconnaissance vehicle, mortar carrier (can be configured with either an 81 mm or 120 mm mortar), and assault gun (armed with a 105 mm rifled gun).
The Ministry of National Defense is exploring a 155mm
self-propelled howitzer
Self-propelled artillery (also called locomotive artillery) is artillery equipped with its own propulsion system to move toward its firing position. Within the terminology are the self-propelled gun, self-propelled howitzer, self-propelled mo ...
based on the CM-32.
CM-31
The CM-31 is the original 6x6 designed by Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland, it was never mass-produced.
CM-32
Command vehicle, same armament as CM-33. In service as of 2014.
CM-33
Base variant, with 40mm grenade launcher and 7.62mm machine gun mounted in a
remote weapon station
A remote controlled weapon station (RCWS), or remote weapon station (RWS), also known as a remote weapon system (RWS), is a remotely operated weaponized system often equipped with fire-control system for light and medium- caliber weapons which c ...
. In service as of 2014.
A total of 378 CM-32 and CM-33 have been produced.
CM-34
Four prototype vehicles passed primary pre-mass production testing in October 2014.
The CM-34 participated, alongside the CM-32, in the 35th annual Han Kuang Exercise armed with a
Mk44 Bushmaster II
The Mk44 Bushmaster II is a 30 mm chain gun manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is a derivative of the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster, and uses 70% of the same parts as the M242 while increasing the firepower by as much as 50% with the 20% increase ...
.
The Taiwanese military expects to produce 284 CM-34s. It is in service as of 2019.
In August 2020, 21 more vehicles were ordered for the
Taiwanese military police.
Taiwanese ceramics manufacturer HCG (和成欣業) will supply the vehicle's armor.
Cloud Leopard II M2 prototype
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) exhibited a prototype of the next-generation 8×8 Cloud Leopard II armoured vehicle development in public for the first time at the 2019 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition.
It is expected that the prototype will be able to configurate into a mortar platform, a self-propelled howitzer and a Mobile Gun System(105mm gun).
Gallery
File:CM-31 APC Prototype in ORDC 20121013b.jpg, CM-31 Prototype
File:CM-31 Anti-Aircraft Missiles Launcher Prototype Right Side View 20121013a.jpg, CM-31 Anti-Aircraft Missiles Launcher Prototype
File:TaiwaneseCM31APC2.jpg, CM31
File:TADTE 2015 Preview, CM-32 Yunpao with 81mm Mortar 20150811b.jpg, TADTE 2015, CM-32 Yunpao with 81mm Mortar
File:馬英九總統視導CM-34 30公厘機砲裝步戰鬥車.jpg, CM-34 with 30mm cannon
File:中華民國110年國慶大會中展出之CM-34裝步戰鬥車.jpg, 110th National Day,CM-34 with 30mm cannon exhibit
See also
Comparable vehicles
*
Stryker
The Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III. Stryker vehicles are produced by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-C) for the United States Army in a plant in London, Ontario. It ...
*
LAV III
The LAV III, originally named the Kodiak by the Canadian Army, is the third generation of the LAV (Canada), Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) family of armored personnel carriers built by General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada (GDLS-C), a London, O ...
/
LAV AFV/
LAV-25/
ASLAV
The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) is an eight-wheeled amphibious armoured reconnaissance vehicle of the LAV II family used by the Australian Army. It was built by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, and developed from the U.S. Mar ...
*
K808 Armored Personnel Carrier
The K808/806 White Tiger ( ko, 백호 "Baekho", Hanja: 白虎) wheeled armored personnel carrier is family of 8x8 and 6x6 armored vehicles. Developed by Hyundai Rotem as a private venture in 2012, the Korean Army declared a plan to acquire 60 ...
*
Tusan AFV
*
Boxer Boxer most commonly refers to:
* Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing
*Boxer (dog), a breed of dog
Boxer or boxers may also refer to:
Animal kingdom
* Boxer crab
* Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans
* Boxer snipe ee ...
*
Freccia IFV
The Freccia ( it, Arrow) is an Italian 8x8 wheeled Infantry fighting vehicle in use with the Italian Army. The first batch of 249 vehicles were ordered to replace Cold War VCC-2 armoured personnel carriers of the Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo" ...
*
BTR-90
BTR-90 (GAZ-5923) (russian: бронетранспортёр, translit= Bronetransportyor, lit=Armoured Transporter) is an 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carrier developed in Russia, designed in 1993 and first shown publicly in 1994. It is a large ...
*
VPK-7829 Bumerang
The VPK-7829 Bumerang (russian: Бумеранг, Boomerang) is a modular amphibious wheeled infantry fighting vehicle and armored personnel carrier being developed by Russian Military Industrial Company (MIC) for the Russian army. It is not cur ...
*
ZBL-08
The Type 08 () is a family of eight-wheeled amphibious, modular armored vehicle developed by Norinco for infantry fire support, battlefield logistics and quick reaction operations. It is a recent People's Republic of China produced Infantry fig ...
*
Type 96 Armored Personnel Carrier
The is an armoured vehicle that entered service with Japan in 1996. This vehicle complements the existing fleet of tracked Type 73 Armored Personnel Carriers already in service.
Description
The driver sits on the right side of the vehicle wit ...
**
Type 16 maneuver combat vehicle
The is a wheeled armored fighting vehicle of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Overview
The ''Type 16'' maneuver combat vehicle (MCV) equips designated combat units. Due to its light weight and small size, it is designed for easy depl ...
*
Patria AMV
The Patria AMV (Armored Modular Vehicle) is an 8×8 multi-role military vehicle produced by the Finnish defence industry company Patria.
The main feature of the AMV is its modular design, which allows the incorporation of different turrets, weapo ...
*
BTR-4
The BTR-4 "Bucephalus" (, abbreviation of uk, Бронетранспортер, links=no, lit=armoured transporter, translit=Bronetransporter, label=none) is an amphibious 8x8 wheeled Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) designed in Ukraine by th ...
*
Saur 2
*
VBCI
The Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie ( English: ''Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle'') or VBCI is a French Infantry fighting vehicle designed and manufactured by GIAT Industries (now Nexter Systems) and Renault Trucks Defense to replac ...
*
KTO Rosomak
The KTO Rosomak (Kołowy Transporter Opancerzony Rosomak) (pol. wheeled armored personnel carrier Wolverine) is an 8×8 multi-role military vehicle produced by Rosomak S.A. (formerly Wojskowe Zakłady Mechaniczne) in Siemianowice Śląskie (Up ...
*
FNSS Pars
The Pars ( Turkish for Anatolian leopard) is an amphibious armoured combat vehicle family with 4x4, 6×6 and 8×8 versions, produced by FNSS Defence Systems of Turkey.
Development
The development of the PARS vehicles commenced in 2002, based ...
*
MOWAG Piranha
References
Sources
Jane's Information Group article: "CM-32 enters pre-production phase in Taiwan”*
ttp://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m2.htm "Comparative Levels of Ballistic Protection" on Armoured Fighting Vehicles - GlobalsecurityMND denies armor on carrier vehicles is defective - Taipei Times. March 21, 2012‘Clouded Leopard’ delivery delayed until 2019 - Taipei Times. December 27, 2012About 60 detained in military probe - Taipei Times. June 12, 2015Thirty-three indicted in military procurement case - Taipei Times. October 9, 2015The Modern Battle Tanks Of Asia - Monitoring the 21st Century Asian Arms RaceThe Eight By Eight APCs Transforming Modern War - Monitoring the 21st Century Asian Arms RaceTaiwan's military-industrial complex dominates at arms show
External links
*
* NCSIST videos
雲豹甲車A05 八觀全景系統 2016 0927
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cm-32 Armoured Vehicle
Armoured fighting vehicles of the post–Cold War period
Armoured fighting vehicles of the Republic of China
Military vehicles introduced in the 2000s
Eight-wheeled vehicles