The Taiwanese CM-32 Yunpao 8×8 Family

The Taiwanese CM-32 Yunpao 8×8 Family Development

The Taiwanese CM-32 Yunpao 8×8 Family of Armoured Fighting Vehicles aka “Clouded Leopard” (雲豹裝甲車 “Yunpao”), is due to enter service with Republic of China Army by 2017-2018. The family is expected to replace a number of ageing vehicles already in service like the M41 Walker Bulldog Tank.

It was designed by Irish Firm Timoney Technology Limited. Four prototypes had been built for extensive mobility and firepower field tests in 2004. These resulted in a number of modifications which were implemented on 15 preproduction variants.

The Taiwanese CM-32 Yunpao 8×8 Family Description

It’s a steel construction, not much else is known about the armour. It uses a Caterpillar C9 diesel engine developing 410 hp coupled to an Allison HD4560P automatic transmission. Steering is power-assisted and standard equipment includes independent suspension and a central tyre pressure-regulation system that allows the driver to adjust the tyre pressure to suite the terrain and obtain the best grip.

The Taiwanese CM-32 Yunpao 8×8 Family Variants

Armoured Personnel Carrier
The Taiwanese CM-32 Yunpao 8×8 Family

Armoured Personnel Carrier – Is fitted with a remote-control weapon station armed with a 7.62 mm or .50 (12.7 mm) M2 HB machine gun (MG).It has a 2 man crew and can carry 8 fully equipped troops. It has a combat weight of about 22ton.

Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The Taiwanese CM-32 Yunpao 8×8 Family

Infantry Fighting Vehicle – Is fitted with a two-person turret armed with a stabilised 25mm M242 cannon, with a combat weight of about 24ton. It has a standard 3 man crew (commander, gunner and driver) and can carry 6 fully equipped troops.

Mortar – Equipped with an internal 120mm.

Fire support vehicle
The Taiwanese CM-32 Yunpao 8×8 Family

Fire support vehicle – Pictures taken and shown, so far look like a 105mm main gun mounted in a turret.