Taiwan Army to Open Chengkungling Base on Oct. 24, Displaying M1A2T Tanks and HIMARS to the Public
Taiwan's army will open the Chengkungling base in Taichung's Wuri District to the public on Saturday, Oct. 24, displaying its newest U.S.-built M1A2T Abrams tanks and HIMARS rocket launchers. Entry is free from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Taiwanese nationals, Major General Wang Chun-chin, chief of staff of the 10th Army Corps, told a defence ministry briefing on Oct. 15. The open day is part of the ministry's annual national defence education tours, and based on earlier years the base could draw more than 100,000 visitors. The static display covers 24 army, navy and air force systems, including ground-launched Sky Sword II air-defence missiles, M60A3 tanks, CM33 and CM34 armoured vehicles, M109A2 howitzers, a navy mobile anti-ship missile launcher, and Patriot PAC-3 and Sky Bow III air-defence vehicles. The flying programme features an AH-1W Cobra flypast, fast-roping from a UH-60M Black Hawk, an air assault landing from a CH-47SD Chinook, special forces combatives and a precision jump by the Shen Long parachute team; the army's newly formed drone unit will also give a live demonstration. Visitors can ride in an eight-wheeled armoured vehicle and try pulling the lanyard on a 155mm howitzer.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：海马斯多管火箭系统发射瞬间（资料图）。U.S. Army photo 摄，公共领域，取自维基共享资源。Photo: A HIMARS launch (file photo). By U.S. Army photo, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
