
The Chinese PLA's second-generation Type 96 tank and its third-generation Type 99 tank are both armed with a 125mm main cannon, which the CM-11's armor does not offer significant protection against. Disadvantages ĭisadvantages of the CM-11 are its outdated design, armor, and gun. It also has the highest probability of first-round hit compared to all other ROCA tanks. The greatest features and advantages of the CM-11 are that it has the same level of digital/analog hybrid ballistic calculator as the M1A1 Abrams it has a two-dimensional sighting and gun stabilization system, more complete than the M60A3's one-dimensional stabilizing device combining the AN/VSG-2 thermal imager, AN/VVS-2 Image Intensifier, AN/GVS-5 Nd-YAG laser rangefinder, allowing the CM-11 to have fire-on-the-move and night combat capabilities. Both sides of the turret have a M239 smoke grenade launcher mounted, like the M60A3 tank. The commander's turret was procured from Israel with an M2 Browning 12.7mm (.50 caliber) machine gun, the loader operates an M240 7.62mm machine gun, the coaxial machine gun is also an M240. The M60A3 hull was procured from the United States in 1987, and the M48A3 turret and the M68A1 105mm main cannon was produced by the Army Ordnance Maintenance and Development Center. In 1988, two prototypes were finished and 450 CM-11 were ordered to built. The United States designated it as M48H, where the "H" means Hybrid, and the Republic of China designated it CM-11 and named it Brave Tiger. The CM-11 is a hybrid tank using the M48A3 turret with the M60A3 tank hull, combined with the new M1 Abrams tank's fire control system (FCS). The development of the tank has two main purposes, first was to avoid the limitations set by the US-PRC Joint Communique (17 August Communique), and second was to allow the ROCA to acquire second-generation MBTs. The Republic of China (Taiwan) established the Armored Vehicle Development Center in 1980, and was tasked to develop military armored vehicles, and had cooperated with General Dynamics to develop the CM-11. The CM-11 is a hybrid M60 chassis fitted with the turret from the older M48 Patton and the fire control system of the M1 Abrams. It was introduced to the public on 14 April 1990. The CM-11 Brave Tiger ( Chinese: 勇虎式戰車 pinyin: yǒnghǔshì zhànchē) is a main battle tank (MBT) that was developed by the American General Dynamics and the Republic of China Army Armored Vehicle Development Center.
