CM-32 Yunpao (Clouded Leopard) / TIFV (Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle)

History

The CM-32 Clouded Leopard ("Clouded Leopard") is an eight-wheeled modular armored vehicle in service with the Taiwan Army. The vehicle is based on the CM-31 six-wheeled armored vehicle released by the Taiwan Army in the 1990s. The car itself comes from Irish group Timoney Technology Limited and is produced under license in Taiwan. Born out of a Taiwanese government initiative in 2002, the CM-32 is an evolution of the CM-31 with greater capabilities and modern systems to meet changing military needs. Production of the new car started in 2007 with a purchase order of 600 units.

The development was carried out by the Ordnance Readiness Development Center.

Modular armored vehicles like the CM-32 allow operators to purchase chassis to meet different battlefield needs. The same hull, engine and chassis can be fitted with different weapon configurations to suit the task at hand, while still providing a logistically friendly end product.

As a result, these vehicles can function as armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, command and control vehicles, battlefield ambulances, fire support, mortar transporters, and more, without the high cost of purchasing specialized systems. Occupant protection is often minimal or sufficient, but the wheeled nature of these vehicles means good off-road support and the ability to keep up with the forces of modern mechanization, while achieving an excellent range of operation.

Like most armored vehicles, the CM-32 is designed to have more armor protection at the front and less protection at the sides and rear. Large-caliber machine gun shells can be destroyed along this panel, and the wraparound shield protects personnel from general small arms fire and artillery "spray". Crew and passenger safety is of course a highly valued attribute of this type of transport vehicle, so the CM-32 has an integrated fire control system and nuclear, chemical and biological suite to counter NBC attacks.

The V-shaped hull is also designed to help divert explosives and fragmentation blasts away from unseen enemy mines. A central tire pressure system can control each wheel system individually to adapt the vehicle to changing terrain or flat tires.

Up to five sets of smoke grenade launchers can be used for offensive operations and defensive retreats.

The CM-32 is mounted on eight large rubber tire wheels (four on each side of the vehicle), all wheels with full suspension and all-wheel drive as standard. The Glacis panel slopes down towards the front of the vehicle and ends at the front of the lower body at some point. The top edge of the Glacis panels encounters a less sloping surface before aligning with the roof of the superstructure.

The sides of the CM-32 were designed vertically, while the weapons were concentrated in a central turret located on top of the hull. There is a driver's hatch in the front left of the fuselage and a passenger hatch in the rear of the fuselage roof. The rear doors allow passengers to enter and exit the vehicle. The turret has dedicated vehicle commander and battery access hatches. Standard combat personnel include the commander, gunner, and driver.

The driver sits in the front left of the vehicle with the engine mounted to his right. The passenger cabin is located at the rear of the vehicle, behind the turret, and can accommodate up to eight combat troops in the APC variant. The driver's position is inconspicuous and is characterized by an armored hatch with appropriate sight blocks.

Mirrors (these are mounted on the front side of the vehicle) are required when "buckling up" driving through hostile terrain. According to reports, the craft is fully amphibious, propelled through water by a propeller system.

The CM-32 is powered by an American Caterpillar C12 series diesel engine with 410 hp. This enables the vehicle to reach a top speed of 120 km/h and a range of nearly 800 km. The power pack is placed on the right front of the hull, in line with modern armored fighting vehicles.

The primary armament of the CM-32 IFV variant is a 20mm automatic cannon system and a 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine gun on a powered turret mount. The basic CM-32 infantry fighting vehicle has a dual-weapon configuration including a 40mm automatic grenade launcher and a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. The fire support vehicle/mobile artillery platform can be fitted with a 105mm or 120mm main gun as required, and is unique in its main battle tank turret (with sloping fairing) and long main gun (with smoke vents).

The mortar carrier variant is equipped with a 120mm field mortar for indirect fire support to Allied infantry operations.

Except for the Taiwan Army, there are no other operators of the CM-32 series.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

Depends on variant. 10 x Smoke Grenade

Changes