SMF - Just Installed!
TADTE 2019: Taiwan advances Mobile Mortar System development15 August 2019The MMS is a self-contained, electro-mechanical turntable mount that can be armed with an 81 mm or 120 mm smoothbore mortar. The system, which is being developed by the MPC's 202nd Arsenal to meet a potential self-propelled mortar system requirement from the Republic of China Army (RoCA), features a specially designed hydraulic buffer assembly capable of attenuating recoil loads by up to a claimed reduction of 70%.
The armor of the CM-32 provides protection against firing of small arms of 7.62mm AP caliber all-around the vehicle and 12.7mm AP at the front. The CM-32 vehicle features an integrated, V-shaped, monocoque armored hull structure.The mortar carrier variant of the CM-32 has a semi-automatic 81mm mortar system mounted inside of the vehicle that can fired through a two-part opening in the roof. The mortar unit is equipped with electro-servo control system and advance firing control modules. It features automatic fire control and fire direction functions. In addition, the low recoil mechanism reduces recoil force effectively and enhance firing stability.For its self-protection, the mortar vehicle is fitted with a remotely controlled weapon station which is mounted on the roof hull, back of the driver position. This weapon station is armed with a 7.62mmm machine gun.
The 120mm self-propelled mortar carrier variant in the CM-32 family of 8x8 armored vehicles was unveiled by the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense's Material Production Center during the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) in August 2019.The CM-32 Yunpao (Cloud Leopard in English) is an 8×8 armored personnel carrier manufactured by the Ordnance Readiness Development Centre in Nantou for the Taiwanese Army. The vehicle was originally designed by Timoney Technology of Ireland. The development of the CM-32 started in 2002 and three prototypes were delivered in January 2005. In 2007, serial production has been launched.The layout of the CM-32 is divided into three main parts with the driver at the front left of the hull and the power pack to his right. A remote weapon station is mounted at the rear of the driver position armed with a 7.62mm machine gun. The 120mm mortar weapon station is mounted inside of the hull at the rear of the vehicle.The CM-32 has ballistic protection able to withstand firing of 12.7mm machine guns at the front while the hull provides all-round protection for crew and troops against the firing of small arms 7.62mm ammunition. The vehicle is based on a V-shaped hull design providing protection against mine blast and explosion of up to 12 kg TNT under any wheel.The CM-32 mortar carrier is fitted with the Israeli-made Soltam M120 mortar which has a range of 7.2 km and can fire different types of ammunition including high explosive, smoke, illumination and precision-guided munitions. The 120mm mortar is mounted on a turntable in the rear of the hull that fires to the rear through an opening in the roof covered by a two-part hatch. All the firing operations can be performed from inside of the vehicle.
30 June 2020Kongsberg, Patria team up on 120 mm Nemo turret for US marketKongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Patria are joining forces to push turreted mortar programmes inside the United States, and are eyeing various avenues for outfitting US Army Stryker and Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) fleets with Patria’s 120 mm Nemo (New Mortar) turret.
