Kinmen’s Secret Tank 金門的秘密坦克

As I mentioned before, my first trip to Kinmen 金門 was good, but it was long before Google Maps, widespread internet information, and Instagram. I enjoyed myself, but I really had to get back.

So I went back in the fall of 2016. And I really did a better job of exploring the awesome island, with a little help from friends, of course.

While I was in Kinmen, an Instagram friend contacted me and said, I know of a thing that you may be interested in seeing, but you can only see it during low tide. I was like, Oh yeah, I gotta see that. I didn’t even know what it was and said to send me the info.

Well, as you can tell, it was for an old beached M18 Hellcat tank.

These tanks were sold to the Republic of China and used in the defense of Kinmen. I am not sure how this tank actually got stuck on the beach or when. It could have gotten stuck in the sand and left, or maybe used for a decoy. I’m not really sure how.

To see the tank, you have to go to Oacuo Sandy Beach 歐厝沙灘 during low tide. I went during sunrise and really liked that time because there were people working on the beach with me and no one else.

To check out the tide schedule you can check here Chinese only though.

https://www.cwb.gov.tw/V8/C/M/Fishery/tide_30day_MOD/T902001.html

You have to walk along the beach for a bit, but you can watch the fishers as you walk and enjoy the sunrise.

I returned to Kinmen in April 2022 and of course, returned to check out the tank.

Also at the beach, there must have been a wharf or some kind of refueling station. There are old oil cans very close to the tank.

Kinmen was really turned into an island fortress, and every beach is still covered in anti-landing spikes. They are especially cool at Aocuo Beach.

If you walk up the dunes you can get good views of the beach.

Another bonus of going to see the tank is that you can see fishers digging for clams.

This tank is quite popular on Instagram now and pretty easy to find. Remember that you have to go during low tide though. And remember that there is a bit more to enjoy at the beach than the tank. Go at low tide and say hi!

Bonus tanks!!

Unfortunately, this tank is no longer in this spot. The army moved it because they wanted to use this land again. I read that it is an M-41D, but I was told on YouTube that it is an M-41A3. Anyway, it is some kind of Walker Bulldog tank. It was most likely broken but still capable of firing; therefore, it was put near this bunker for added protection.

The next tank is an M42 duster. It was an anti-aircraft tank. I originally didn’t know of this one. I just happened to find it while checking out one of Kinmen’s many abandoned beach forts.

The back.

The beach fort is at Jimingshan 雞鳴山, although I am not sure if the tank is still there. It looks like the military is doing some work in this area as well.

The third bonus tank was inside the wall and beach fort at Chenggong Beach 成功海防坑道.

Part of this coastal defences at Chenggong Beach 成功海防坑道.

There are, or at least were a couple more tanks that I couldn’t find. Hopefully, they are still there and whenever I return to Kinmen I can find them and Say hi!