M88 Recovery Vehicle

The M88 Recovery Vehicle is one of the largest armored recovery vehicles (ARV) in use by United States Armed Forces. There are three variants, the M88, the M88A1, and the M88A2 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System). The M88 series has seen action in the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan, and to a lesser extent during the Kosovo War, where they were deployed to help recover heavy armored vehicles of the Allied ground units. As of 2000, the M88A2 replacement cost was around US$2,050,000.[1]

M88 Recovery Vehicle
An original baseline M88 (Bergepanzer 1) ARV of the German Army on static display at the German Tank Museum outside Munster, Germany.
TypeArmored recovery vehicle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1961–present
Used bySee operators
WarsArab–Israeli conflict
Vietnam War
Lebanese Civil War
Persian Gulf War
Kosovo War
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
DesignerBowen McLaughlin York (BMY)
Designed1959
ManufacturerBMY (1961–1994)
United Defense and Anniston Army Depot (1994–2005)
BAE Systems Land and Armaments (since 2005)
Unit costUS$2,050,000
Produced1961–present
No. built1690 (all variants)
VariantsSee variants
Specifications
MassM88/M88A1: 50.8 t (112,000 lb)
M88A2: 63.5 t (140,000 lb)
Length27.13 ft (8.27 m)
Width11.25 ft (3.43 m)
Height10.25 ft (3.12 m)
Crew3
ArmorHull and cab armored to protect against small-arms fire up to 30mm direct fire weapons
Main
armament
M2 .50 cal heavy MG with 1,300 rounds
Engine•M88/M88A1: Continental (now L-3 CPS) AVDS-1790-2DR V12, air-cooled Twin-turbo diesel engine
•M88A2: Continental AVDS-1790-8CR, V12 air-cooled Twin-turbo diesel engine
M88/M88A1: 750 hp (560 kW)
M88A2: 1,050 hp (780 kW)
TransmissionTwin Disc XT-1410-5A cross-drive (3 speed forward, 1 speed reverse)
SuspensionTorsion bar suspension
Ground clearance17 in (0.43 m)
Operational
range
M88/M88A1: 450 km (280 mi)
M88A2: 322 km (200 mi)
Maximum speed M88/M88A1: 42 km/h (26 mph)
M88A2: 48 km/h (30 mph)

History

Design

The design of this vehicle was based on the chassis and parts of the automotive component of the M48 Patton and M60 tanks. The original M88 was introduced in 1961, M88A1 in 1977, and the current M88A2 introduced in 1997.[1]

Development

It was originally manufactured by Bowen McLaughlin York, later the BMY division of Harsco Corporation, in 1961. The company later merged with FMC Corp. to form the United Defense Industries in 1994. United was acquired by BAE Systems in 2005 to become BAE Systems Land and Armaments. In February 2008 BAE was awarded a $185 million contract modification from the U.S. Army to manufacture 90 Army-configured M88A2s, four United States Marine Corps-configured M88A2s and authorized spares list parts.[2]

Role

The M88's primary role is to repair or replace damaged parts in fighting vehicles while under fire, as well as extricate vehicles that have become bogged down or entangled. The main winch on the M88A2 is capable of a 70-ton, single line recovery, and a 140-ton 2:1 recovery when used with the 140 ton pulley. The A-frame boom of the A2 can lift 35 tons when used in conjunction with the spade down. The spade can be used for light earth moving, and can be used to anchor the vehicle when using the main winch.[1]

The M88 employs an Auxiliary power unit (APU) to provide auxiliary electrical and hydraulic power when the main engine is not in operation. It can be used to slave-start other vehicles, provide power for the hydraulic impact wrench, as well as a means to refuel or de-fuel vehicles as required. The M88 series of vehicles can refuel M1 tanks from its own fuel tanks, but this is a last resort due to the possibility of clogging the AGT-1500's fuel filters. The fuel pump draws fuel from the bottom of the fuel cell, and with it, all of the sediment that has accumulated with time.[1]

Variants
  • M88 – 1961
  • M88A1 – 1977
  • M88A2 Hercules – 1991
  • M88A3 Hercules – future

All variants have a 12.7 mm M2 Browning .50 caliber machine gun, 432 mm ground clearance, 2.6 m fording depth, 1.1 m wall climb and 2.6 m trench crossing capabilities. There has been no major deviation in battlefield role through the M88 series. The later models are merely able to lift heavier loads. The M88A1 was designed around the now obsolete M60 Patton tanks, so it was in light of the fact that two M88A1s were required to tow the new M1 Abrams tank that the decision was made to upgrade to the M88A2 in 1991.[1]

The original M88 produced from 1960 to 1964 used the Continental AVSI-1790-6A gasoline engine. It had 980 HP at 2800 rpm, as well as a 10 HP gasoline auxiliary power unit.[3] The M88A1 was powered by the Continental AVDS-1790-2DR Diesel engine and had a 10 HP Diesel auxiliary power unit.[1]

While the original M88 and M88A1 are designated as a "Medium Recovery Vehicle", the M88A2, original designation being M88A1E1, is designated as "Heavy Recovery Vehicle". They are all similar in many fundamental ways. The later version is distinctly heavier at 70 tons, compared to the original 56 tons, and uses a different engine, an AVDS 1790-8CR with 1050 hp, compared to a Continental AVDS-1790-2DR, with 750 hp.[1]

The M88A2 is slightly larger than its predecessors, at 8.6 × 3.7 × 3.2 m compared to 8.3 × 3.4 × 3.2 m. It has a lower top speed (40 km/h) and a significantly lower road range at 322 km, compared to 450 km. There have been improvements in braking and steering. The M88A2 has upgraded armor protection including armored track skirts and applique armor panels, which both previous models lack. The later M88A1 and M88A2 models are equipped with Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) defenses and a smoke screen generator. The crew number decreased from 5, to 3–4, to 3 through the series.[1]

The M88A3 configuration features an upgraded powertrain, suspension and tracks, increasing the vehicle’s speed, survivability and reliability. The M88A3 features a seventh road wheel to reduce ground pressure and new hydropneumatic suspension units that enable the track to be locked out for greater control when recovering vehicles.

In February 2017, it was announced that the army had contracted BAE Systems Land and Armaments a $28 million contract modification for the procurement of 11 M88A2 recovery vehicles.[4]

Criticism
A M88 mired as it attempted to crest a hill in heavy rain during night training in Fort Hunter Liggett, California.

One of the main issues afflicting the M88A2 is a high rate of winch failures. The leading cause of these failures is operation of the winch without tension on the cable. This leads to "birdnesting" loose wrapping and bunching up of the cable.[1]

There is also concern with loss of tractive force when an M88A2 tows a heavy M1 Abrams on a slope in wet, muddy conditions. The M88A2 was extensively tested at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and in August 1998, was officially approved for the towing of 70-ton combat vehicles such as the M1 Abrams.[1]

Combat History

About 8 M88s were sent to Ukraine during Russo-Ukrainian War to repair its damaged tank and were used extensively in 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive[5].According to Oryx ,at least 2 M88A1s were destroyed by Russian troops.[6]

Operators
A map of M88 operators in red

Current operators

Former operators

Future operators

See also

Notes
  1. "M88's info and specs". Federation of American Scientists (FAS). 6 February 2000. Archived from the original on 29 January 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  2. "BAE Systems Awarded $185 Million Contract for M88A2 HERCULES Recovery Vehicles" (Press release). BAE Systems. 4 March 2008. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  3. Armored Recovery Vehicle, In service from 1961 - present.
  4. "U.S. Army purchases additional HERCULES vehicles". Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  5. https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_january_2023_global_security_army_industry/discover_u.s._m1a1_abrams_tanks_and_8_m88_arvs_for_ukraine.html
  6. https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-ukrainian.html
  7. "SIPRI arms transfer database". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011. Information generated on 21 June 2011
  8. "Army officially accepts new armoured vehicles". defenceconnect.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  9. "Australia – Heavy Armored Combat Systems | Defense Security Cooperation Agency". www.dsca.mil. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  10. "Regimento Mallet recebe M109 A5 + BR". Forte (in Portuguese). 15 October 2019.
  11. "DefesaNet - Brasil - EUA - Os EUA transferem 50 viaturas blindadas ao EB". defesanet.com.br. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  12. "Chegam finalmente ao Brasil os M109A5+BR modernizados pela BAE Systems".
  13. Recovery Vehicles for Iraq Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine - Defense-Aerospace.com, October 8, 2012
  14. "Z Marines do Wojska Polskiego. Abramsy już w kraju". defence24.pl (in Polish). 28 June 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  15. "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - M1A2S Saudi Abrams Main Battle Tanks and M88Al/A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift Evacuation System (HERCULES) Armored Recovery Vehicles (ARV)". Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  16. Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) – M1A2T Abrams Tanks and Related Equipment and Support
  17. Pike, John. "Turkey - Major Army Equipment". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  18. "Turkey Army Turkish Land Forces modern military equipment armoured vehicle . Equipements véhicules b - Army Recognition". Archived from the original on 11 March 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  19. Trevithick, Joseph (29 July 2020). "The Last Tank Has Left Marine Corps Base 29 Palms, Soon The Entire Service". The Drive. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  20. "Ukraine is getting a new heavy-duty armored vehicle to haul its damaged tanks off the battlefield, US officials say". Business Insider. Business Insider. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  21. Macias, Amanda. "U.S. will send Abrams tanks to Ukraine ahead of expected Russian offensive". CNBC. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  22. Zaloga, Steven J. (2003). Tank battles of the Mid-East Wars (2): The wars of 1973 to the present. Hong Kong: Concord Publications. p. 53. ISBN 962-361-613-9.
  23. Marlin Carlsen (20 April 2023). "MBTS Current Initiatives" (PDF) (Press release). Michigan Defense Exposition and APBI - PEO GCS and ACC-DTA. p. 24. Retrieved 24 May 2023.

References
  • Military Vehicles from World War I to the Present – Hans Halberstadt, 1998
  • Patton, A History of the American Medium Battle Tank, Vol. 1 – R.P. Hunnicutt, Presidio Press, 1984
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