M88A2 Hercules | |
| Country | USA |
| Type | Tank Recovery Vehicle |
Photo gallery of a M88A2 Hercules Recovery Vehicle, The M88 Recovery Vehicle is one of the largest armored recovery vehicles (ARV) currently in use by United States Armed Forces. There are currently three variants, the M88, M88A1 and M88A2 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System). The M88 series has seen action most noticeably 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. The current M88A2 replacement cost is around US$2,050,000. The M88A2 is slightly larger than its predecessors (8.6 x 3.7 x 3.2 m compared to 8.3 x 3.4 x 3.2 m) thus retains a lower top speed (40 km/h) and a significantly lower road range (322 km compared to 450 km). There have also been improvements in braking and steering. Additionally, the M88A2 has upgraded armor protection including armored track skirts and applique armor panels, which both previous models lack. The M88 is also lacking in Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) defenses and a smoke screen generator, which the later M88A1 and M88A2 models are equipped with. Furthermore, the crew number has decreased from 5, to 3-4, to 3 through the series
Source: M88A2 Hercules on Wiki
| M88A2 Hercules – WalkAround | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | John Heck |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 36 |
Buy Me a Coffee| M88A1G Bergepanzer Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Unknow |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 48 |
See also:
The Battlefield’s Tow Truck
The M88A2 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) is the unsung hero of the U.S. Army’s armored divisions. As Main Battle Tanks like the M1 Abrams grew heavier with added armor and technology, the older M88A1 recovery vehicles could no longer tow them alone without tandem efforts. The A2 HERCULES was the answer: a massive, up-armored, and high-torque beast capable of recovering a 70-ton tank under fire. It is essentially an armored powerhouse on tracks, designed to winch, lift, and tow the heaviest equipment in the world through the worst possible terrain.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (M88A2) |
|---|---|
| Role | Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV) |
| Crew | 3 (Commander, Driver, Mechanic) |
| Weight | 63.5 tonnes (70 tons) |
| Powerplant | Continental AVDS-1790-8CR V12 Air-Cooled Diesel |
| Horsepower | 1,050 hp |
| Main Winch Pull | 63,500 kg (140,000 lbs) constant pull |
| Boom Lift Capacity | 31,750 kg (35 tons) |
| Max Speed | 40–48 km/h (25–30 mph) / Towed: 25 km/h |
Design Engineering: Raw Torque and Hydraulic Might
- The Constant-Pull Winch: The HERCULES features a main winch with 280 feet of 1.5-inch cable. Unlike its predecessor, the A2’s winch provides a constant 140,000 lbs of pull, allowing it to drag a bogged-down Abrams out of deep mud without assistance.
- A-Frame Boom: The massive boom structure at the front can lift up to 35 tons, making it capable of removing an entire Abrams turret or power pack (engine/transmission) for field repairs.
- The “Spade” Anchor: To prevent the vehicle from being pulled toward the tank it is winching, the M88A2 features a large hydraulic spade on the front. This is lowered into the ground to anchor the vehicle, providing a solid platform for heavy lifts or pulls. It can also be used for light dozing.
- Armor Protection: The “A2” upgrade added significant armor plating to protect the crew from small arms fire and artillery fragments. Because recovery happens at the front lines, the HERCULES is built to survive the same “hot” zones as the tanks it rescues.
Combat Role: The Guardian of the Heavy Brigade
- The “Buddy” System: Before the HERCULES, it took two M88A1s to tow a single M1 Abrams. The A2 made the recovery team more efficient, allowing a single vehicle to perform a 1-to-1 tow of the world’s heaviest tank.
- Repair Shop on Tracks: The M88A2 doesn’t just tow; it carries a massive array of tools, spare parts, and an auxiliary power unit (APU) to provide electrical and pneumatic power for field repairs. It is essentially a mobile heavy-duty garage.
- Desert Storm and Beyond: While the A2 arrived toward the end of the Cold War, it proved its worth in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the weight of up-armored vehicles made traditional recovery nearly impossible without HERCULES’ raw power.
- Long Service Life: Despite being based on a chassis derived from the 1950s-era M60 tank, the HERCULES remains irreplaceable. It continues to be upgraded to keep pace with the ever-increasing weight of modern Main Battle Tanks.
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