M88 Recovery Unit in Action

By Jim "Buck" Sorrenti Over the past few years I have written several articles featuring military recovery equipment for our Tow Industry Week readers. Here is a close-up look at a specialized recovery unit. The M88 is a very heavy-duty unit that is being used in the Middle East. Included here are photos of the unit at work in Afghanistan and Iraq. The M88 Recovery Vehicle is one of the largest all-weather armored recovery vehicles currently in use by U.S. Armed Forces. It is a full-tracked, armored vehicle that was the Army's primary heavy equipment recovery, combat utility lift, and evacuation system beginning in the Vietnam era. There are currently three models, the M88, M88A1 and M88A2 Hercules (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System). The M-88A1 was introduced to the Army and the Marine Corps in 1977. The M88A2 Hercules uses the M88A1 chassis but significantly improves towing, winching, lifting, and braking characteristics. The Hercules performs hoisting, winching and towing operations in support of battlefield rescue and recovery missions. The M88A2 Hercules is equipped with a 70-ton main winch, 35-ton hoist boom. 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 can lift 35 tons when used 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. The mountainous terrain of Afghanistan and desert terrain of Iraq can be challenging for some of the military's larger vehicles. Driving on narrow, unimproved roads all too often results in overturned vehicles from a variety of perils. When this happens, military recovery operators have to get those vehicles out. Military operators receive unique, hands-on training and learn how to recover vehicles in various situations using the M88 before they ever see action. They cover everything from drivers' training, preventive maintenance checks and services, vehicle rollovers, hasty recovery, to tandem recovery using an M984 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck. Students are able to put what they have learned to the test by performing recovery missions and scenarios they are likely to come across in a combat recovery situation. Combat doesn't get called on account of rain or poor field conditions, so training also consists of pulling an M88 Hercules out of mud and back to dry ground. The recovery operators have to wade out in knee-deep cold water, and sometimes partially submerge themselves to hook up the disabled vehicle. The heavy equipment used, such as the 140-pound snatch-block, which is used to hook the recovery vehicle to its cargo, doesn't make their lives any easier. Show Yours @ TIW Do you have a recovery to share with TIW readers? Send some pics and info to our Field Editor Jim "Buck" Sorrenti at jimchaos69@yahoo.com; your story may even be selected for print in American Towman magazine!