Australia bought six M88A2 HERCULES heavy recovery vehicle 82404172

Defense & Security News - Australia
 
Australia bought six M88A2 HERCULES heavy recovery vehicle
Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the delivery of the HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) vehicles is critical to ensure the safe and effective operation of Australia’s Abrams Main Battle Tank capability. Since their delivery to Defence, all six vehicles have been accepted into service, painted in Australian camouflage and sent to their units.
     
Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the delivery of the HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) vehicles is critical to ensure the safe and effective operation of Australia’s Abrams Main Battle Tank capability. Since their delivery to Defence, all six vehicles have been accepted into service, painted in Australian camouflage and sent to their units.
BAE M88A2 HERCULES (source: BAE Systerm)
     
The M88A2 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) is an improved version of the M-88 and M88A1 heavy armoured recovery vehicle. The M88A2 HERCULESis the successor vehicle to the M88A1, which had only a recovery capability of 56 tons. The M88A1’s mission was focused on the M60 Series tank while the M88A2 is focused on the Abrams tank. The M88A2 can refuel Abrams tanks from its own fuel tanks. The M88A2 HERCULES has a longer 35-ton boom, a 63,504 kg constant pull main winch with 85 m of cable and an auxiliary 3-ton winch to aid main winch cable deployment. The main winch on the M88A2 is capable of a 70-ton, singleline recovery, allowing the M88A2 HERCULES to provide recovery of the 70- ton M1A2 Abrams tank.