Russia Captures US M88A2 Recovery Vehicle and Deploys It Against Ukrainian Forces.

The U.S.-manufactured M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle has been captured by Russian forces in Ukraine and is currently in service with Russian engineering troops.

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The M88A2 Hercules is a heavily armored recovery vehicle. (Picture source: Russian Media)

Initially built to assist American forces, the Hercules was designed for heavy recovery operations, primarily to retrieve immobilized or damaged vehicles from the battlefield. Based on the M60 tank chassis, it is capable of towing or lifting armored vehicles like the Abrams tank, weighing up to 70 tons. For recovery tasks, it has a main winch with a 70-ton pulling capacity and a 35-ton lifting arm, making it a crucial asset for maintenance and logistics in combat environments.

In 2023, the United States sent eight M88A2 units to Ukraine to bolster its capabilities for recovering damaged vehicles, an essential support in combat scenarios where tanks and other armored vehicles can quickly be disabled. However, two of these M88A2 vehicles were destroyed by Russian forces, while the remaining units are actively used to evacuate and repair Ukrainian armored equipment.

The Hercules vehicles are therefore critically important to the Ukrainian army, enabling them to restore heavy equipment, including advanced tanks supplied by Western allies, and return them to the front lines. The M88A2, with its armor capable of withstanding 30mm rounds and its mobility (up to 450 km of range), is proving essential in sustaining operational capabilities in the field.

The Hercules is equipped with a hydraulic system for all recovery operations. (Picture source: Russian Media)

The M88A2 Hercules is a heavily armored recovery vehicle, built to support combat units by towing, lifting, and repairing the heaviest vehicles, including modern tanks. Weighing a total of 63,500 kg, it is fully protected by steel armor, providing ballistic threat resistance along with NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical) protection for its crew. The crew consists of three members—a commander, an operator, and a mechanic—and it can accommodate up to four members of the recovered vehicle's crew.

The Hercules is equipped with a hydraulic system for all recovery operations, including a powerful main winch capable of pulling 70 tons over a distance of 85.3 meters, allowing it to clear blocked or damaged vehicles on the battlefield. Additionally, a 3-ton auxiliary winch facilitates the deployment of the main cable, while its lifting arm can support up to 35 tons, enabling it to right overturned vehicles or replace heavy components such as tank turrets.

In terms of mobility, the Hercules reaches a maximum speed of 48 km/h, and its 1,050-horsepower engine allows it to tackle 60% gradients and cross trenches up to 2.6 meters wide. This all-terrain unit has an impressive range of 483 km, crucial for long support missions in hostile environments. Its auxiliary power unit (APU) also provides energy autonomy for refueling and fuel transfer operations, ensuring its support role even in challenging operational conditions.

This vehicle is currently active in the U.S. Army, the Marine Corps, and other foreign armies, testifying to its reliability and effectiveness in military operations. However, it is now also in service with Russian forces. Although this does not signify a turning point in the conflict, it is nonetheless notable that more and more American equipment is being repurposed by Russian forces—news that is unlikely to please U.S. forces, though it is likely a calculated risk. The future utilization of this vehicle by Russian forces remains to be seen.

The US M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle is in service with Russian engineering troops. (Picture source: Russian Media)