Poland receives first 3 US BAE Systems M88A2 armored recovery vehicles.

On June 30, 2023, Poland welcomed, according to a tweet from BAE Systems, the arrival of the three first M88A2 armored recovery vehicles, signaling further reinforcement of the Polish armored armed forces. Designed to enhance the armored formations of the Polish army, these vehicles will improve vehicle recovery and support operations.
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M88A2 "HERCULES" armored recovery vehicle (Picture source : BAE Systems )

BAE Systems announced that three M88A2 vehicles had indeed arrived in Poland, and these vehicles will enhance vehicle recovery and support operations. The arrival of these vehicles follows the contract won by the British company, as Army Recognition had already reported on December 26, 2022.

The M88A2 HERCULES is an upgraded version of the heavy armored recovery vehicle M-88 and M88A1. While the M88A1 was primarily intended for the M60 series tank, the M88A2 is focused on the Abrams tank. This upgrade was carried out in response to a request from the US Army to safely tow and recover damaged, stuck, or out-of-service Abrams main battle tanks.

The M88A2 HERCULES, using modified M88A1 hulls, improves the basic chassis of the M88 to meet the increased requirements for towing, winching, and lifting the M1, M1A1, and M1A2 tanks. The M88A2 HERCULES is a fully tracked, steel-armored, combat-proven recovery vehicle capable of performing lifting, winching, and towing operations for today's heaviest combat systems. It is equipped to assist in the repair of disabled vehicles in general terrain conditions and to recover vehicles under enemy fire.

It is equipped with a single turret armed with a 12.7 mm caliber M2 machine gun and six electrically operated smoke grenade launchers. The vehicle benefits from overhead protection, ballistic skirts, and NBC protection for the face mask. Its spaced armor hull provides ballistic protection against direct fire up to 30 mm caliber and shell fragments up to 152 mm. The crew of the M88A2 HERCULES consists of three members: the commander, the operator, and the mechanic, with storage space for four members of the recovered vehicle.

In terms of mobility, the M88A2 HERCULES has a suspension similar to that of the M60 tank, including six road wheels with the drive sprocket at the rear and the idler wheel at the front. Hydraulic shock absorbers are provided for the first, second, and sixth road wheels. The 1,050 hp AVDS-1790-8CR diesel engine, coupled with an Allison XT-1410-5A transmission, propels the vehicle. The M88A2 can reach a maximum road speed of 48 km/h with a maximum range of 483 km. Ballistic skirts are also installed on the upper part of the suspension.

The introduction of the M88A2 armored recovery vehicles underscores Poland's commitment to modernize its military infrastructure and strengthens its position as a key player in regional security. As the Polish army continues to prioritize the improvement of its armored formations.

The arrival of the three M88A2 vehicles in Poland is an interesting development. The versatility of the M88A2 allows it to recover and provide support to all types of vehicles in the Polish army's inventory, but specifically to the Abrams tanks recently acquired by Poland. This acquisition demonstrates Poland's commitment to maintaining a well-equipped military force prepared to face current geopolitical challenges.