M88A2 HERCULES Recovery Vehicle

The M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) Improved Recovery Vehicle is the recovery system of choice for today's 70-ton combat vehicles. With the lowest acquisition, operational and maintenance cost of any 70-ton capable recovery system, HERCULES answers the need for cost-effective, self-supporting heavy recovery performance.

The HERCULES has been the primary 70-ton recovery system during Operation Iraqi Freedom. And, U.S. troops found a few other creative uses for its capabilities when they used it to pull down the Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad on April 9, 2003.

HERCULES utilizes a hull designed for the recovery mission and thoroughly proven by U.S. Army testing. Stability and performance are unmatched by any alternate tank-based design. HERCULES offers operational and logistics commonality with the existing M88A1 fleet, simplifying training and parts availability. Key HERCULES upgrades include improved power-assisted braking, improved steering, improved electrical system and increased engine horsepower. HERCULES features overlay armor protection, ballistic skirts, a longer 35-ton boom, a 140,000-pound (63,504 kg) constant pull main winch with 280 feet of cable, and an auxiliary three-ton winch to aid main winch cable deployment. The M88A2 HERCULES is the world's recovery champion.