M88A2 HERCULES

M88A2 HERCULES
M88A2 HRV ( H eavy R ecovery V ehicle)
General properties
crew	3 (commander / gunner, driver, pioneer)
length	8270 mm (with crane boom in transport position)
width	3430 mm
height	3130 mm
Dimensions	70 tons
Armor and armament
Main armament	1 × 12.7 mm M2 machine gun (1300 rounds)
Secondary armament	no
agility
drive	12-cylinder diesel air-cooled 1050 hp (783 kW) at 2400 rpm
suspension	Torsion bar
Top speed	56 km / h
Power / weight	16.5 hp / ton
Range	Max. 300 miles (520 km)

The M88A2 HERCULES "Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System" is an armored recovery vehicle for the US Army that was introduced in 1997. It is the successor model of the M88A1E1 Improved Recovery Vehicle and arose out of the need to replace the armored recovery vehicles in use, as these were overwhelmed with the M1 Abrams tank. It is based on the proven chassis of the M88A1 , but has significantly improved lifting, pulling and driving properties compared to its predecessor.

description

The general contractor for the production of the vehicles is the United Defense, Ground Systems Division in York ( Pennsylvania ). The production of the 1st construction lot began on September 9, 1994, with a follow-up order on December 2, 1994. The work was carried out by “United Defense” and the “Anniston Army Depot” (ANAD) in Anniston ( Alabama ). M88 chassis were modified and strengthened in order to adapt them to the requirements of the M1 Abrams tanks. The main focus was on the recovery facility, which has been significantly strengthened. The extended A-crane boom now has a 40% increased lifting capacity of 35 tons and the pulling winch brings a constant pull of 31.5 tons in a single strand, which means an increase of 55%. The winch cable has a length of 85.3 meters. There is now an externally attached auxiliary winch with a pulling force of 3 tons on the front. The vehicle has an improved hydraulic system, a stronger drive and a modified suspension of the drive.

The armor protection has also been improved, thereby increasing the operating weight. The increase in weight led to better traction and thus eliminated the problem that chains often slipped when the ground conditions were unfavorable, especially during steering movements, which was a constant nuisance for the team. The increase in engine power now enables towing power to be increased by 25% and a higher cruising speed. The latter had become necessary in order to be able to keep up with the modern battle tanks. Due to the installation of improved and more extensive technology, the crew was reduced from one to three men for reasons of space.

The Hercules armored recovery vehicle is part of the Forward Support Company (FSC) Combat Repair Team (CRT), which ensures the organization and direct repairs in the emergency companies. The vehicle is one of the available technical facilities that enable the CRT to reach and bring damaged vehicles, where repairs are carried out either by the Forward Repair System or in the Task Force Support Area (TFSA) Unit Maintenance Collection Point becomes.

use

The first vehicles received the US Army on July 11, 1997, when eight vehicles to units of "1st Cavalry Division" (1st Cavalry Division) in Fort Hood ( Texas were delivered), where the Armor School of the US armed forces is. The "1st Cavalry Division" received a total of 46 vehicles. Among the first units to receive the new armored recovery vehicle were the 3rd Squadron, the “8th Cavalry Regiment” and the “215th Forward Support Battalion” (FSB), which received eight and one vehicle, respectively. The “First Unit Equipped” (FUE) rating included a critical moment for material and development. For the Hercules, the FUE was successfully completed on July 31, 1997 after the units concerned had completed a two and a half week training program “New Equipment Training” (NET) at the “Ordnance Center and School” (OC&S). The cost of the modernization was $ 2.05 million per vehicle.

The following were equipped:

• Tank battalions with 7 vehicles each
• Squadrons of the cavalry regiments 7 vehicles each
• Squadrons of cavalry divisions 5 vehicles each
• Tank pioneer battalions with 2 vehicles each
• Forward Support Battalion 1 vehicle each

This gives a total of 629 tanks.

According to the planned "Force XXI" program, the following changes are pending:

• Forward Support Company (FSC) of the tank battalions with 6 vehicles each
• Base Support Company (BSC) 4 vehicles each
• Division Support Battalion 1 vehicle each
• Aviation Support Battalion Division 1 vehicle each
• Regimental Cavalry Squadron 7 vehicles each
• Division Cavalry Squadron 5 vehicles each

Then only 605 vehicles are required.

Improvements

Agility:

• Higher travel speed - 24% with and 14% without towing load
• 20 - 25% better braking performance by installing a brake booster
• 20 - 25% better climbing ability

Recovery facility:

• about 25% higher towing power
• about 55% higher winch pulling force
• around 40% higher crane performance
• Improved fine control options for winch and crane

Problem and comparison with other armored recovery vehicles

Problems

Traction

The greatest deficiency of the previous armored recovery vehicle was its low traction on damp or muddy ground: An Abrams battle tank could only be towed with it if its service brake was ready for use. Several attempts were therefore initially made to remedy this problem and to retrofit the vehicles.

In the M88A2 Traction Enhancement Test, engineers from the “HERCULES Program Managers office” (ATC) and the “United Defense Limited Partnership” (UDLP) were tasked with finding solutions to improve the traction of the M88A2 HERCULES. To this end, several changes were made to the chassis and the trailer coupling for the tow fork was relocated. These changes had become necessary to both reduce the slipping of the chains and to prevent the rear end from touching down when driving uphill. Various improvements were investigated and tested at the Churchville Test Area (CTA) in Churchville, Maryland .

As a result of the tests, the HERCULES received approval on August 10, 1998 as a single vehicle for towing combat vehicles of the 70 ton class.

Main winds

To protect the main winch from damage, there were five microswitches as sensors for the emergency shutdown system. Nevertheless, there were repeated technical failures shortly after the handover to the troops; in both Fort Hood and Kuwait . Therefore a commission of inquiry was formed to find the causes. The commission was composed of employees of the manufacturing company and members of government agencies. It was found that there was no really functioning rope tensioning device and that the winch rope was therefore not unwound under pretension. As a result, the unwinding speed of the winch drum was higher than that of the rope tensioning device located at the outlet opening. This resulted in "slack rope" and tangles on the winch drum, which led to the winch failing. The commission found four different ways to solve the problem. It was finally decided to reduce the turning speed of the main winch.

Comparison with other armored recovery vehicles

The vehicle is at a severe disadvantage compared to the armored recovery vehicles of the allied armed forces. In contrast to the Char de Dépannage DNG / DCL and the Bergepanzer Büffel with a load over 6 t attached, it cannot be swiveled sideways (even with loads under 6 t and a raised support shield, sideways swiveling in the fine range is very difficult). Likewise, no replacement engine can be carried on the engine cover plate.

Technical data of the M88A2

• Crane output: 35 t
• Winch output: approx. 70 t in double strand
• Combined 3-speed automatic control and brake transmission
• Two hydraulic coolers
• Maximum speed while cruising : 56 km / h
• Maximum speed in towing: 29 - 42 km / h
• Tank capacity: 400 gallons (1515 liters)
• Fuel consumption: 93 liters per 100 km at 28 km / h
• Wading ability without preparation: 56 inches (approx. 1.42 m)
• Wading ability with preparation: 102 inches (approx. 2.59 m)
• Gradeability: 60%
• Trench crossing ability: 103 inches (approx. 2.62 m)
• Crane output with the blade raised: 6 t
• Crane performance with the blade lowered, crane rope sheared four times: 35 t
• Height of the crane boom with a 2.4 m radius: 6.75 m
• Height of the crane boom with a 1.2 m radius: 7.5 m

Users

•  United States
•  Egypt (21 units)
•  Australia (7 units)
•  Iraq (16+ units)

Footnotes

1. ↑ The maximum load is always assumed here
2. ↑ Compared to the previous performance!
3. ↑ The rope tensioning device consists of two hydraulically driven pulleys in front of the main winch, between which the winch rope is clamped and which keep the rope under tension when it is unwound
4. ↑ ^{a b} Source: Info from deagel.com
5. ^ BAE Systems Building Recovery Vehicles for Iraq. BAE Systems, October 8, 2012, accessed March 3, 2013 . 

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