*This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(tm) Pro*
The original M88 came into the Army inventory in February 1961. The mission
of the developers/designers was to have as many parts on the M88 in common
with the M48 MBT as possible. The original M88s had a 980 horsepower
gasoline engine.
In 1973, an M88 was outfitted with the M60 diesel engine, producing 750
horsepower. A better transmission was added, as well a crew heater, and an
auxiliary power unit (the famous "little joe").
The first of these M88A1's rolled off the production lines in 1975.
Engines got bigger and better over time.
When the M1 (and eventually the M1A1 and M1A1 Heavy Armor, and M1A2) came
out, the armor community knew it had a problem. The tanks were MUCH heavier
than the recovery vehicle. This was a safety problem when towing, which was
fixed in the field by placing an M88 in the front and rear of the M1 when
towing so that the M1 didn't end up pushing the tow vehicle.
The M88A2 was developed to solve this problem and come up with a state of the
art recovery vehicle. More weight, more protection for the crew, better
sights for the crew, bigger engine, more boom capacity, etc. It is however,
a product improved M88A1, not a completely new vehicle on the M1 chassis.
You can see pics and a description at these web sites.
<A
HREF="http://knox-www.army.mil/school/tid/dli/accc%5Frc/equipment/m88a1e1%5Fhe
rcules%5Frecovery%5Fvehicl.htm">M88A1E1 Hercules Recovery Vehicle</A>
<A HREF="http://knox-www.army.mil/gmd/gmd_ie/photos2.htm">Armor Conference
Photos</A>
The vehicle that some may be thinking of on an M1 chassis is the new bridging
vehicle which is replacing the AVLB which came on a M48 and M60 chassis.
Doc
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Feb 21 2000 - 18:15:10 PST