WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM 73units. The design of this vehicle was based
on the chassis and parts of the automotive
components of the M48 and M60 Patton
tanks. The original M88 was introduced in
1961, M88A1 in 1977, with the current M88A2
introduced in 1997. Originally manufactured
by Bowen McLaughlin York (later the BMY
division of Harsco Corporation) in 1961, the
company would later merge with FMC Corp.
to form the United Defence Industries in 1994,
which was in turn acquired by BAE Systems
in 2005 to become BAE Systems Land and
Armaments. In February 2008 the company
was awarded contract from the US Army to
manufacture ninety Army-configured M88A2s,
four United States Marine Corps-configured
M88A2s and an authorised spares list
The M88’s primary role is to repair orreplace damaged parts in fighting vehicles
while under fire, as well as extricate vehicles
that have become bogged down or entangled.
The main winch on the M88A2 is capable of
a seventy-ton, single line recovery, and a 140-
ton 2:1 recovery when used with the 140-ton
pulley. The A-frame boom of the A2 can lift
thirty-five tons when used in conjunction
with the spade down. The spade can be used
for light earth moving and can be used to
anchor the vehicle when using the main winch.
The M88 employs an Auxiliary Power Unit
(APU) to provide auxiliary electrical andm88 (ARV)
Maintenance ManualTHE ORIGINAL M88 PRODUCED FROM 1960 TO 1964 USED THE CONTINENTAL
AVSI-1790-6A GASOLINE ENGINE RATED AT 980 HP AT 2800 RPM