Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1528235
8 engine with the more powerful AVSI1790-6 used in the M51 heavy ARV, which was designed to support the M103 heavy tanks. The AVSI1790-6 was the most powerful engine available to the US at the time, so it was decided to install it in subsequent T88 prototypes. Meanwhile, the concept of a main battle tank (MBT) that would replace both medium and heavy tanks emerged in the form of the XM60 tank, which would later become the M60. Bowen-McL- aughlin, now known as Bowen-McLaughlin York Company (BMY), received a contract to produce 1,075 M88 ARVs between 1960 and 1964. These vehicles were equipped with the AVSI1790-6 gasoline engines, which generated 980 HPs and were paired with XT1 400-2 transmissions. The crew consisted of four soldiers: a commander, driver, mechanic, and winch operator, who was responsible for se- curing the winch or crane cables to the vehicle being recovered. For self-defense, the vehicle was equipped with an M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun mounted on the commander's observation cupola. In addition to this cupola with a hatch, there were hatches for the other three crew members, and large armored doors were installed on the sides of the superstructure. The recovery equipment consisted of a hydraulically operated blade at the front of the hull, a main winch, and an A-shaped cra- ne with its own winch. The main winch had a capacity of 40.82 tons, while the crane winch had a capacity of 22.67 tons. The main winch used a cable that was 60.96 meters long and 31.75 mm in diameter, while the crane winch used a 15.87 mm four-part cable. Additionally, the vehicle was equipped with a 10 HP gasoline- -powered auxiliary generator and a heater inside the crew cabin. The radio was installed on a shelf on the right side of the hull. It's worth noting that the vehicle's armor was thickened to between 19 mm and 38 mm. The main issue with the M88 was its engine – while the gasoline engine provided sufficient power, it consumed too much fuel. At the same time, vehicles with diesel engines, such as the M60 MBTs, were entering service. BMY develo- ped a variant designated the M88A1, which was essentially identical to the M88 except for the powertrain. It featured a diesel engine, the AVDS1790-2DR, paired with an XT1410- 4 transmission. The auxiliary generator was also replaced with a 10.2 HP diesel unit, and the air heater was switched to a diesel-powered model. The AVDS1790-2DR engine was a 12-cylinder, V-type diesel engine with a turbocharger, producing 750 HP and 2135 Nm of torque at 2400 RPM, with a compression ratio of 16:1. While the M88A1 was considered sufficient to support the M60 family of tanks, in the 1980s, a problem arose with the introduction of the heavier M1 family of tanks. The main issue was the M88A1's weight – the recovery vehicle couldn't be lighter than the vehicle it was towing, as this could make ma- neuvering difficult and lead to dangerous situations, espe- cially on inclines greater than 10%. Consequently, it became standard practice to tow one tank with two M88A1 vehicles. M88 during the evacuation of a damaged M113. Thanks to the crane, the M113 could be easily placed on a low-bed trailer. Photo: Lt. Berry, Official US Army photo VEHICLES