life by decades, and these vehicles are proving their usefulness
due to a well-thought-out design that is also amenable to further
modernization.
In total, around 1690 units of all M88 variants have been produced,
meaning these vehicles will continue to serve in many countries
worldwide for a long time. The US military will likely retire the M88
only after the implementation of a new main battle tank being
developed under the working codenames OMT/DLP (Optionally
Manned Tank/Decisive Lethality Platform), based on which a new
ARV may eventually be developed. However, the expected time for
introducing the new tank is post-2030, and the full replacement
of both M1 tanks and M88 ARV's in service will take many years,
possibly more than a decade from the introduction of new vehicles
into serial production.
The M88A1 is considered a medium MBT intended to support vehicles
lighter than main battle tanks, in this case the M992A2 armored artillery
ammunition carrier.
M88A1 armoured recovery vehicle in the Bundeswehr version,
designated Bergepanzer 1.
The M88A1 is still in use today and took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom.The
vehicle in the photo has a ballistic shield used in M113 family transporters.
Photo:Alfred Johnson, U.S. Army Photo: Hohum
Photo: baku13
M88
HERCULES
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