More Hercules for the Abrams

"Army Agency has signed a contract for the transportation of additional logistical safety for M1A1 and M1A2 tanks, including the Hercules method safety and Service Workshops", Deputy Minister of National Defence Paweł Bejda reported in social media. M88A2 Hercules is now the most powerful vehicle of this kind in the Polish army.

The agreement concluded present by the Armed Forces Agency amounts to about $100 million and concerns the transportation of eleven method safety Vehicles (WZT) M88A2 Hercules and a twelve repair and maintenance workshops. The equipment is to be sent to Polish soldiers by 2029.

M88A2 Hercules produced by American company BAE strategy Inc. is simply a virtually "Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System". The caterpillar vehicle weighs more than 63 tonnes, is 8,5 m long, 3.6 m wide and is 3,12 m high. As the only method safety vehicle operated by Polish soldiers, he is able to evacuate from the battlefield the heaviest tanks (70 tons), including Abramsy M1A2 SEPv3. M88A2 Hercules is powered by a 1050 hp motor Continental AVDS-1790-8CR engine. It has a 35-ton boom, a main winch with a fixed haul (70 tons) and an auxiliary (3 tons). The vehicle carries a crew of three: the commander, operator and mechanic. In addition, it has space for 4 soldiers from a secured vehicle.