The M88 was initially built by Bowen McLaughlin in 1961. The design of the vehicle was based on the chassis and automotive components of the M48 Patton and M60 tanks. In 1994, the United Defense Industries took over production of the M88s. In 2005, BAE systems began assembling the M88. To date, over 1,690 M88s in all variants have been produced. The primary role of the M88 is to repair fighting vehicles, while under fire, and extract bogged down or entangled vehicles.
The M88 is one of the heaviest armored recovery vehicles in the world. There are three variants, the M88, (introduced in 1961), the M88A1, (1977) and the M88A2 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System), introduced in 1997. The M88 series has seen action in the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. During the Kosovo War allied armored units greatly depended on the M88A2 to recover heavy armored vehicles.
