Hercules’ to flex their muscles
THE six new M88A2 Hercules delivered to the Australian Army last year were accepted into service and sent to their armoured units last month.
The 64- tonne tracked Hercules ( Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) are manufactured by BAE Systems in Pennsylvania, US, and used primarily for battlefield rescue and recovery missions while under fire. The six new vehicles will complement the seven now in operation.
With overlay armour protection, ballistic skirts, a 35tonne boom, a 63- tonne constant- pull main winch with 85m cable, and an auxiliary three- tonne winch to aid main winch cable deployment, the M88A2 can winch inoperative M1A1 Abrams tanks.
Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said the delivery of the vehicles was critical to ensure the safe and effective operation of Australia’s battle tank capability.
“Valued at more than $ 58 million, the new armoured recovery vehicles will support units in Darwin and Townsville and operator and maintenance training at Puckapunyal and Bandiana,” he said.
“Pleasingly the maintenance, servicing and engineering support for this equipment will be delivered regionally by Joint Logistic Unit North in partnership with Broadspectrum, through the Defence Maintenance and Support Services Contract.”
The hull of the M88A2 is designed to offer protection against antipersonnel mines, artillery fragments and small arms fire of up to 30mm.
The vehicle is equipped with a .50 calibre machine gun and smoke screen generators for self- protection and carries a crew of three – commander, operator and mechanic, with compartment space for four members of a recovered vehicle.
The next key activity for the M88A2 is the refresh of the current fleet to be held in Darwin using experts from BAE Systems and contracted staff.