Inside the Chieftain's Hatch: M51 Heavy Recovery Vehicle

The M51 was the companion vehicle to the M103 heavy tank. This video, oddly, gives us the tour, inside and out, of the major parts of this purpose-built vehicle mainly used by the Marines, and now located at the US Army's Armor and Cavalry Collection in Ft Benning, GA.
Thanks to the ACC and the Patreons for making the trip possible.
ACC Facebook Page: / armorandcavalrycollection
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[@borisxanovavich4466]

"And then something happened." A good t-shirt slogan if I ever heard one.

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

C&R have tees up right now. Crozier is back on screen.

[@buaidhnobas1ify]

As a kid growing up in the sixties, I want to be a Tanker. Then I grew up to be 6'4". So watching you get around, I say that laughing, of course, I think I may not have liked it. I thank you for your service and for your bruising.

[@ironwolfF1]

Heh, I hear ya, I wanted to join the submarine service like my father, and his father before him. Yeah...two inches over the max allowable height; not gonna happen.

[@pouncepounce7417]

I am about the same dimensions, maybe a little wider in the shoulders and hips. I tried to get into an Leopard 1 on display (and legal to enter) and they had to pull me out of the hatch, I got official stuck and I am actual a little bit underweight for my height. I think you need to monitor your calorie intake very close and do a lot of yoga if you want to be an tanker at that height.

[@christianh4723]

With my "dimensions," the interior of any armored vehicle would feel like a luxury SUV... I ended up in the Ordnance Corps but never got to drive or ride in any heavy recovery vehicles like this one (ended up in a Light Infantry unit). Instead, my short legs were not an asset when you have to RUCK everywhere. Oh well, still rode comfortably in everything else when I got the chance.

[@jacktheaviator4938]

I have known some large tankers, they are on average MUCH bigger than the infantry.

[@buaidhnobas1ify]

@@jacktheaviator4938 There's a reason Tankers are big. Track adjustment. (mic drop)

[@bobsmith2815]

As one of those arcane WOs another function of the spade on M88 series is when lifting with the boom it takes the weight off the torsion bars to keep them from shattering don’t want the pack making any moves when you got hands and arms keeping hoses etc out of the way. The Hercules is a wonder piece of equipment that incorporates all our wish lists!

[@gusgone4527]

I hope the in-service vehicles are in better shape internally than the rust bucket used for this video.

[@31terikennedy]

As I remember it, the 88 can walk with the pack on the boom You would use the spade as an outrigger if you were making a max lift and didn't have to move.

[@31terikennedy]

M-88 boom capacity is 35 tons. A pack weight is 4 tons(?)

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

@@31terikennedy The requirement is that the 88 be able to move whilst holding an M1 turret.

[@31terikennedy]

@@TheChieftainsHatch yep agree, the 88 can walk with a substantial load. I'm recalibrating my estimate of a M-60 pack weight to around 4000 lbs. I was in when that M-51 was last overhauled. Tank companies would pull their own packs, with 88s, load them on a M-35 and ship to us (Direct Support) We would off load them with a 5 ton wrecker (M-816). We would then use the wrecker to replace the trans or the motor. Thank you for responding. I personally believe you save the reputation of the Sherman. Well done!

[@dylantegg5322]

If you want the story of the navy cross, his name is Harold Riensche, and reading either of the 'One-Man Stand' articles is a great telling of the tale, as well as just a good read in general.

[@ScottKenny1978]

Damnit, YT anti-bot must have yanked my comment where I linked to the NC citation... 😠😠😠😠

[@Wookie120]

When he slipped, that was going through my mind.."Keep three points of contact at all times when onboard a tank!" LOL

[@colbeausabre8842]

And wear your CVC if you are on the vehicle. In head vs steel - steel always wins

[@exactinmidget92]

We once got 2 wreckers stuck in the mud while trying to recover each other.

[@catfish552]

"...so we sent in another recovery vehicle. That sank into the swamp. So we sent in a third one. That burned down, fell over, *then* sank into the swamp..."

[@exactinmidget92]

@@catfish552 yeah pretty much. it all started when a humvee got stuck.

[@thhseeking]

@@catfish552 "But the fourth one stayed up!!". "And no singing!"

[@ScottKenny1978]

You got M88s stuck?!? That was some *serious* mud!

[@exactinmidget92]

@@ScottKenny1978 no not those. We had M984 Hemtt trucks.

[@pauld6967]

The 'Junk Drawer' is a fine, long-standing American tradition. In the home that I grew up in, it was the upper left-hand drawer at the end of the sink's countertop. In the current house, same. In the new house that I am moving to, I have already established the 'Junk Drawer' in the same location. Nothing like tradition. :-)

[@A.J.K87]

That's freaky. I'm Dutch and my junk drawer is in the exact same spot in my kitchen. I guess it's not an exclusively American tradition.

[@pauld6967]

@@A.J.K87 Perhaps it is just something hard-coded into our DNA. ;-) _"It's miscellaneous and not needed at this time? Throw it to the left."_

[@Voron_Aggrav]

@@A.J.K87 guess we took that with us when we colonised America, as I'm also dutch and my Left most Kitchen Drawer is also for oddments

[@Orinslayer]

Unfortunately we've filled up... all of our drawers throughout the house with junk.

[@mrb692]

The junk drawer should be the third drawer down kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqHRqZiag91-adE

[@johnrodgers4795]

Thank you for finally talking about recovery vehicles. While being assigned to the 14th Cav, I spend almost 3 years in an M74. The largest vehicle that we ever pulled out of the mud was a M48A2. However, not to brag, but on one occasion, Tank Company's M74 blew an engine (500 cu-in Ford V-8) while towing an M48 as it neared our billets in Bad Hersfeld. We hooked onto both of them and dragged them up the hill to the motor pool. Thank goodness for the 1st gear super low ratio. I never served on an M51 - or the M88 as that was still a gleam in the Ordinance's Eye

[@nathanhollingsworth413]

Earliest I got to drive was m578 VTR .. but spent plenty of time on a M88a1 crew

[@ditzydoo4378]

Love that the Ordnance branch's recovery vehicles are getting some love.. Lord knows the purse strings controlled by Congress seldom if ever do. The spade on the front of the vehicle is referred in the manual as an Earth-Anchor. It like it's M-74 and M-88 brothers can only use the earth-anchor to keep the vehicle in place while during winching operation's. The hydraulic cylinders and their mounting points are not designed to ever be used as a Dozer-Blade. Ask me how I know that... ^~^

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

How do you know that, Ditzy?

[@ditzydoo4378]

@@TheChieftainsHatch Had the unique privilege of repairing said M-88 in Vilseck (then) West Germany, when some bright spark... (who shall remain nameless ^~^ ) thought, I bet an M-88's Earth-Anchor would make a great ad-hock snow plow... 0~o It didn't end well... >~

[@Voron_Aggrav]

@@ditzydoo4378 sounds like Someone forgot it was supposed to go to the Army when designing that feature, I'd imagine you're not the Only one that had that experience with that malfunction

[@ditzydoo4378]

@@Voron_Aggrav no not the first... 0~o and definitely not the last... ^~^

[@lloydsimmons1906]

In Desert Strom we were constantly being tasked to use our 88 as a bulldozer. We even had to bury a dead bloated camel with it. We were also tasked with clearing abandoned cars off the road way using the spade. That was fun, as we got to do some monster truck style car crushing including a new looking Mercedes.

[@MoparNewport]

More recovery vehicles? YES PLEASE! Always wondered what you'd use to get a Tank out of the muck. As an auto mechanic, i did do several seasons as a helper for a couple different tow trucks, always impressive to see what they can pull off.

[@markcollins2666]

It used to be an Army occupation specialty, vehicle recovery specialist, AKA Mud Divers. I was an Army wheel and track mechanic, and went to school alongside them. There was one day in their training, where they had to fully submerge themselves in mud, to hook up to a vehicle to be recovered. And not just once, but all day long. In November, in Maryland, at the time. I remember thinking it must suck to be them, but they were proud as peacocks, swaggering on their march back to the barn.

[@doughudgens9275]

Inside filming is preferable for showing details: dark vehicle in the sun leads to camera exposure issues with washout. Inserts with details excellent. Sound good. Keep it up Chieftain!

[@jballew2239]

That comm set is a VRC-7, and is actually not that rare to find in the "boat anchor" side of the amateur radio community. The hardest thing to source are the "dogbone" interconnectors that go between the individual subassemblies of the set. A working set though is a very fun rig to play with.

[@colbeausabre8842]

AN-VRC-7 (ARMY-NAVY) Vehicle Mounted, Radio Frequencies, Communications (Transmit-Recieve) Set

[@stalkingtiger777]

Can I just say you're a very brave man for entering armored vehicles without head protection. I have hit my head on sharp corners more than I can count.

[@ianjardine7324]

As a former REME recovery mechanic I'm impressed with the condition of a vehicle that's been out of service for four decades some of the old CHARRV'S that were still being used when I joined looked worse than this and from mates who had to struggle with them were absolute pigs to maintain making me immensely proud of my shiny CRARRV.

[@timothyfricker7413]

Small winch on the M 51 was probably used for paying out the large winch cable because you really don't want to be pulling a tonne of cable by hand through deep mud it's not fun

[@beardenstine]

As a 6'2 tank mechanic, your blooper of you getting into the crane operators seat is too relatable

[@sketchesofpayne]

5:08 lol. I can imagine that, hidden in the back of some requisition catalog, you can get the bowling alley as a standardized kit if you know the part number.

[@catfish552]

Alley, Bowling, Self-Resetting, M3A2

[@ravenhull]

Everything in the military has a part number. Everything. I was in HAWK (medium SAM system), and I ran across the part number for an entire HAWK battery, as in 6 launchers, 4-6 radars, and 2 command units. Was so tempted to try, saying it was for spare parts, and see how far it went up the line before being rejected.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@ravenhull probably would have been more successful than the time a Marine Harrier squadron mechanics found the part number for an AH-1W... Squadron CO was not amused. I bet that your unit CO would have gone for it!

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

Thanks Nick. As I've mentioned my only time in an armored vehicle was looking around in the back of an M109 and almost knocking myself silly bumping my unhelmeted head on the ungiving material of it's interior - but - once was enough to get some small idea of what the actual crew was dealing with. I'd point out - that the "blooper" showing you trying to fold yourself into one of the crew positions was actually one of the most illustrative parts of the video. It really gives the viewer an idea of just what kinds of contortions people have to go through sometimes in using these vehicles. The thing is - this is something that crew member might be doing all day every day. When People say "Thank You For Your Service" ... these are some of the kinds of things they are thanking us for. Of course - when it's "Oh Bugger! The Tank's On Fire!" they then have to get themselves OUT of those positions ... .

[@amandahuggandkiss2998]

Brilliant as always. And the blooper reel was a nice bonus.

[@essayondo623]

My motor sergeant told me the M51 had enough power to smoke the tracks if you nosed up to a suitable loading dock. He also mentioned disabling the loading mechanism on the M107s until the crews maintained more than just the gun. He used to run the APFT in boots smoking a Pall Mall. L miss those days as a LT.

[@davefranklin4136]

Chieftain, I dare you to go put an "Oddments" label on your wife's junk drawer. :) Separate topic: a buddy of mine and I were all set to fly up to tour the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois WY. The airport has a courtesy car, but of course it's first come-first served (plus it seemed bad form to me to take it for the whole day if you did manage to get it). No real (reliable) rental cars facilities or other transport (e.g. Uber, Lyft) either. The museum itself doesn't do anything to facilitate going to/from the airport, like a shuttle you pay for, so we threw in the towel. Too bad...

[@Nipplator99999999999]

You gave me an idea, and I'm now waiting to see how long my girl takes to notice the label on her back. This is going to leave a mark.

[@davefranklin4136]

@@Nipplator99999999999 Wow. You must have a death wish...

[@Nipplator99999999999]

@@davefranklin4136 I prefer to think of it as a close recon refresh course.

[@aborted4196]

@@davefranklin4136 you actually think this guy has a girlfriend? come on man...

[@korvtm]

Some comments reminded me of the time in RVN that a guy got a D7F bulldozer stuck.We ( an engineer HEM )we were asked to help.C.O was an Ordnance officer,said the M88 was the only way to go.After about three tries at Dragging the dozer out backwards,the C O got his hand smashed went to hospital.Dozer was by this time buried up to the top of the tracks in mud.only two ways left to get in out,blast or tow.they would not let us blast it out ,so we hooked three D7Fs to the stuck dozer then rigged a long steel tube to flex hose then to a 750 CFM air compressor.Started blowing air under the dozer,at the same time it is in reverse ,the other dozers were pulling.Air finally broke the mud suction we were able to drag the stuck dozer back far enough that we could start washing mud off it and still blow air under it,thracks finally got purchase on semisolid ground,dozer was able to back out.

[@laurisikio]

The track tensioning bit was so quick that I almost missed it. I'm not even sure was it long enough to be considered as track tensioning.

[@WalkaCrookedLine]

Upvoted instantly when I realized this was about a recovery vehicle. These support vehicles are vital and unfortunately generally ignored in fanboy media.

[@CptInside]

Honestly as I learn more and more about tank Operations, maintenence and other Stuff, I find recovery tanks even more facinating. Im now at a point were I almost would say they are "cooler" then the actual tanks... I mean Shooting stuff Is cool and all BUT recovering a damaged vehicle so it can fight another day is even more cooler :D

[@markgouthro7375]

Yeah, hits both little kid coolness factors of tanks and construction machines!

[@justindunlap1235]

plus if you bought a tank what are you going to do with it. I could actually use this to do some work in the back garden.

[@ScottKenny1978]

My preference for a personally owned tracked vehicle would be an armored engineering vehicle, with dozer blade and digger bucket.

[@daffyduck7336]

1,050 hp at 2800rps, stall tested 1800 rpm ,duel superchargers (mechanical driven) one on each side of the crankcase, fuel injected , top speed on improved roads 24mph, the biggest problems...the @#$#@&#$ hydraulics, my last "big baby " retired in 1977. It had folding shields on each side of the boom to protect it from the exhaust flames which when you let off the gas shot up and out 8ft on each side..it looked like a dragon coming down the roads at night.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@daffyduck7336 and now I need to find pictures of that!

[@Anlushac11]

I can honestly say that until today I have never heard of the M51 recovery vehicle. I am aware of the M4 based one and the M88's.

[@sniperlrsw]

If I had to guess, I would bet that the crane speed control pedal acts as an accelerator for the auxiliary engine. With most hydraulics powered off of an engine the faster the engine is revving the faster the hydraulics move.

[@MightyBjorn]

I never heard of the M51 HRV. Very cool video Nick.

[@Psiberzerker]

Thanks for doing an Engineer's Vehicle! For once, somebody pointed out the existence of Field Engineers. How are you supposed to get your tanks through without somebody to clear the rubble, and sweep for Roadside Bombs?

[@michaelguerin56]

And provide potable water and electricity and water transport; develop camouflage for vehicles and installations; teach people how to use camouflage nets, etc; quarry aggregate, build culverts and fords; machine dig trenches and holes for bunkers, etc, etc.

[@Psiberzerker]

@@michaelguerin56 LOL, "Teach people how to use camo nets." Yeah. That one hit home. Like the most FAQ is "What's the log for?" Despite the fact that he's explained what the ditching log is for, probably hundreds of times by now. They think that is for camouflage. I'm just going to hide behind this here blade of grass.

[@Psiberzerker]

@@michaelguerin56 Most of those examples aren't things we really used EVs for, though. I mean, getting the water turned on in Sarajevo, we just used regular local trucks to carry the pipe. (We pretty much got left alone for that, because the rebels were locals, and had family that didn't have running water, either.) I mostly mentioned Bomb Clearing, and Rubble, because that's what we used vehicles like this one for. Yes, it's technically an armored tow truck for Tanks, but if you have a section of wall, that's still fairly held together with rebar, it has the traction to drag that out of the street, too. We had a Panhard VBL, but if we had one of these, it would be better than STANAG level 1 for clearing roadside bombs. We just didn't have roadside bombs to worry about in Sarajevo. IK, STANAG I includes bomb fragments, but if you don't know what kind of Anti-vehicle bombs to expect, then you can't really have too much armor.

[@michaelguerin56]

@@Psiberzerker Yes, the standard civilian truck is usually best for transport. My point was that military engineers mostly carry out a wide variety of civilian tasks whilst maintaining proficiency in specialist military engineering areas of which the general public are typically not aware. I was a Territorial Force Royal New Zealand Engineer for 12 years (84-96) and, like many NZ personnel, I could not have gone to Bosnia because my mother’s father came from a small Dalmatian village.

[@Psiberzerker]

@@michaelguerin56 I wasn't a military Engineer, as in Army Corps of Engineers. I was a Fluid Power Systems Specialist. A field tech, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, and Vacuum Systems. That also qualified me for working on the ancient pipes of Sarajevo. Like I said, the separatists, loyalists, Bosnians, and Serbs (There were at least 4 sides fighting over Yugoslavia at the time) were locals, so they didn't attack US. They wanted the water and sewage running as much as anyone else.

[@Coffreek]

Yeah, you think there's a lot of stowage in there, but until you add shovels, wire brushes, a couple of big-as pry bars, wrenches, several sizes of hammer, rain gear for the crew..... The space fills itself pretty quick.

[@AllanSitte]

Thank you for this. The first time I encountered a recovery vehicle on post will always be memorable. An M88 rolled by me while I was walking to the chow hall. First time I had ever seen one! It was apparently in a hurry. Not sure why, but my other observation was the sensation of the earth vibrating. I swear dust was coming up between the sidewalk tracks! I hope they can fix up this wonderful machine. Heck... It would be awesome if they could put it in condition to work as a HRV again, albeit as a alternative around the yard.

[@Dodey2257]

Do you plan to do most if not all vehicles in the garage? If so I'm excited!

[@justinwilliams2000]

Enough content for years of videos, all under one roof!

[@timberwolf1575]

A fair number of those are variants of the same vehicle, like the myriad Sherman variants. There is some wow factor to the variants, but not as much as for new vehicles.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@timberwolf1575 it's a pattern collection. You have one of everything, to show what was changed, and hopefully have documentation for why.

[@davido9208]

The look of absolute concentration on his face while trying to get into the drivers seat was hilarious to me.

[@steamindemon3389]

Chieftain forgot to check the tension of his his track

[@adamdubin1276]

You make the SrWO's sound like something out of Warhammer, are they tech priest? do they burn incense and recite prayers to whatever vehicle they happen to be recovering?

[@jeffho1727]

Take live chickens on deployments for scarfice to the Recovery Gods!!!

[@pauld6967]

@@jeffho1727 No, that would be cheating. In order for the Recovery Gods to smile upon the effort you are about to undertake, you must first "recover" a chicken from a local farm. The more difficult it is to find/get to that farm and recover a chicken from it, the more good fortune you will have,....presuming that you don't mess up on the ceremony itself.

[@ozzy7763]

If no chickens are available, then a private will suffice.

[@pauld6967]

@@ozzy7763 Yup. That's why they were issued to you. Consult Section Four, Table 32-7 of the TO&E.

[@echomande4395]

The description actually reminded me more of the Adeptus Mechanicus techpriests.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Chieftain have you ever noticed as we get older gravity seems to get sneakier and stronger?

[@xwhogafx815]

😆 time is the devil lol watched the water boy recently lol

[@Rusty_Gold85]

doors on vehicles become harder to get in and out

[@swagmanexplores7472]

Fascinating ! It’s so rare to see the workings of fitter’s tracks or ARVs

[@EdAtoZ]

Chieftain, I must say I do like the fact you do review things like recovery vehicle. Someday I hope you review the recovery vehicle based on the M3 Grant. 2 Questions, Why not made the front spade dual propose (so you can remove snow and move dirt) ? I am surprised the vehicle does not have smoke dispensers ?

[@clothar23]

I can only assume it's because you can't really balance a blade to both an anchor and a dozer blade.

[@TalkingDeadGuy]

I would love to see a walkaround of the jeep with the recoilless rifle in the background. Sure there is lots of fun things in it's safety manual

[@nirfz]

👍 including the outtakes. 20:16: "officer of the US department of armoured contortionists in action"

[@wildonemeister]

Excellent schtuff! Very much appreciate the editing with freezing the image to better show panels and knobs. In general the editing looks improved, good camera placements and additional footage from outside added when needed. Stellar job!

[@FirstDagger]

More of these engineering vehicles please.

[@tacticalmanatee]

nice to see some love for the support vehicles

The blooper near fall remindes me that a head of the german tank comission in world war 2 died by falling of a tank Stug at the Brunswick MIAG plant. Stay safe Chiefatain ! Interesting Video. The Importance of recovery vehicles is often forgotten. But how important they are can be clearly seen for example by reading reports about the experiences of the heavy german tank units equiped with Tiger 1/2.

[@MichaelSmith-ms3jw]

We shot several of those to pieces, along with several M-103 tanks. Range targets in the 80s.

[@thanossstewart3800]

Need to do one on the ole M88

[@douglascieslak3712]

TOOLE army depot is 50 miles or so out side of Salt Lake City. Just down the road of Dugway proving grounds. The NBC testing ground of US Army

[@deandennison4687]

Tooele Army Depot. Pronounced too-wil-a.

[@steeljawX]

I was going to say 99.9999% of viewers have no idea where Tooele even is or how to even pronounce it.

[@colbeausabre8842]

@@steeljawX Been there, done that. We were the Division Ready Platoon and the phone call came at 2 AM. Out grabbed our gear, loaded up on the deuce and a halfs on standby, over to McChord AFB, onto C-130, wheels up within 1 hour of the call, to Tooele to control "rioters attempting to storm the NBC storage facilities".

[@kevinjoyce4817]

Once again a fine video for us to get in and on the vehicle with you thanks.

[@axelrajr]

nice to see a recovery vehicle. frankly, would be interesting to see that sherman based example you started out next to as well. it makes sense to me that this M51 might be a marine example, or more likely an army vehicle that was transferred to the marines. getting one fresh off of service would have gotten them one in much better condition than if when the army got rid of theirs. further, its more likely that the army was interested in having one of these when the marines were getting rid of theirs.

[@electrolytics]

Great episode. Thank you.

[@pallen2980]

Funny "operational" story about these. In the 1970s, the Maryland National Guard had some of these monsters. The teamsters were protesting something and threatened to block the Harbor Tunnel (the only way through Baltimore on 95 at the time unless you wanted to go around on the beltway) and the Key Bridge (one of the ways around) by driving their trucks through/over and stopping in the tunnel and on the bridge. The tow truck drivers announced that they were with the teamsters and wouldn't come to tow the trucks away. When the truckers showed up just before rush hour to block the highway, they saw that the governor had prepositioned a couple of these at either end of the tunnel and the bridge. The truckers just kept on driving.

[@panzer948]

Great vid on a specialized and interesting vehicle. I wouldn't mind seeing more on engineering vehicles! BTW, great intro into the Odiments name. Would love to hear more about the Audey Murphy style fight this thing got into in Nam.

[@baryonyxwalkeri3957]

I feel like an ARV is the best choice for a nomadic, postapocalyptic tribe / group as a center vehicle. It has armor and weapons to defent against raiders or zombies. It has a plow and tracks to move about the ruined wasteland. It has plenty of space to store stuff in. It has a crane to lift debris or gather heavy resources. Everything you need!

[@Voron_Aggrav]

Nope this thing has an Anchor not a plow, Someone in the comments had to repair one in West Germany at the time because someone had the bright idea to use it as a Snowplow, I'd call that a design flaw

[@beverlychmelik5504]

@@Voron_Aggrav And like many post apocaliptic vehicles, I'm sure you could mod it for that.

[@gerardlabelle9626]

How much fuel would this monster need?

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@gerardlabelle9626 lots. I'd want the big wheeled HEMTT wrecker, myself, with an added fuel tank from the HEMTT tanker.

[@korvtm]

@@gerardlabelle9626 Can,t say, the original M48 series that used the Carbureted version got about 3 gallons to the mile,The M48A2 using a AVSI 1790 Engine got about the same.I would imigine that given how heavy this beast is it would comsume mors fuel.I do know that it used a gasoline engine.

[@jessewrites3819]

This fellow is a legend. Honestly you keep the mundane at bay.

[@michaelharris95]

I did my whole army career on M88's, and what goes on inside was none of the other operator's business. They were extremely luxurious, when will you do a video on them?

[@jonny-b4954]

11:09 Looking at the ceiling you wouldn't think it was sand blasted, haha. ;) I love vehicles like this. And yeah, a junk drawer is totally a thing.

[@andrewluder3477]

This has by far been my favorite of all your videos, awesome to see some love thrown Recovery's way!! I spent the entirety of my 20 years as a mechanic and recovery vehicle operator, 5 years active and 15 in South Carolina National Guard. I even went to the school and got the H8 ASI TDY enroute from Fort Riley to Korea. Ended my 20 as the Battalion Recovery NCO (SSG, not a Chief) for the 122nd Combat Engineer Battalion, SCARNG. Went to OIF 2003-2004 with the 122nd, attached to the 3rd ACR. The 88 was the Cadillac of all armored vehicles. Death Before Dismount!! As an aside, you might be surprised to know that in 1995 I was in Recovery in the 2nd Engineers, 2ID at Camp Castle, Korea, and we were still using AVLB's on M48 chassis(armored bridge layer), and M60 CEV's (Combat Engineer Vehicle with a shape charge spigot launcher instead of a main gun in the turret and a dozer blade). Getting replacement parts was pure hell, but we managed to keep them chugging along. We carried several AT-4's on the 88, so I would not be surprised in the Bazooka was part of the M51's issue.

[@phlashtheband4939]

Great vid. Thanks for sharing

[@legendary_soup4454]

the second to last blooper the concentration is real tongue out and everything

[@swag8724]

Love your bloopers that you include

[@ozzy7763]

I saw one of these at a Museum in Oklahoma City. First one I have ever seen and I only live 45 minutes from Ft Knox . Lol. Thank you for reviewing this vehicle, I’ve always been fascinated with recovery vehicles.

[@Blackcloud_Garage]

The front line vehicles get all the attention. It’s nice to see more of the support vehicles 👍

[@jasonz7788]

Great work Sir

[@maastomunkki]

It just occurred to me, we need a proper recovery tank movie! Fighting is so last season. This time it's RECOVERY TIME!

[@FrontSideBus]

I've just read about the story about that "one man stand". What a guy!

[@ajl1430]

Interesting to see a recovery vehicle for once. Great video 👍

[@justindunlap1235]

another great inside the hatch episode. thanks for doing an engineers vehicle, I would definitely like to see more of them in the future. I guess climbing tanks is kinda like rock climbing, always maintain 3 points of contact.

[@chrishewitt4220]

Interesting and informative indeed. Thanks Nic.

[@nosaltadded2530]

"Recovery sh...tuff." Love it. That was funny! And a good save.

[@ernstbusch179]

I really enjoy the bloopers of you squeezing yourself into place, really funny!

[@justforever96]

Amazing to reflect on what a powerful machine this is. I bet you could perform some seriously impressive feats with this baby.

[@swagmanexplores7472]

Years ago I had a Mk5/1 (Aust) Centurion General n tank in my collection, I also had a Centurion ARV in storage at my property for a few months. I dearly wish I could have raised the funds to buy that ARV. I absolutely loved everything about it...

[@paoloviti6156]

Good job again as always 👍👍!

[@Crash103179]

Excellent, Chieftain. Would love to see the workings of the FV-180 CEV, Dachs or M-104 Wolverine, too.

[@andrewcox4386]

Thanks for a look round an unusual vehicle :-)

[@catfish552]

The NACC is just the perfect place for Chieftain videos, isn't it?

[@ScottKenny1978]

I expect that the head of the museum had to bring cold beer to get the Chieftain to leave... 🤣

[@kavemanthewoodbutcher]

Little Kathryn Loved this one, just as she does all of them!

[@williamturnwald2791]

It was always good to be in good with the Maintenace Seargent during the winter the 88 was about the only working heater around and a good place to keep warm when not on guard duty.

[@maverick740]

One of my favorite ARV

[@chuckw1113]

Curious thing. When I went through AOB in 1975, we had three Marines in the class. They were assigned at Knox for an additional week, to train on and fire the M103. So somebody in the Marines (USMCR?) still had operational M103s.

[@colbeausabre8842]

Also in 75, I did a deployment to Yakima Firing (now training center) Center. The local Marine Reserve unit was a company of 4th Tank Battalion, who had their vehicles stored in a motor pool at the Center. A few days after arrival, I had occasion to go by and , there it was, a real live gen-you-wine M51. Further inspection revealed their tanks were M60A1's. It looks like they had just replaced their M103's and hadn't gotten an M88 yet to replace their big bruiser. I keep on thinking when I see "Highway Through Hell" on TV that these guys would love a M88 and that a M51 would be even better. I know they have or had at least ex-Canadian Army wrecker. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_Thru_Hell

[@lairdcummings9092]

I guess there's no real need for the "Oh bugger..." test on this beast, not with those generous doors.

[@paulmanson253]

I can see the necessity of having a sizeable oxy acetylene set for cutting or rough fabrication. In the presence of those rockets the Vietnamese were so generous with,I would be very happy with at least 3/4 inch of steel between me and the outside. If both cutting tanks somehow got touched off,the interior of the tank becomes the safest place possible. Oh,bugger,the outside is on fire. Now what ?

[@Zack_Wester]

@@paulmanson253 plus in war ods are you might find a shell landing on/near you that was addressed for someone else 2 mile that way. last part of a qoute from mass effect. Once you fire this hunk of metal, it keeps going 'till it hits something! That can be a ship, or the planet behind that ship. It might go off into deep space and hit somebody else in ten thousand years. If you pull the trigger on this, you are ruining someone's day, somewhere and sometime!" - Drill Sergeant Nasty, Mass Effect 2

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@Zack_Wester artillery shells are addressed "to whom it may concern"

[@Zack_Wester]

@@ScottKenny1978 true but anti tank shells are addressed to that tank 100-3000 meters that way.

[@samuelaguilariii9160]

This vehicle feels like the engineers that built the M88 took a hard look at this, and said let’s keep the general layout. Spade, air cleaners, tow bar, side crew doors, track, Continental engine (AVDS-17908CR), Allison XT-1400 transmission…hell even headlight selector switch…it’s really cool to see that lineage in design. Great video!

[@josephryan6593]

WE need a tour of a M88 recovery tank. My mos was 63f20 after going to school at Aberdeen Maryland (mud diver) and was sent to Vietnam right after graduation. I crewed on the 88 and drove a m543 wrecker for my tour of duty and had a busy year running convoys, unloading ammunition at the ammo dump. Going out on special operations, pulling tank power pack and working at the airfield pulling rotors,turdines,and transmissions at night. Of the five in our section i was the only US and was used for all types of work.The clutch went out in my wrecker after months and was told by a spec 5 I should get an article 15.

[@paulfisher1160]

Oh NO! the tank is on fire. "Where is my ladder" haha. Very cool. Thanks for making these videos

[@miclang1436]

Every time I watch you visiting these tanks a little part of me is yelling "ROADTRIP!" Then I remember that it's not open to the public... thanks for the good videos.

[@rexw2203]

Thanks for the Great content Chieftain! So I noticed that right next door to the HRV is an M60A2. Growing up in the 70's and 80's I had a lot of time building models of this tank and for some reason it's iconic/distinctive profile imprinted on me. I wonder if you might do an inside/outside expose on it along with what made it distinctive as well as what made it the really big failure as an MBT that it was. Truly the Ugly Duckling that never made it during the later Cold War years.

[@kiiiisu]

good video thanks again!

[@victoriaevelyn3953]

it makes my kneeshurt watching you squeeze into some of these tanks

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

What a beast of a vehicle.

[@KevekGaming]

I love these support vehicles getting videos. Tanks get the limelight as they should, but these support vehicles are just as important. Support adds up quickly.

[@markthemaniac3350]

Great to see some ARV love. Whenever you're back in the UK, you should see if the REME museum will let you crawl over their CARRV, Churchill ARV, or Sherman BARV.

[@joetay8817]

Love the bloopers 👍

[@jasonbrown3632]

When I was in MLRS unit back in 1992-93, our M88 mechanics set up 2 regular army cots inside cause they never had time out in the field to but up their sleeping tent...not once did they ever have to move their cots in any operation, cause of all the space they had...

[@alankucar8025]

Great stuff, would love to see more engineering tonks.

[@MrJoeGarner]

Yep, even us prior service Mechanics like to see our roots. I'm also a Former M88 TC.

[@reesmccrone7185]

Just want to drop a post on the "Overhaul" Tag. That is from the Tooele Utah Depot, AKA TAD among the different name changes back then. It overhauled many things but in the 60's early 70's the did tanks. Later in the 80's they has switched from overhauling tanks to trucks.

[@williamsnellen4901]

Awesome info thanks 🙏 🙏👍🇺🇸🤔😎more videos

[@robertwilcox4460]

The Spcs were the real recovery gurus lol. We didn't want to be there so we knew how to hook and book very efficiently lol. Thanks for the recovery addition to the rest of the great videos. Will you cover the others?

[@colobossable]

Please do more engineering and recovery vehicles, forgotten heroes!

[@fuse557]

This was one of your best videos! Not a star player, a utility work player! LOVED it! Maybe a M-198 field artillery review. Marine artillery school is FT. Sill Oklahoma! Tempting!

[@nathanhollingsworth413]

Watched many a Jarhead play with the m198s at FT Sill

[@fuse557]

@@nathanhollingsworth413 I personally prefer the term Gun Bunny's, makes me feel more sexy! Lol

[@nathanhollingsworth413]

@@fuse557 if you ain’t Army you ain’t my gun bunny 🐰 Jarhead .. ;) but we still all know “call for fire “