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Started By
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US Army recovering 4 Soldiers and M88 Hercules in Lithuania.
Posted on 3/28/25 at 12:22 pm
Posted on 3/28/25 at 12:22 pm
Article says they disappeared en route to recover another piece of equipment. Damn thing sank in 15ft of water. I had seen the other day they were missing, but nothing else.
LINK
LINK
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Posted on 3/28/25 at 12:23 pm to kengel2
Why are we in Lithuania?
They should be along the Rio Grande
They should be along the Rio Grande
This post was edited on 3/28/25 at 12:24 pm
Posted on 3/28/25 at 12:26 pm to kengel2
Does anyone that's been in one know how they could have missed seeing the water? It seems like even if they were buttoned up, the vision blocks for the driver are a hell of a lot higher up than on an M1.
Posted on 3/28/25 at 12:35 pm to Cosmo
quote:Pete is back on the bottle
Why are we in Lithuania?
Posted on 3/28/25 at 12:38 pm to LemmyLives
My only guess is that they didnt know it was water.
I found anothe picture:
I found anothe picture:
Posted on 3/28/25 at 7:35 pm to Cosmo
Joint training exercise. Looks like they needed more training on driving that thing.
Posted on 3/28/25 at 7:47 pm to ImaObserver
quote:
Joint training exercise. Looks like they needed more training on driving that thing.
quote:
ImaObserver
Posted on 3/28/25 at 7:48 pm to ImaObserver
Leadership in charge of route planning are to blame.
Posted on 3/28/25 at 7:48 pm to kengel2
I read about that. It’s sad. Pray for their families.
Posted on 3/28/25 at 8:47 pm to kengel2
They zigged when they should have zagged. Imagine you're the parent of an Army maintainer on a perfectly safe low key training rotation to Europe and you get a knock on your door from Soldiers in dress uniforms. Terrible.
Posted on 3/28/25 at 9:39 pm to Cosmo
There is no lack of troops down south that is why immigration ffrom thete is now almost zero
Posted on 3/28/25 at 9:41 pm to kengel2
quote:
My only guess is that they didnt know it was water.
Wow. What made you come up with that enlightening conclusion?
Posted on 3/28/25 at 9:48 pm to kengel2
They weren't able to get out? Seems like a poor design in swampland
Posted on 3/28/25 at 9:52 pm to GeorgeTheGreek
quote:
Wow. What made you come up with that enlightening conclusion?
Thank you for your service.
This post was edited on 3/28/25 at 10:01 pm
Posted on 3/28/25 at 10:02 pm to LemmyLives
quote:
Does anyone that's been in one know how they could have missed seeing the water? It seems like even if they were buttoned up, the vision blocks for the driver are a hell of a lot higher up than on an M1.
Same thing happened in the first Gulf War. A solider, in the day, somehow rolled over a Hum V in a shallow body of water. The solider drowned.
Posted on 3/29/25 at 6:51 am to TT9
When is he ever off the bottle?
Posted on 3/29/25 at 8:02 am to LemmyLives
I know those M88 Hercules too well.
I was on M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks for over 20 years. Everytime we broke down or threw track, a M88 recovery vehicle would have to come tow us.
They're driven by mechanics. Mechanics that never drive that big bastard until they have to. The Mechanics usually drive around in M113 personnel carriers LMTVs (old deuce and a halfs) and humvees and shite. They barely ever drive M88s unless they have to and usually aren't very proficient at doing so. And usually only in a motor pool or Unit Maintenance Control Point (UMCP) setting, not over tank trails and all over.
We also required the M88 to pull the back deck off the tank and also used it's boom to pull out the turbine engine and transmission.
They also rarely drive them and I NEVER saw them drive a M88 buttoned up with hatches closed. In over 20 years, I never saw them used or seen them train that way. Probably because you don't have a 2nd person (tank commander) helping the driver to see. You only have maybe60 degrees of view through an Abrams vision block.
I was on M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks for over 20 years. Everytime we broke down or threw track, a M88 recovery vehicle would have to come tow us.
They're driven by mechanics. Mechanics that never drive that big bastard until they have to. The Mechanics usually drive around in M113 personnel carriers LMTVs (old deuce and a halfs) and humvees and shite. They barely ever drive M88s unless they have to and usually aren't very proficient at doing so. And usually only in a motor pool or Unit Maintenance Control Point (UMCP) setting, not over tank trails and all over.
We also required the M88 to pull the back deck off the tank and also used it's boom to pull out the turbine engine and transmission.
They also rarely drive them and I NEVER saw them drive a M88 buttoned up with hatches closed. In over 20 years, I never saw them used or seen them train that way. Probably because you don't have a 2nd person (tank commander) helping the driver to see. You only have maybe60 degrees of view through an Abrams vision block.
This post was edited on 3/29/25 at 8:07 am
Posted on 3/29/25 at 8:45 am to El Segundo Guy
quote:
I know those M88 Hercules too well.
Yep. Main thing I remember is no one called it “Hercules”, not even the mechanics who used it. Everyone just called it “88”.
quote:
I was on M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks for over 20 years. Everytime we broke down or threw track, a M88 recovery vehicle would have to come tow us.
Thanks for making me feel old. I started out on the M1IP (It still had the rifled 105mm) and ended on the M1A1. The M1A2 was just starting to come into service when my active time was up and I moved to a guard unit that was just transitioning to the A1s.
quote:
They're driven by mechanics. Mechanics that never drive that big bastard until they have to. The Mechanics usually drive around in M113 personnel carriers LMTVs (old deuce and a halfs) and humvees and shite. They barely ever drive M88s unless they have to and usually aren't very proficient at doing so. And usually only in a motor pool or Unit Maintenance Control Point (UMCP) setting, not over tank trails and all over.
Our 88 guys would usually always go with us to the field. But I don’t think they ever really did much driver training. Basically, they’d just set up with the battalion trains and the 88 would only come up if needed. They’d use it in the motor pool sometimes when pulling packs or swapping tracks. But I don’t recall their drivers ever getting the same sort of driver trained like we did on the Abrams.
quote:
They also rarely drive them and I NEVER saw them drive a M88 buttoned up with hatches closed. In over 20 years, I never saw them used or seen them train that way.
Same. The only time I ever saw the 88 guys button up was at night to sleep and keep warm. They never buttoned up on the move that I ever saw.
This post was edited on 3/29/25 at 8:47 am
Posted on 3/29/25 at 8:50 am to C
quote:
Leadership in charge of route planning are to blame.
someone should do something about this. Who’s in charge?
Posted on 3/29/25 at 8:55 am to Hateradedrink
Nobody really
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