It always gets my heart pumping faster to see these pieces of heavy engineered machinery on the go. Thanks for showing them to us. We have no armor museum in here Portugal and the only chance we get to see some spg M109A5 or tanks Leopard 2 A6, and the good old Chaimite's witch were made here, is in the 10th of July, the day of Portugal or in the Day of National Defence. My love of tanks goes back to when i was about 8 years old when my dad got me a little Tiger I model to assemble, very much like the TOG II you did Sofi m'am, it was smaller, it was a mess but the turret moved and the tracks worked, never got to paint it tho, my dad didn't trusted me with paints back then, go figure! I've playing PC tank games since Panzer Elite and then i found WOT 9 years ago, found the Chieftain and all the museum's channels thru WOT and then you who tries really hard to get everything right, it shows! So thanks again, and please please keep doing it Sofi m'am!!!
My son crewed one of these in Iraq and Afghanistan. Went to visit him on leave at Ft Hood one year and he gave me a check out on one. They are most impressive.
Sofi, found your channel and new on it ,but love it !!!!! It is really good to see a young Lady as yourself who appreciates all the old and new Armor Vehicles and the history that goes with it ...to alot of us Veterans , these Vehicles bring back tons of memories good & bad , we have seen people hurt and killed....time spent in the field for long periods of time away from home and overseas ...we didn't have computers or cellphones then ...just mail and long periods of time not hearing from anyone ...just your unit,your buddies with you . These tracks were our home ...we work,slept,ate and live in them ...through alot of times in very rough conditions, freezing, wet, or burning up hot ...usually never ever really comfortable...if we weren't having to work on the line doggies track ,we were working on ours fixing or regular maintenance to keep them running . We went without sleep for very long periods of time, missing meals ,alot of cold food . The time you think you were caught up and get some sleep ,1st Sgt had you pull guard or Sgt of the Guard...take baths out of your steel pot or when the DATS (Dumb Ass Tankers- an loving term we used for them...smile) we turn the tank barrels down low and hang the ol olivedrab shower bucket and we all take turns taking a bath ...we would look for P38s from the ol C- ration boxes ,before they came out with MRES...or have the pleasure to be the last coming in to get in the chow line to for breakfast, and get super greasy bacon, green eggs, soggy French toast, and very watery grits in an ol mess kit ...then to stand in the rain and snow to eat it with the rain drops running off your steel pot into your food while you ate...out with the ADA boys , then to the Fulda Gap to bring up the rear with the Tankers and Infantry to patrol the border and watch the Russians and East Germans keep close watch on you as you go ...That's why when ol Veterans come across these ol track's on here or at the museum...there is a long pause ...if at the museum..we touch the ol tracks and stare ...it is seeing an ol buddy who share time with you ...many of us our throat gets tight and if you look close our eyes water up and we look away ...we are back there again and the memories pour forward ...That is why it is very Refreshing to see someone like you who cares about what they are seeing and understands the history before them and will carry forward our stories ....Thank-you for your time and efforts Sofi ....it is very much appreciated here ...
Was on the older 88's back in early 80's. Till I swapped MOS's to the 19 series. Had fun with vehicle recovery till some ding bat sunk a m60a3 above the road wheels. I was the low man so I hot really muddy and wet. 😁 Was at Gowen Field and seen one put out the range fire at a 50 cal range. This was before they actually had ranges by kicking up enough dust and dirt to put the sage brush out just driving around it
We got a rule up here north of the border, you sunk it, you pull cable. Tops I had was a Major on an officer Phase 3 Land Nav, got his 5/4 where the the bullrushes grow. Took some heat but the course Sgt Major backed us up. Good times..
Me: 'Which side of the road do you want to drive on?' Driver: 'Yes' Me: '....Okay, not gonna argue.' This video was short and sweet, can't wait for the rest of it :) p.s love the enthusiasm in your voice at the end.
I don't know how often you've been able to do this Sofi, but I'll bet it never gets old ... does it? Take it from an old man, life is short ... enjoy it.
M88A2 Barbecue and Catering. We service rough naber hoods and areas of poor accessibility. We are not as fast as Door Dash but what we lack in speed we make up for with charm, personality and sheer grace! ………..and the food’s not half bad!👍🤣👍
Me and my driver name Elmore ,were busy trying to get back to a field location in West Germany 🇩🇪during a big NATO exercise (1984)pulling a little 113 behind us ...Elmore aired the ol M88 out going down the road ...I knew we were hauling ass when the tracks got quiet ....that's when you pray that your track tension is good and no one gets in your way ...we made it back in record time ...We were young and bullet proof then ...ARMY ALL THE WAY !!!!!!!!
I recall a very nice nap in the crew cabin of an M88A1 during a road march after many days in the field, I also have vivid memories of an explosive incident using ether to cold start an M88 in below zero weather.....
this one of my favorite vehicle to drive been one for 6 years so far and every recovery scenario is different. i'm just happy to see someone else enjoying the Hercules
I can see that going around with a 70 ton vehicle is really cool 👍👍! A dumb question: the driver was often shifting a lever on his right, if it for changing the gears why does he do it, isn't it an automatic gear? 🤔🤔
It’s a semi automatic transmission. There are gear ranges. I don’t remember the ranges but the first slot might be for 1-2, then the second position for either 2-3 or maybe 1-3 and so on. Depending on the terrain the driver selects what range to put it in. M113/M577, M60 series and other heavy armored vehicles have similar systems. The M1 series tanks don’t have this type of transmission. It has a small shifter above the steering handlebars (look very much like motorcycle handlebars) with (if memory serves) D, R, P, L (not in that order) You move it position to position with your fingers. Much easier. Some of you younger guys please fill free to correct my details. But that the basics of it.
@@phillipsmith4814 thanks for the info as I didn't know that it is a semi-automatic gear. When I was doing military service in Italy in 1974 I was driving the Leopard 1A2 with automatic gear exactly in the same order as your Abrams, normally I selected the gear when going a steep hill in order not to touch the brakes and making sure it didn't skid and the same goes uphill to ensure that it didn't over-rev and change gears! It was a good tank..
The 88o's in my day were gasoline engines or so I was told.... These sound like diesel.... I can still remember them rolling past the Disney Barracks at Ft. Knox. I thought it was an earth quake.... Good times.
You need to go to a nighttime gunnery range !. The best time is when they say shoot all the ammo, we do not want to fill out the paperwork to turn it back in. Blast away. Next on your list.
Well jealous that's my favourite arv lol I'm building a scale model.of Hercules just now some interior video would be awesome to see Some of the detail!
Are you and Rob a couple. Just say in, Jealous. Drove a 88 at Ft Knox years ago. Got towed down the Autobahn in Germany when I had a oil cooler stop working on my M1A1. Loudest ride ever. Did not have a CVC or earplugs. Saw a M 88 blade cut through the side of a older Bradley in Hohenfels Germany. The Bradley was being towed by another 88. The crew was inside the Bradley which is a no no.
So where can I sign up at to go for a ride in one of these AWESOME machines?? You have the BEST JOB!! To say I'm jealous is an understatement.. Haha.. Keep up the GREAT work ma'am!! It'd be awesome to meet you at a place like this and geek out over all the AMAZING machine's at their facility! 👍👍
But only a soldier can truly appreciate a ride on an M88. Why? Because of the almost obscene smoothness of the ride on a training area tank trail. You can SLEEP on an M88 rolling to the next firing point. Firing point. I was Artillery. I think in terms of firing points.
Some 30 some years ago, watched it destroy 2 rows of old jeeps, was awesome, of course was overseas, waste not, want not, still looks modern, for a recovery vehicle.
Watching this video and especially when the tank hit the streets reminded me of playing GTA 5. At that time I used a tank and destroyed all the vehicles in sight. Enter the city center and be chased by the police. Damn I think I need to play that game again and use tank for free roam. Of course this can't be done in real life lol.
Sofi - check our Aus Armour's facebook page for a link to their recent event with a running Panther A ( refurbed by Bruce Crompton's mob). 1 hr live stream for 2 days. I can PM you the link, but cannot post it on RUclips.
IF I remember right our 88 section ( E co, 701 MT. Bn (Fwd)) had the gasser...and they put on the A2 drive sprockets...made it...a bit faster. To say the least. According to the crew...78-80
If you were a battalion motor officer in the 194th Armored Brigade 1987-1988, you were required to show the brigade commander that you could operate an M88. I survived the test. Others did not.
in the 80s, when there an 19E E-2 that couldn't drive worth a shit in a line company he was sent to HQ to drive a M-88, or something even less dangerous. combine that driver with a motor sergeant in the TC hatch and all kinds of stupid shit can happen. and it did, all the time. Steel on Steel.
Ja i don't need to see your face to know that you are happy like a kid in a candy shop or something like that, man i would be like that to XD. But in you mind when you saw the T30 it would be nice if i was riding you instead XD.
@@Sofilein With many voices, perhaps we can change the world. Those who desire large heavy pieces of armored construction equipment will be rewarded for their dedication. I did find a Chieftain ARV for sale for 38 thousand pounds...
That tank is quite a sight, but compared to something like the Büffel it's just not that great. I wonder why it was decided to not use the Abrams platform to come up with something new instead.
@@robertcogan7109 That seemed plausible initially, but after looking up the engines it turns out that the turbine does actually have more torque than the diesel, even at maximum hp. So there has to be more to it. Apparently there was even an M1 ARV prototype, but I guess Wikipedia isn't the most reliable source. 🙄
The 88 has good low end torque, a turbine engine you have to " spool up" to get the torque. Not to mention, you wouldn't want the turbine exhaust melting your paint.
@@robertcogan7109 Oh I sure don't. And that now deleted comment is a truly great way to deal with genuine Interest, Mr Record-Keeper! For the record then, if I hadn't been part of pulling power packs in and out of tanks and said tanks out of the mud -properly with the winch - I probably wouldn't even care about ARVs, just like everybody else, and wonder why the US Military went a route different to that of Germany, UK, or even France. Oh well, let it be torque. It's BS, but it sounds a lot better than budget and "This will do for now" resulting in a missed opportunity.
@@robertcogan7109 Abrams doesn't, but M1150 ABV does, in addition to the huge mine plow, and if you watch that thing how it pushes either one through the soil, torque is hardly the issue with that turbine.. Russia built BREM-80U ARV, turbine powered. If you look at the M1 Grizzly, it has a massive dozer blade too. Again it was apparently budget that kept it from entering service and eventually the M1150 being chosen instead. The basics were done with the Grizzly at least, replacing the turret with a superstructure and adding an APU to power the hydraulics. So what's the story with that mysterious M1 ARV prototype? And no worries, Robert. We both kinda became victims of the evil interwebz here. Just like you shouldn't assume that everybody is automatically connecting your name to the familiar face in the videos, I should have been more specific and given you my military background and experience that actually led me to wonder and spark those doubts. Just so you would actually know on what level we could talk. I'm sorry that I didn't. Communicating can be hard at times. 🙄 I really appreciate your efforts in bringing the collection to the public. Continuing here after work and trying to answer questions is even more impressive. Thanks for that, even if might sometimes go the wrong way. 😉 I was stationed in Munster, Germany in the early/mid 90s and I spent countless hours in the tank museum there for the lack of anything better to do. I can almost smell it when watching the videos of your collection. 😂 But see, when my bataillon got 2 prototypes of the PzH 2000 for field trials it was already clear that the Leopard 1 based Bpz 2 wouldn't be able to handle those things because of the increased weight over the M109 and be replaced as well. Now the Abrams was already in service for over a decade when somebody finally noticed that the M88A1 wasn't enough and the upgrade to A2 was needed, and now wer're talking A3, again quite some time later. Sure, the Abrams got even heavier over the years and upgrades would be normal, but we're talking about a recovery tank here that was already an oldtimer when the Abrams arrived. Hell, the German Army got them along with the M48, but when the Leopard arrived a few years later the ARV was pretty much good to go too. I've been talking to former German operators of the M88 as well as Americans back when Hohenfels was still called CMTC, and while everybody was insanely proud of their machines, I didn't fail to notice the criticism. Sluggish. Not really being able to keep up. No crane traverse being a major PITA... That's really not something new, yet they keep deciding to stick to the design even though the Abrams platform has proven to work in similar applications. So to me that really looks like the technically possible solution just didn't fit into the budget when it would have had to. My problem is that people are more impressed by cannons rather than cranes, winches, and dozer blades, so while history of the Abrams is well documented and easily accessible, it's an entirely different story when it comes to projects running more or less parallel to that and ended with a cancellation rather than some sort of contract.
It always gets my heart pumping faster to see these pieces of heavy engineered machinery on the go. Thanks for showing them to us. We have no armor museum in here Portugal and the only chance we get to see some spg M109A5 or tanks Leopard 2 A6, and the good old Chaimite's witch were made here, is in the 10th of July, the day of Portugal or in the Day of National Defence. My love of tanks goes back to when i was about 8 years old when my dad got me a little Tiger I model to assemble, very much like the TOG II you did Sofi m'am, it was smaller, it was a mess but the turret moved and the tracks worked, never got to paint it tho, my dad didn't trusted me with paints back then, go figure! I've playing PC tank games since Panzer Elite and then i found WOT 9 years ago, found the Chieftain and all the museum's channels thru WOT and then you who tries really hard to get everything right, it shows! So thanks again, and please please keep doing it Sofi m'am!!!
My son crewed one of these in Iraq and Afghanistan. Went to visit him on leave at Ft Hood one year and he gave me a check out on one. They are most impressive.
When I was stationed at fort Riley there was one of those 88 pulling two m1 Abrams a 577 and a Humvee doing about 45.
maybe the Abrams were PUSHING the 88 :D
Sofi, found your channel and new on it ,but love it !!!!! It is really good to see a young Lady as yourself who appreciates all the old and new Armor Vehicles and the history that goes with it ...to alot of us Veterans , these Vehicles bring back tons of memories good & bad , we have seen people hurt and killed....time spent in the field for long periods of time away from home and overseas ...we didn't have computers or cellphones then ...just mail and long periods of time not hearing from anyone ...just your unit,your buddies with you . These tracks were our home ...we work,slept,ate and live in them ...through alot of times in very rough conditions, freezing, wet, or burning up hot ...usually never ever really comfortable...if we weren't having to work on the line doggies track ,we were working on ours fixing or regular maintenance to keep them running . We went without sleep for very long periods of time, missing meals ,alot of cold food . The time you think you were caught up and get some sleep ,1st Sgt had you pull guard or Sgt of the Guard...take baths out of your steel pot or when the DATS (Dumb Ass Tankers- an loving term we used for them...smile) we turn the tank barrels down low and hang the ol olivedrab shower bucket and we all take turns taking a bath ...we would look for P38s from the ol C- ration boxes ,before they came out with MRES...or have the pleasure to be the last coming in to get in the chow line to for breakfast, and get super greasy bacon, green eggs, soggy French toast, and very watery grits in an ol mess kit ...then to stand in the rain and snow to eat it with the rain drops running off your steel pot into your food while you ate...out with the ADA boys , then to the Fulda Gap to bring up the rear with the Tankers and Infantry to patrol the border and watch the Russians and East Germans keep close watch on you as you go ...That's why when ol Veterans come across these ol track's on here or at the museum...there is a long pause ...if at the museum..we touch the ol tracks and stare ...it is seeing an ol buddy who share time with you ...many of us our throat gets tight and if you look close our eyes water up and we look away ...we are back there again and the memories pour forward ...That is why it is very Refreshing to see someone like you who cares about what they are seeing and understands the history before them and will carry forward our stories ....Thank-you for your time and efforts Sofi ....it is very much appreciated here ...
Was on the older 88's back in early 80's. Till I swapped MOS's to the 19 series. Had fun with vehicle recovery till some ding bat sunk a m60a3 above the road wheels. I was the low man so I hot really muddy and wet. 😁 Was at Gowen Field and seen one put out the range fire at a 50 cal range. This was before they actually had ranges by kicking up enough dust and dirt to put the sage brush out just driving around it
We got a rule up here north of the border, you sunk it, you pull cable. Tops I had was a Major on an officer Phase 3 Land Nav, got his 5/4 where the the bullrushes grow. Took some heat but the course Sgt Major backed us up. Good times..
Me: 'Which side of the road do you want to drive on?'
Driver: 'Yes'
Me: '....Okay, not gonna argue.'
This video was short and sweet, can't wait for the rest of it :) p.s love the enthusiasm in your voice at the end.
I don't know how often you've been able to do this Sofi, but I'll bet it never gets old ... does it?
Take it from an old man, life is short ... enjoy it.
That looked like fun!
M88A2 Barbecue and Catering.
We service rough naber hoods and areas of poor accessibility.
We are not as fast as Door Dash but what we lack in speed
we make up for with charm, personality and sheer grace!
………..and the food’s not half bad!👍🤣👍
err...Fresh .hot MRE's delivered on your door!
Awesome. Thanks Sofi, have a great weekend.
Me and my driver name Elmore ,were busy trying to get back to a field location in West Germany 🇩🇪during a big NATO exercise (1984)pulling a little 113 behind us ...Elmore aired the ol M88 out going down the road ...I knew we were hauling ass when the tracks got quiet ....that's when you pray that your track tension is good and no one gets in your way ...we made it back in record time ...We were young and bullet proof then ...ARMY ALL THE WAY !!!!!!!!
I recall a very nice nap in the crew cabin of an M88A1 during a road march after many days in the field, I also have vivid memories of an explosive incident using ether to cold start an M88 in below zero weather.....
Nice, ...you know Sofilein has had fun when she does that giggle...hell, I'd bet I'd be giggling as well after that...lol
Sofi, I bet you didn't stop grinning for a week after that M88 ride. Lucky you!
It's always fun when the Sofilein giggle
comes in to play. 😏
I had a Panther once. One day I called for her and she didn't anther. 🤣
I was so hoping you’d catch that golf cart!
Looks fun, enjoy the time.
Sweeet ride! Imagine taking your kids to school in that, that would be so cool! Lol!
Epic drive! Go Armor!!!
Rocking the obligatory hard hat!!! Welcome to my existence lol.
What an awesome job! I think you're having too much fun! We need to trade for a while! Lol
thank you for taking us along
Glad you enjoyed
this one of my favorite vehicle to drive been one for 6 years so far and every recovery scenario is different. i'm just happy to see someone else enjoying the Hercules
6 years!! That's awesome
Big respect
I was a M88 operator for 2 years at ft Carson great vehicle
Did boot, AIT & Jump School at Benning, but that was long ago. Sand Hill and Harmony Church are long forgotten or only a distant memory/nightmare. Lol
I can see that going around with a 70 ton vehicle is really cool 👍👍! A dumb question: the driver was often shifting a lever on his right, if it for changing the gears why does he do it, isn't it an automatic gear? 🤔🤔
It’s a semi automatic transmission. There are gear ranges. I don’t remember the ranges but the first slot might be for 1-2, then the second position for either 2-3 or maybe 1-3 and so on. Depending on the terrain the driver selects what range to put it in. M113/M577, M60 series and other heavy armored vehicles have similar systems. The M1 series tanks don’t have this type of transmission. It has a small shifter above the steering handlebars (look very much like motorcycle handlebars) with (if memory serves) D, R, P, L (not in that order) You move it position to position with your fingers. Much easier. Some of you younger guys please fill free to correct my details. But that the basics of it.
@@phillipsmith4814 thanks for the info as I didn't know that it is a semi-automatic gear. When I was doing military service in Italy in 1974 I was driving the Leopard 1A2 with automatic gear exactly in the same order as your Abrams, normally I selected the gear when going a steep hill in order not to touch the brakes and making sure it didn't skid and the same goes uphill to ensure that it didn't over-rev and change gears! It was a good tank..
Great job as always. Love your work !
This looks like total entertainment towards my soul
I drove and crewed one of these beasts. Not very fast but power to spare. And the smoke generator was a blast.
Greetings from Sweden.🇸🇪🇺🇸
The 88o's in my day were gasoline engines or so I was told.... These sound like diesel.... I can still remember them rolling past the Disney Barracks at Ft. Knox. I thought it was an earth quake.... Good times.
The front line machines get all the attention. I would like to see more engineering vehicles👍
You need to go to a nighttime gunnery range !. The best time is when they say shoot all the ammo, we do not want to fill out the paperwork to turn it back in. Blast away. Next on your list.
This was my jam when I was stationed in Korea and Ft. Sill! Though mine was the M88A1. Loved it. Good memories!
That's awesome!!
When you absolutely have to move something, use this.
If a Herc or two can't move it, it shouldn't be moved
Haha M88 goes BRRRRRR
What a powerful beast. Lucky girl
Very cool, thanks for sharing.
I could use an M88 around here. The tractor is getting tired of lifting armored decks.
Ha haaaaaaa. That was truly awesome. You are really enjoying yourself. Thanks so much. Now, if he’ll just let you drive it😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Well jealous that's my favourite arv lol I'm building a scale model.of Hercules just now some interior video would be awesome to see Some of the detail!
I have a lot of interior pics I can post them if you need
I will have an inside tour someday in the future, kept it exterior this time but I crawled around inside a fair bit for my own interest lol
What a ride!!!
I used to run that road almost every morning as an instructor, there. Really wished you all had been there while I was an instructor there.
So, since you're the one with the connections...Can anyone just RENT an M88 for the weekend? ;) Asking for a friend.
Are you and Rob a couple. Just say in, Jealous. Drove a 88 at Ft Knox years ago. Got towed down the Autobahn in Germany when I had a oil cooler stop working on my M1A1. Loudest ride ever. Did not have a CVC or earplugs. Saw a M 88 blade cut through the side of a older Bradley in Hohenfels Germany. The Bradley was being towed by another 88. The crew was inside the Bradley which is a no no.
Yellow helmet was shock and awe!
So where can I sign up at to go for a ride in one of these AWESOME machines?? You have the BEST JOB!! To say I'm jealous is an understatement.. Haha.. Keep up the GREAT work ma'am!! It'd be awesome to meet you at a place like this and geek out over all the AMAZING machine's at their facility! 👍👍
COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A ride in a M88 is partial fun if you can't pass through a building.
0:47 Easy 8?
You've got a loose wingnut on board!
But only a soldier can truly appreciate a ride on an M88. Why? Because of the almost obscene smoothness of the ride on a training area tank trail. You can SLEEP on an M88 rolling to the next firing point. Firing point. I was Artillery. I think in terms of firing points.
Cool ride did you pay for the gas ? 🤠
I like that steering wheel.
What's the top speed of this vehicle?
When they finally go to war with the other museums that tank is going to kick ass 👍
I may be the tank driver who flipped an M-60 upside down into a creek at Fort Riley ks. The bridge under collapsed as I was crossing over it.
Thanks Sofi - If you had a Prom to go to, would that be your drop off vehicle? 🤔 No one would ever forget what you arrived in! 😁😂
If I had a prom to go to, it would be my date 😂
@@Sofilein That's a brilliant reply!, thanks!
Some 30 some years ago, watched it destroy 2 rows of old jeeps, was awesome, of course was overseas, waste not, want not, still looks modern, for a recovery vehicle.
That’s a dream come true girl there 💝💝
Watching this video and especially when the tank hit the streets reminded me of playing GTA 5. At that time I used a tank and destroyed all the vehicles in sight. Enter the city center and be chased by the police. Damn I think I need to play that game again and use tank for free roam. Of course this can't be done in real life lol.
Why not? It's been done before........
Link.
ruclips.net/video/FqFonIOUU1k/видео.html
@@joewalker2152 Cool homie
You failed to use your turn signal twice, your horn is broken and you have no backup lights! Where did you get your tank license from??
Awesome info thanks 🙏
I would love to drive that thing!
Meeeee too
Not me.
No cupholder.
70t of fun on the road no one wants to mess with that fun.
Ah yes ... the Ft Benning School for Wayward Boys ... the place where the rest of my life began. Swing by Sand Hill Sofi.
You should look into getting a 360* camera for these adventures!!!
Yes this was really impromptu, next time I will be more prepared
Zoom, Zoom! Thanks, Sofi!
Sofi - check our Aus Armour's facebook page for a link to their recent event with a running Panther A ( refurbed by Bruce Crompton's mob). 1 hr live stream for 2 days. I can PM you the link, but cannot post it on RUclips.
Second! but still super excited 😄
Awesome 👏 ride
Best job ever.
Question, What is your favorite tank? :3
Awesome!!!!!
Little John from "Men in Tights"?
'Men in Tanks' lolol
Find Sofie a gasser 88 for some real fun!!!😀😀
IF I remember right our 88 section ( E co, 701 MT. Bn (Fwd)) had the gasser...and they put on the A2 drive sprockets...made it...a bit faster. To say the least. According to the crew...78-80
If I where one of the guys in that mini ATV leading the tank I would be hunched over trying to will that thingy to go faster. A lot faster...
Back in my day, those beasts were only 56 tons. What have they added since the mid 70's?
Must be a bad rounding up, Wiki states that the M88A2 is 63500 kg. Compared to the base and A1 apparently the dimensions were increased.
*You need to be in the driver's seat next time!*
I dont disagree
M88, “The Dragon!”
If you were a battalion motor officer in the 194th Armored Brigade 1987-1988, you were required to show the brigade commander that you could operate an M88. I survived the test. Others did not.
I never knew it had a steering wheel, and not two controller bars like an old tank.
Yes, like M60!
M60 steers like a motorcycle.
I guess that's how you get Sophie out of the tank museum just put her in a tank and let her go for a ride
The problem is then getting me out of the tank
@@Sofilein They would just have to fill the tank with water and eventually you would pop out
Needed the new Sabaton Song Steel Commanders blasted out when riding it out
in the 80s, when there an 19E E-2 that couldn't drive worth a shit in a line company he was sent to HQ to drive a M-88, or something even less dangerous. combine that driver with a motor sergeant in the TC hatch and all kinds of stupid shit can happen. and it did, all the time. Steel on Steel.
Get Sofilein in the driver's seat.
It was somehow reassuring to see that you can be a Tank Girl and yet still have well-manicured nails.
Lucky 🍀
Gawd I wish that were me
Ja i don't need to see your face to know that you are happy like a kid in a candy shop or something like that, man i would be like that to XD.
But in you mind when you saw the T30 it would be nice if i was riding you instead XD.
OK--- really, really jealous right now... Clearly, I need to step up my lottery efforts.
They don't give these things to civilians, lottery or no lottery 😭
I will write BAE a stern letter
@@Sofilein With many voices, perhaps we can change the world. Those who desire large heavy pieces of armored construction equipment will be rewarded for their dedication.
I did find a Chieftain ARV for sale for 38 thousand pounds...
You lucky dawg, you! Yeah, my dream vehicle, ok, in my top 5 at least ;) My dream date? Having a snack with you on top of this beast :)
Is this thing street legal??? lol good video
RAMMING SPEED! :P
Do you ever just stop and think “dam, I have a cool job!”?
👍
What shall we plan for when the channel hits 100k?
Was gonna do a cover of Katyusha!
@@Sofilein me: drooling!
@@Sofilein 😏
That tank is quite a sight, but compared to something like the Büffel it's just not that great. I wonder why it was decided to not use the Abrams platform to come up with something new instead.
@@robertcogan7109 That seemed plausible initially, but after looking up the engines it turns out that the turbine does actually have more torque than the diesel, even at maximum hp. So there has to be more to it. Apparently there was even an M1 ARV prototype, but I guess Wikipedia isn't the most reliable source. 🙄
The 88 has good low end torque, a turbine engine you have to " spool up" to get the torque. Not to mention, you wouldn't want the turbine exhaust melting your paint.
@@robertcogan7109 Oh I sure don't. And that now deleted comment is a truly great way to deal with genuine Interest, Mr Record-Keeper! For the record then, if I hadn't been part of pulling power packs in and out of tanks and said tanks out of the mud -properly with the winch - I probably wouldn't even care about ARVs, just like everybody else, and wonder why the US Military went a route different to that of Germany, UK, or even France. Oh well, let it be torque. It's BS, but it sounds a lot better than budget and "This will do for now" resulting in a missed opportunity.
@@robertcogan7109 Abrams doesn't, but M1150 ABV does, in addition to the huge mine plow, and if you watch that thing how it pushes either one through the soil, torque is hardly the issue with that turbine.. Russia built BREM-80U ARV, turbine powered.
If you look at the M1 Grizzly, it has a massive dozer blade too. Again it was apparently budget that kept it from entering service and eventually the M1150 being chosen instead.
The basics were done with the Grizzly at least, replacing the turret with a superstructure and adding an APU to power the hydraulics. So what's the story with that mysterious M1 ARV prototype?
And no worries, Robert. We both kinda became victims of the evil interwebz here. Just like you shouldn't assume that everybody is automatically connecting your name to the familiar face in the videos, I should have been more specific and given you my military background and experience that actually led me to wonder and spark those doubts. Just so you would actually know on what level we could talk. I'm sorry that I didn't. Communicating can be hard at times. 🙄
I really appreciate your efforts in bringing the collection to the public. Continuing here after work and trying to answer questions is even more impressive. Thanks for that, even if might sometimes go the wrong way. 😉
I was stationed in Munster, Germany in the early/mid 90s and I spent countless hours in the tank museum there for the lack of anything better to do. I can almost smell it when watching the videos of your collection. 😂
But see, when my bataillon got 2 prototypes of the PzH 2000 for field trials it was already clear that the Leopard 1 based Bpz 2 wouldn't be able to handle those things because of the increased weight over the M109 and be replaced as well. Now the Abrams was already in service for over a decade when somebody finally noticed that the M88A1 wasn't enough and the upgrade to A2 was needed, and now wer're talking A3, again quite some time later. Sure, the Abrams got even heavier over the years and upgrades would be normal, but we're talking about a recovery tank here that was already an oldtimer when the Abrams arrived. Hell, the German Army got them along with the M48, but when the Leopard arrived a few years later the ARV was pretty much good to go too.
I've been talking to former German operators of the M88 as well as Americans back when Hohenfels was still called CMTC, and while everybody was insanely proud of their machines, I didn't fail to notice the criticism. Sluggish. Not really being able to keep up. No crane traverse being a major PITA...
That's really not something new, yet they keep deciding to stick to the design even though the Abrams platform has proven to work in similar applications.
So to me that really looks like the technically possible solution just didn't fit into the budget when it would have had to.
My problem is that people are more impressed by cannons rather than cranes, winches, and dozer blades, so while history of the Abrams is well documented and easily accessible, it's an entirely different story when it comes to projects running more or less parallel to that and ended with a cancellation rather than some sort of contract.
I'm over 50 and I still wish I was in....
cool) you are a resizer)
FIRST!!!
fast as fuq boi
@@Sofilein gotta be fast round here