During WWII the Germans probably lost more armored vehicles to breakdown and abandonment than they did to having them actually knocked out by enemy action. Thanks to the lack of dedicated recovery vehicles, these broken down tanks were unable to be repaired and put back into service. The allies, however, had planned on being able to recover vehicles and were able to get a significant number of broken down tanks back into service.

Initially, recovery vehicles were just built up on the chassis of extant or even obsolete tanks. However it was realized that a specialized vehicle would be much more useful, so the US Army started developing a dedicated armored recovery vehicle. These would be able to lift even the heaviest tank, or at least pull it out of trouble and back to where it could be overhauled. It was felt that basing the running gear and engine on extant heavy tanks would be the way to go. Eventually, the M88 was developed and prodction started in 1958. Thirty years later and the US Army is still using the same basic vehicle as nothing has proven to be better.

This Walk Around by David Doyle briefly covers the developmental history of the M88 and its later M88A1 and M88A2 variants. He then gets into the body of the book, which is a look at all the different systems, bits and pieces of the M88. The book uses two very nicely preserved vehicles; and M88 and M88A1 to show all the differences between the gasoline and diesel powered versions. Interspersed with the  images from extant vehicles are those of the vehicle in Vietnam and other places. All are in full color and the book includes four views of the various camouflage schemes used by the M88, a very handy guide for the modeler. 

This volume is an excellent reference for the modeler and one that enthusiasts will want to add to their library.

March 2010

My thanks to Squadron Products for the review copy. Get yours today at your favorite shop or on-line retailer.

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