Photo By Sgt. Zaid Dannsa | Lance Cpl. James Sanders, a tank mechanic from Company E, 4th Tank Battalion, pulls a...... read more read more
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CAP DRAA, Morocco – The ‘battle buddy’ system is a principle taught to Marines from day one of recruit training: don’t go anywhere without your buddy, watch you buddy’s back, etc …
The M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles and the M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks of Company E, 4th Tank Battalion, have also adopted this practice, the tanks never going on a mission without the Hercules close-by.
The Fort Knox, Ky., based Company E shipped their tanks and Hercules to the hardened soils of Tan Tan, Morocco to cross-train with the Moroccan military during exercise African Lion 2011.
The Hercules is 70 tons of steel on tracks, capable of pulling more than double its weight. Outfitted with various winches and towing mechanisms, it is equipped to get just about anything out of trouble.
“There isn’t much this thing can’t do,” bragged Lance Cpl. Paul Poe, a tank mechanic with Company E. “This thing is a beast.”
Sergeant Andrew Hedrick, a recovery chief with Company E, recalled when his unit was called upon to lend a hand to an Army Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle stuck in a ditch more than a year ago. The Hercules arrived at the site to find the MRAP rolled on its side down a six-foot embankment. The Hercules effortlessly stood the MRAP upright and lifted the 14-ton MRAP back onto level ground.
Exercise African Lion gave Hedrick’s fresh-out-of-school tank mechanics a chance to learn their craft and expand their expertise operating the recovery vehicle. The Marines cross-train, so that everyone in the crew learns to perform their tank mate’s duties.
“Everybody is getting trained on everything,” said Poe, a Bledsoe, Ky., native. “One day you’re a rigger, the next day you’re a driver.”
Traveling never far behind a tank, the three man crew outfits their armored Hercules with fire-breathing M2 .50 caliber heavy machine guns and an optional grenade launcher.
The piston-driven, 140 diesel engine recovery vehicle is also capable of refueling and defueling, making it more than the Abrams’ best friend. It can extend its hose to lend out some of the 500 gallons of fuel it carries or receive fuel when needed.
The presence of the Hercules, and its mechanics, assures tank operators they will be able to train in rough and rugged terrain with their international allies.
With a couple hours of maintenance daily on the 27-foot-long Hercules, mechanics keep it up and running behind Company E’s tanks, ready to recover any if the unfortunate need ever arises.
“We’re here to support 4th Tank Battalion and perform all recovery operations here, as well as maintain all tanks,” said Hedrick, a six year veteran with the unit and a Charlotte, N.C., native.
African Lion is an annually scheduled, bilateral exercise between the Kingdom of Morocco and the U.S. that involves more than 2,000 U.S. service members and approximately 900 members of the Royal Moroccan armed forces.
| Date Taken: | 05.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2011 09:34 |
| Story ID: | 71249 |
| Location: | CAP DRAA, MA |
| Web Views: | 179 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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