M578 light recovery vehicle

The M578 light recovery vehicle (G309) was an American Cold War-era armored recovery vehicle. The M578 utilized the same chassis as the M107 self-propelled gun and M110 self-propelled howitzer. The M578 provided maintenance support to mechanized infantry and artillery units. Its primary mission was to recover damaged light armored vehicles from the battlefield using its crane boom.

M578 LRV
An early US Army M578, circa 1965.
TypeArmored recovery vehicle
Place of origin United States
Service history
Used byIsrael, United States, United Kingdom
WarsVietnam War
Lebanese Civil War
Gulf War
Production history
DesignerFMC Corp.
ManufacturerFMC Corp. (vehicle body), General Motors (transmission)[1] Bowen-McLaughlin-York
Produced1962
Specifications
Mass54,000lbs/ 24,493.998k
Length18 ft 3.8 in (5.583 m)
Width10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
Height8 ft 7.5 in (2.629 m)
Crew3 men:

Crane operator in cab right front Rigger in cab left front

Driver in hull left front
Main
armament
.50-caliber M2HB machine gun
EngineGeneral Motors 8V71T; 8 cylinder, 2 cycle, vee, supercharged diesel
345 hp @ 2,300 rpm
SuspensionTorsion bar suspension
Operational
range
450 miles (724 km)
Maximum speed 37 mph (60 km/h)

Operation

The cab could rotate 360°, and had a 30,000 lb (13,600 kg) capacity winch[2] which ran through a crane on the cab. Another winch, 60,000 lb (27,000 kg) capacity,[2] was mounted on the front of the cab. Access to the cab was through a door on each side and by double doors in the rear, while the crane operator and rigger both had vision cupolas in the cab roof.

Users

See also

References
  1. Defense Industry Bulletin, April 1968, p. 47.
  2. Ripley, Tim (1992). The new illustrated guide to the modern US Army. Salamander Books Ltd. pp. 138–139. ISBN 0-86101-671-8.
  3. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. p. 451. ISBN 9781032012278.
  4. International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2021). "The Military Balance 2021". The Military Balance.
  • TM 9-2320-238 dated 1963-1964
  • TM 9-2350-238 dated 1963-1962
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