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. | |
| Type | Armored recovery vehicle |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Israel, United States, United Kingdom |
| Wars | Vietnam War Lebanese Civil War Gulf War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | FMC Corp. |
| Manufacturer | FMC Corp. (vehicle body), General Motors Corp. (transmission)[1] Bowen-McLaughlin-York |
| Produced | 1962 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 54,000lbs/ 24,493.998k |
| Length | 18 ft 3.8 in (5.583 m) |
| Width | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) |
| Height | 8 ft 7.5 in (2.629 m) |
| Crew | 3 men:
Crane operator in cab right front Rigger in cab left front Driver in hull left front |
Main armament | .50-caliber M2HB machine gun |
| Engine | General Motors 8V71T; 8 cylinder, 2 cycle, vee, supercharged diesel 345 hp @ 2,300 rpm |
| Suspension | Torsion 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
Austria: Austrian Army
Brazil: Brazilian Army
Denmark: Royal Danish Army
Egypt: Egyptian Army
Greece: Hellenic Army
Israel: Israel Defense Forces
Jordan: Royal Jordanian Land Force
Lebanon: Lebanese Armed Forces
Morocco: Royal Moroccan Army
Portugal: Portuguese Army
Turkey: Turkish Army
Thailand: Royal Thai Army
United Kingdom: British Army- United States: United States Army
South Vietnam: Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Vietnam: People's Army of Vietnam
Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabian Army
Yemen – Yemen Army
References
- Defense Industry Bulletin, April 1968, p. 47.
- Ripley, Tim (1992). The new illustrated guide to the modern US Army. Salamander Books Ltd. pp. 138–139. ISBN 0-86101-671-8.
- TM 9-2320-238 dated 1963-1964
- TM 9-2350-238 dated 1963-1962
