ARV Vehicles

This type of Armored Recovery Vehicle typically has a large winch.

This allows the ARV to hook up to a stranded vehicle without having to risk getting stranded itself.

Sometimes more purpose built vehicles will have a spade or dozer blade to allow them greater purchase when towing a vehicle with a winch.

Some of my Roco vehicles have the little wheels and some don't.  They are kind of fun, but on the other hand they roll down slopes.

This vehicle has a bow machine gun, because sometimes they take fire from the enemy.

Two different types of T34 armored recovery vehicle.
 

Boom Tank

While a vehicle that can tow disabled tanks out if the mud, and snow, is great, having a vehicle that can help replace an engine or transmission too is even better.

This Roco T34 has been modified to just such a vehicle.

A few pieces of scrap sheet plastic, a couple pieces of plastic rod, and Roco wire spool, and a little hook and you have everything you need to make this vehicle.

Many tanks burn engines and transmissions out quickly.  

Having a crane tank like this can make the difference in keeping a tank in service and having to leave it behind.
 

T-34 ARV

This Roco Minitank might be 50 years old.

In the 1970s I was reading about Soviet Union making armored recovery vehicles out of the T34.

The simple version is remove the turret, weld over the hold in the hull top, and add a hatch.

I added a couple tow cables.

And some tools.  This model sat unpainted for over 40 years until this week.  Not detail painted, but good enough for wargaming.
 

Cold War Soviet Engineer Gear

This is the rocket launcher that was hiding under yesterdays tent.  I am not sure what it is actually supposed to be.

The tent from yesterday for comparison.

 A group of large cargo trucks.

Support vehicles from my heavy engineer unit.  Note road rollers on the left side.

AVLB on T54 chassis.

Note the upper left a farm tractor, used for towing large aircraft, and the small van that had it's roof repaired a while ago when it was blue.

 Another view of the skip loaders.