Takom 2088 US Tank M31 Recovery Vehicle

The M31 Recovery Vehicle is an American tracked evacuation vehicle from the Second World War. The first prototypes of this car were made at the end of 1942, and the serial production started at the beginning of 1943. It is estimated that about 800 vehicles of this type were built in the course of the project. The length of the car's hull was about 5.6 meters, with a width of about 2.7 meters. Car it did not have factory-fitted fixed weapons. The M31 Recovery Vehicle was built for the US Army as the first in its history, mass-produced, tracked evacuation vehicle. In order to shorten the research and development work, the new vehicle was based on the hull and many mechanical components of the M3 Lee medium tank. The main changes concerned the dismantling of the weapons (both the 75 mm guns from the hull and the 37 mm guns from the turret, as well as machine guns) and their replacement with dummy cannon barrels and a crane located in the turret. In addition, the interior of the car was completely changed and two large boxes for tools were added at the rear of the vehicle. The car also received a winch.