Today in WW II: 23 May 1943 Adm. Döntiz, commander of the German Navy, calls off the Battle of the Atlantic, recognizing that the U-boat is no longer an effective weapon. More ↓

23 May 1944 Allied breakout from Anzio beachhead.
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M1249 MRAP Recovery Vehicle (MRV Wrecker)

The M1249 MRAP Recovery Vehicles (MRV) is a heavy-duty wrecker, developed for use in the recovery of damaged or disabled Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles, the heaviest vehicles in the US inventory, as well as any other military vehicle. The first M1249 MRAP Recovery Vehicles were deployed to Afghanistan, arriving in March 2011. 250 M1249 MRVs have been ordered to replace existing heavy wreckers.

The M1249 is designed to be very efficient for recovering MRAPs, with a large capacity boom that can perform rear, front and side recovery operations in places where other recovery vehicles would not be able to maneuver efficiently. 10th Platoon, 1221st Engineer Clearance Company, South Carolina National Guard received the first M1249 MRV dispatched. An 80-hour Operator's Training Course (which awards H8 Recovery Operations Additional Skill Identifier) was provided to Soldiers and contractors who will be using the new equipment.

M1249 MRAP Recovery Vehicle (MRV Wrecker) on display during its debut at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, 14 March 2011..

M1249 Military Recovery Vehicle rolls a derelict vehicle during new operator equipment training, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, 9 April 2011..