Ukrainian engineers transformed a captured Russian T-62 tank into what can only be described as an armored recovery vehicle.
According to Roman Sinicyn, the Military Coordinator for the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, Ukrainian engineers modified a seized T-62 medium tank for use in combat to recover (tow) or repair battle-damaged, stuck, and/or inoperative armored fighting vehicles, such as tanks and armored personnel carriers.
“The crew of this vehicle is shielded by tank armor, our specialists installed a crane, replaced the turret with an armored “wheelhouse,” and added additional tanks and tools,” said Sinicyn.
He also mentioned that the cost of the project amounted to UAH 1.6 million (forty-six thousand dollars), which was raised through the foundation’s crowdfunding campaign.
The T-62, a Soviet medium battle tank from the 1960s, was the subject of the modifications. The first T-62 prototype was completed in 1959, and in 1961, the tank was officially accepted into service with the Soviet Army.
The Russian Armed Forces are facing a shortage of tanks as they rebuild units to deploy back into Ukraine. Due to a scarcity of operational modern tanks, they are deploying outdated T-54/55 and T-62 tanks to Ukraine.