The BARV, Beach Armored Recovery Vehicle, was based on the Sherman M4A2 Medium tank. The tank was adjusted to beach operations, it was waterproofed and the turret was replaced by a metal screen. It could operate in 2,7m deep water and was used to pull out other stuck vehicles and tanks or re-float small landing craft during the Battle of Normandy. About 60 Shermans BARV were deployed on the invasion beaches in France during World War Two.
The crew had one diver who had to attach towing cables to stuck vehicles. This BARV was photographed in Arromanches-les-Bains in 2014, on the 70th anniversary of D-Day, and belongs to a private collection – the Rex & Rod Cadman Collection. It is one of Hobart’s Funnies tanks, a selection of specialized armored vehicles named after Major General Percy Hobart.
Sherman M4A2 BARV
The Sherman M4A2 BARV (Bulldozer Armored Recovery Vehicle) was a specialized variant of the American M4 Sherman tank used during World War II for recovery and maintenance operations. The M4A2 BARV was primarily designed to recover damaged or immobilized tanks, clear obstacles, and assist in engineering tasks on the battlefield. It was built on the chassis of the M4A2 Sherman, which was powered by a GM 6046 diesel engine producing 375 horsepower. This engine gave the vehicle a top speed of around 24 mph (39 km/h) and a range of approximately 100 miles (160 km) on roads.
The most distinctive feature of the M4A2 BARV was its front-mounted hydraulic bulldozer blade. This blade could be raised, lowered, and tilted to clear debris, drag obstacles, and assist in recovery missions. Additionally, the vehicle was equipped with a winch system capable of pulling other vehicles or equipment out of ditches or mud.
The vehicle retained much of the armor and mobility of the standard Sherman, with up to 75mm of armor on the front. It was crewed by a driver, commander, and operator, and served with various British and Commonwealth units, particularly in the Normandy invasion and throughout the European campaigns. The M4A2 BARV was an essential asset in battlefield recovery, ensuring the mobility of armored forces during heavy combat.
