A Ukrainian Bradley rescues its wingman from the mud. Armored vehicles face a multitude of dangers, including artillery, ATGMs, FPV drones, tanks, and other IFVs, but the risks afforded by the terrain are often overlooked. Inclines and embankments can cause vehicles to roll. Lakes and rivers can be risky – in 2003, an Iraqi T-55 backed away from a fight with us and rolled off a small bridge spanning a canal, landing upside down and drowning the crew. And then, of course there is mud, which can mire a vehicle, keeping it from the fight and leaving it vulnerable to enemy fire. A well-trained unit has standard operating procedures in place for conducting a recovery, which can be made even more difficult if they come under fire while trying to extricate their vehicle.

My wingman in 2003 was a great guy, but he developed a reputation for getting stuck in the sand or in the mud of the Fertile Crescent at highly inopportune moments. During one episode, the maintenance chief and I had to extricate his vehicle while enemy mortars bracketed our position, a situation which resulted in the good sergeant tending 55-gallon oil drums filled with burning poop and diesel fuel. In the U.S. the standard fee for a crew being recovered is a case of beer, though this Bradley crew would do well to give the crew of their wingman vehicle a bottle of vodka.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing is preparing for the 2024 season of sailing on Galveston Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico. You can support the mission and next year's sailing season at Tri-Sail.Org.