Page "Armoured recovery vehicle" Paragraph 3

The first true ARVs were introduced in World War II, often by converting obsolete or damaged tanks, usually by removing the turret and installing a heavy-duty winch to free stuck vehicles, plus a variety of vehicle repair tools.

Some were also purpose-built in factories, using an existing tank chassis with a hull superstructure to accommodate repair and recovery equipment.

Many of the latter type of ARV had an A-frame or crane to allow the vehicle's crew to perform heavy lifting tasks such as removing the engine from a disabled tank.