M88-Hercules tank rescued by missing US soldiers in Lithuania

In Lithuania, the rescue workers succeeded after day-long efforts to rescue the military vehicle sunk in the mud in the mud. According to Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene, the almost 70 -ton of tons could be lifted from a swampy water on the military training area in Pabrade on Monday night with the help of mountains and other heavy equipment. It initially remained unclear whether the missing soldiers are in the vehicle.

Lithuania’s army chief Raimundas Vaiksnoras also confirmed the recovery of the M88 Hercules Mountain Contrant to the US Army. “The salvage was completed at 4.30 a.m.,” said Sakaliene in the Lithuanian radio. Previously, two ropes were attached to the tank by divers on Sunday evening to pull it out of the mud. According to Sakalien, two mountains and two Bulldozer were used for anchoring.

In order to get the tank, which was almost five meters deep and below the waterline, the helpers had to dry the swampy area at the point. They pumped water and mud for days after the swamp -like floor around the rescue location had been stabilized with poured gravel and sand. However, there were always setbacks – so the salvage campaign was thrown back on Sunday by a landslide.

From the Lithuanian side, there was initially no information on whether the soldiers were inside the secure vehicle. Sakaliene said that the military police and US investigators are currently on site. Further information could only be given by the US Army, emphasized the Minister of Defense.

The four US soldiers have been missing since last Tuesday. After an exercise, in which, according to US information, they carried out a planned tactical training, they were no longer found. The Lithuanian military and the police then started a joint search with the US military. This finally led to the location of her tank in a water on the practice area. Pabrade is located on the NATO-East flank not far from the border with Belarus.

Hundreds of soldiers and rescue workers were involved in the large -scale commitment. The work was supported by a unity of the Polish army. The sympathy in Lithuania is also high: In Vilnius’ cathedral, there was a joint prayer for the missing soldiers on Sunday. Soldiers from the Bundeswehr also took part in the public service who are stationed in the Catholic Baltic State.

This article has been updated.