Beach Beauty

Beach Recovery Vehicles (BRVs) tow or push vehicles which are drowned or bogged in during beach landing operations. They are also used to push back and re-float landing craft grounded in a falling tide. The Royal Marines’ BRV, known as the Hippo, is intended for deep wading but can still be damaged if water enters above its maximum wading depth. Checkmate Flexible Engineering designed and built flexible intake and out-take covers which can be quickly closed in order to protect the vehicle. Currently, four Hippos are in service, one each on HMS Albion and Bulwark, with two used by 11 Amphibious Trials and Training Unit Royal Marines (ATTURM).