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NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

STANAG 4478
(Edition 1)

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

RECORD OF AMENDMENTS

No. Reference/Date

amendment

Date entered

Signature

EXPLANATORY NOTES

AGREEMENT

1.

This NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) is promulgated by the Director

NATO Standardisation Agency under the authority vested in him by the NATO
Standardisation Organisation Charter.

2.

No departure may be made from the agreement without informing the tasking

authority in the form of a reservation. Nations may propose changes at any time to the
tasking authority where they will be processed in the same manner as the original
agreement.

3.

Ratifying nations have agreed that national orders, manuals and instructions

implementing this STANAG will include a reference to the STANAG number for purposes
of identification.

RATIFICATION, IMPLEMENTATION AND RESERVATIONS

4.

Ratification implementation and resercation details are available on request or

through the NSA websites (internet

http://nsa.nato.int

; NATO Secure WAN

http://nsa.hq.nato.int).

FEEDBACK

8.

Any comments concerning this publication should be directed to NATO/NSA, Bvd

Leopold III, 1110 Brussels - BE.

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

STANAG 4478

(Edition

-1-

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

NAVY/ARMY/AIR

NATO STANDARDIZATION AGREEMENT

(STANAG)

EMERGENCY TOWING AND RECOVERY FACILITIES FOR TACTICAL LAND VEHICLES

Annexes:
A.

Minimum Vertical Clearance Angles for Suspended and Supported Towing
(Wheeled Vehicles Only)

Winching Loads and Angles for Tracked and Wheeled Vehicles

Tables of dimensions of towing lugs for each class of vehicle

Minimum Clearance Envelope from Recovery Eye/Lug (Wheeled and Tracked
Vehicles)

Minimum Draw-bar Horizontal and Vertical Articulation Angles from Recovery
Eye/Lug (Tracked Vehicles)

Minimum Draw-bar Horizontal and Vertical Articulation Angles from Recovery
Eye/Lug (Wheeled Vehicles)

Related Documents:

STANAG 2604

Braking systems between tractors, draw-bar trailer and semi-trailer
equipment combinations for military use

STANAG 3548

Tie-down fittings on air transported and air dropped equipment and
cargo carried internally by fixed wing aircraft

STANAG 4062

Slinging and tie-down facilities for lifting and tying down military
equipment for movement by land and sea

STANAG 4101

Towing Attachments

AIM

1.

The aim of this agreement is to standardize the type of emergency towing and

recovery facilities of tactical land vehicles and trailers for use by the NATO Armed Forces.

AGREEMENT

2.

Participating nations agree to adopt certain design features which will ensure

interoperability of the emergency towing and recovery facilities (recovery eyes/lugs), of
tactical land vehicles and trailers for use by the NATO Armed Forces.

DEFINITIONS

3.

The following terms and definitions are used for the purposes of this Agreement:

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

STANAG 4478
(Edition 1)

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

a. Curb

Weight. The weight of the vehicle/trailer fully equipped and serviced for

operation, including fuel, lubricants, coolant, vehicle tools and equipment, but
without crew, personal equipment or payload. It is also known as net or tare
weight.

b. Gross Vehicle Mass. Mass of a vehicle, expressed in kilograms, fully

equipped and serviced for operation, including the mass of the fuel,
lubricants, coolant, vehicle tools and spares, crew, personal equipment and
pay load.

c. Pay

Load. The load (mass of cargo, equipment or passengers expressed in

kilograms) which the vehicle is designed to transport under specified
conditions of operation, in addition to its curb weight.

d. Recovery. The process of extricating a vehicle or equipment casualty from

the place where it becomes disabled or defective and moving it to the first
place where the crew can continue with their task, where repairs can be
effected or from where the vehicle or equipment casualty can be backloaded.

e. Recovery

Eyes/Lugs. Eyes or lugs used for emergency towing, recovery

lifting for suspended tow and as winching attachments.

f. Suspended

Tow. A means of recovery by lifting the wheeled vehicle, with

the wheeled vehicle suspended below the recovery beam using shackles or
chains in order that the front or rear axle(s) are clear of the ground.

g. Supported

Tow. A means of recovery by lifting the wheeled vehicle from

under the front or rear using suitable forks to support the wheeled vehicle
above the recovery beam in order that the front or rear axle(s) are clear of
the ground.

Tactical Land Vehicle. A military vehicle, whether designed primarily for
military use or adapted from a commercial vehicle, which has specialised
military characteristics to fit it for use by forces in the field in direct connection
with, or in support of, combat operations or the training of troops for such
operations.

DETAILS OF AGREEMENT

4.

Scope of Agreement

STANAG 4478 is for use by the following NATO Forces:

(1)

NATO

Army

Forces;

(2)

those elements of NATO Naval and Air Forces operating in a ground
role, e.g. marines, naval landing parties and Air Force ground
personnel.

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STANAG 4478

(Edition

-3-

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This Agreement applies to the following:

(1)

new procurement and designs of tactical land vehicles including
vehicles of standard commercial design whenever equipped with
additional emergency towing and recovery attachments and trailers;

(2)

tactical land vehicles and trailers in service which could be modified
at reasonable cost without major adverse changes to their military
characteristics;

Whilst this STANAG has been prepared to accommodate the methods used
to recover tactical land vehicles in hostile times/environments it is not
intended to exclude the use of civilian towing and recovery techniques which
may be employed in peacetime conditions.

The eyes/lugs referred to in this STANAG may be multi-functional and could
be used for other purposes, e.g. slinging from helicopters or for loading on
board ships, and for tie-down for transport on rail cars (wagons) or semi-
trailers.

General

Emergency towing and recovery facilities shall meet the following criteria:

Four recovery eyes/lugs for emergency towing and recovery purposes are
required. Two shall be fitted to the front of the vehicle and two to the rear.
The eyes/lugs should stand proud with clear access, as due consideration
should be given to ease of fitting the towing and recovery equipment when
positioning the eyes/lugs and the possibility of operators wearing restrictive
(Arctic) clothing. Front and rear eyes/lugs shall be of the same size
conforming to Annex C.

Trailers which have fixed drawbars shall have rear recovery eyes/lugs only.
All other trailers shall have eyes/lugs conforming to 5(a).

All recovery facilities shall be capable of safely recovering the vehicle under
all conditions when loaded to its Gross Vehicle Mass. This should be
certified in writing by designers/manufacturers prior to delivery.

On armoured vehicles the recovery eyes/lugs shall be welded or bolted to the
hull, two at the front and two at the rear conforming to Annexes C and E to
this STANAG.

On unarmoured wheeled tactical land vehicles and trailers:

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

STANAG 4478
(Edition 1)

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

(1)

The eyes/lugs shall be fitted at the front to the main longitudinal
members or a substantial front cross member and at the rear to the
chassis frame and shall conform to Annex C (rear only on fixed
drawbar trailers).

(2)

Supported Tow. Where possible, brackets, meeting the same criteria
as the eyes/lugs, shall also be provided to enable recovery by
supported tow. When access to the chassis frame is not possible,
provision should be made for lifting by the axle or from the existing
recovery eyes/lugs. These facilities shall have front and rear support
tow clearance requirements as shown in Annex A.

(3)

Suspended Tow. In all cases of recovery eyes/lugs specifically
provided for suspended tow, the design and positioning of these items
on the vehicle shall conform to the configuration requirements of
Annexes A, C and D.

Winching. Each recovery eye/lug and its method of attachment shall be
capable of withstanding without visible damage or without permanent
deformation, the application of a load equivalent to 1.5 times the Gross
Vehicle Mass, applied within the angles of articulation shown at Annex B to
this STANAG, centred on an axis parallel to the centre line of the vehicle.

The relevant dimensions ensuring commonality for each class of tactical land
vehicle are shown at Annex C to this STANAG. Provided that these
dimensions are maintained, the shape of the eyes/lugs may be manufactured
to suit national requirements.

Clearance Envelope. The minimum recovery eye/lug clearance envelope
required to facilitate the attachment of shackles and recovery equipment is
shown at Annex D to this STANAG. This clearance envelope must also
accommodate all articulation angles stipulated in section 5.k. and Annex E
(tracked vehicles) or Annex F (wheeled vehicles).

If any nation wishes exceptionally to place the recovery eyes/lugs behind the
front bumper on wheeled tactical land vehicles, it must provide a hole in the
front bumper for fitting the towing and recovery equipment. This hole must
have a minimum horizontal dimension of five times A and the minimum
vertical dimension of two times C (Annex C). It must be noted that this
method of fitting the eyes/lugs, which necessitates the fitting of adaptors
should be discouraged, it leads to bumper damage and difficulty in fitting the
towing and recovery equipment therefore its use must be fully justified.

If the recovery eyes/lugs are located behind the front bumpers the lug shall
have a minimum above clearance of 90 mm from the front cross-member to
the centre of the hole (shown in Annex D to this STANAG).

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STANAG 4478

(Edition

-5-

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

NOTE: Supported tow shall be either from special brackets fitted to the
chassis frame, the vehicle axles or from the recovery eyes/lugs (see section
5.e.(2)). Supported tow angles in accordance with Annex A shall be
applicable from all facilities intended for supported tow.

The minimum articulation angles for emergency towing and recovery of both
wheeled and tracked tactical land vehicles are shown at Annexes E (tracked
vehicles) and F (wheeled vehicles) to this STANAG and are described as
follows:

From Recovery Eye/Lug - Annex E (Tracked Vehicles)

and Annex F (Wheeled Vehicles)

(i)

Vertical Articulation Angles. The minimum permissible articulation
angle shall allow a fitted recovery drawbar a vertical travel angle of
40°, above and below the horizontal axis of the casualty vehicle,
before any fouling occurs.

(ii)

Horizontal Articulation Angles. The minimum permissible
articulation angle shall allow a fitted recovery drawbar a horizontal
travel angle of 22.5°, either side of the centre axis of the casualty
vehicle, before any fouling occurs.

(iii)

Adaptors and Spreader Bars. Both of the above conditions shall
also apply if the recovery drawbars are attached to the recovery
eyes/lugs by means of adaptors or spreader bars at either the front or
rear of wheeled and tracked tactical land vehicles.

If the vehicle is fitted with air operated brakes coupling attachments shall be
provided at the front and rear of the vehicle to facilitate the coupling of
suitable air lines from the recovery vehicle. The type and positioning of these
couplers are defined in STANAG 2604.

m. Pintle towing assemblies of the appropriate size can, wherever practicable,

be selected as a recovery facility, and may be fitted to the front of wheeled
vehicles.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT

6.

This STANAG is considered implemented when a nation has issued the necessary

orders and instructions putting the contents of this agreement into effect.

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX

STANAG 4478

(Edition

A-1

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX A

MINIMUM VERTICAL CLEARANCE ANGLES FOR SUSPENDED AND

SUPPORTED TOWING (WHEELED VEHICLES ONLY)

NOTE: Clearance may only be about 60

in this example. However 90

is desirable.

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX

STANAG 4478

(Edition

B-1

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX B

WINCHING LOADS AND ANGLES FOR TRACKED AND WHEELED VEHICLES

(Newtons) = 1.5 x Gross Vehicle Mass x 9.81 M/sec

Each recovery eye/lug shall be capable of withstanding the application of a load F

when used for

suspended tow.

Each recovery eye/lug shall be capable of withstanding the application of a load F

applied within

the limits of the cone shown.

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX

STANAG 4478

(Edition

C-1

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX C

TABLE OF DIMENSIONS OF TOWING LUGS FOR EACH CLASS OF VEHICLE

Rad E

Ground Level

GROSS VEHICLE MASS RANGE P (Pin)

(mm)

A
(mm)

B
(mm)

C (mm)
Minimum
Distance

E
(mm)

UP TO AND INCLUDING
5,000 kg

19.05
± 0.2

22.2
± 0.8

20.50
± 0.3

25.4

20.00
+0
-0.8

OVER 5,000 kg and UP TO
and INCLUDING 10,000 kg

25.4
± 0.2

34.9
± 0.8

26.5
+ 0.3
- 0

31.75

32.15
+ 0
- 0.8

OVER 10,000 kg and UP TO
and INCLUDING 35,000 kg

37.5
+ 0
- 0.4

44
± 0.8

38.5
+ 0.5
- 0

38.1

38.2
+ 0
- 0.8

OVER 35,000 kg and UP TO
and INCLUDING 70,000 kg

57.2
± 0.3

50.8
± 0.8

60.0
+ 0.3
- 0

63.50

62.3
+ 0
- 0.8

Distance D : On Battle Tanks = 1270 mm ± 3.2
Distance F : This distance is dependant on the type of Tactical Land Vehicle

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX

STANAG 4478

(Edition

D-1

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX D

MINIMUM CLEARANCE ENVELOPE FROM RECOVERY

EYE/LUG (WHEELED AND TRACKED VEHICLES)

(b) Minimum Clearance Requirement (Front Elevation)

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX

STANAG 4478

(Edition

D-2

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

MINIMUM CLEARANCE ENVELOPE FROM RECOVERY

EYE/LUG (WHEELED AND TRACKED VEHICLES)

(c) Minimum Clearance Requirement (Side Elevation)

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX

STANAG 4478

(Edition

E-1

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

MINIMUM DRAW-BAR HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ARTICULATION ANGLES

FROM RECOVERY EYE/LUG (TRACKED VEHICLES)

(a) Vertical Articulation Angles

(b) Horizontal Articulation Angles

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX

STANAG 4478

(Edition

F-1

NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED

ANNEX F

MINIMUM DRAW-BAR HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ARTICULATION ANGLES

FROM RECOVERY EYE/LUG (WHEELED VEHICLES)

(a)

Vertical Articulation Angles

(b)

Horizontal Articulation Angle