Lost Military Tank Found; Four Soldiers Still Missing

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A U.S. military armored vehicle that disappeared in Lithuania has been successfully recovered from a swampy area following an extensive six-day search operation. However, questions remain about the whereabouts of the four American service members who were in the vehicle when it went missing.

Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene announced the recovery via Facebook early Monday morning, stating, “The armored vehicle was pulled ashore at 4:40 a.m., the towing operation is complete, Lithuanian Military Police and US investigators continue their work.”

🧵NATO’s EPIC swamp FAIL 💥💦

It took almost a week, but on Monday morning, rescue crews finally managed to extract a 60-ton US M88 Hercules armored vehicle from a Lithuanian swamp.

Here’s how a "routine" training exercise took a dramatic turn (1/8)👇 pic.twitter.com/ZFuG0AH8FA

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 31, 2025

The incident began during a training exercise at the expansive General Silvestras Zukauskas training facility in Pabrade when the vehicle and its occupants, all members of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, vanished early Tuesday morning.

In her Facebook post, Sakaliene urged patience and discretion, saying, “Until the investigators have more details, we need to stay calm and focused, and keep in mind the sensitivity of the situation and the concerns of the soldiers’ families.” She emphasized to the press that any information regarding the soldiers’ status would come directly from U.S. military authorities.

US Army vs. Lithuanian swamp: 63-ton tank still winning

Attempts to retrieve four stranded US soldiers and a 63-ton M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle from the Pabrade swamp near the Belarusian border have so far been unsuccessful.

After US Navy divers couldn’t even hook… https://t.co/JUwhI09x3S pic.twitter.com/mDb2dppsjp

— @PalasAtenea🍊 (@AthenaMia2nd) March 31, 2025

The search effort involved hundreds of Lithuanian and American military personnel and rescue workers, who scoured the dense woodland and marshy areas near Pabrade, located just 10 kilometers from the Belarusian border. The M88 Hercules vehicle was located Wednesday, submerged in 4.5 meters of water.

The recovery operation faced significant challenges due to environmental conditions. Military officials reported that water accumulation, deep mud, and unstable ground surrounding the site necessitated specialized equipment for water drainage and ground reinforcement before the 70-ton vehicle could be safely extracted.