The M32 tank recovery vehicle was an armored recovery vehicle (ARV) used during World War II and the Korean War by the United States, and was based on the chassis of the M4 Sherman medium tank.

It was armed with two machine guns and a mortar mainly to provide cover for an emergency retreat.

The range and fuel capacity likewise varied between 120–150 mi (190–240 km) and 148–175 US gal (560–660 L), respectively, depending on the engine and base vehicle.

Based on British combat experience from earlier in the war, the United States Ordnance Department determined that the Army would need vehicles that could be used to recover armored vehicles that had been damaged in combat.

[2] Many M32s were later converted into M34 prime movers, which were unarmed and fitted with additional equipment used to tow heavy artillery pieces.

[7] The serial production of the M32 was started by Lima Locomotive Works, which converted five M32B2s in June 1943.

Baldwin Locomotive Works and the Federal Machine and Welder Company were licensed to produce M32 variants in November 1944.

[6] The A1 variants, which were converted by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1945, also served until the end of the Korean War.

[11] Especially during the Korean War, the M32 was considered inadequate for its role as an armored recovery vehicle because the power of the engine was insufficient to pull new, much heavier tanks, such as the M26 Pershing and M46 Patton.

[12] Earlier variants' narrow tracks also gave the vehicle insufficient flotation to move over poor terrain such as mud and snow.

[citation needed] Some M32B1s were also shipped to Britain under lend-lease, where they were designated the ARV Mark III by the British Army.

[13] In 1944, the Ordnance Department experimented with the M26 Pershing-based T12 Armored Recovery Vehicle, but it became too expensive and was never put on the production line.

[20] They were used to maintain and support the fleet of M4A1E6 Shermans and M36B2 Tank Busters of the Armored Corps and saw service during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.