Recovery of Submerged US Tank in Lithuania Nears Completion as Hope for Missing Soldiers Fades
Nearly six days after the M88 Hercules tank sank during a NATO exercise near the Belarusian border, recovery crews have attached a tow cable, but the fate of the four US soldiers remains uncertain.
- The M88 Hercules tank, with four US soldiers aboard, sank in a swamp near Pabrade, Lithuania, on March 25 during a NATO training exercise.
- Rescue teams from Lithuania, Poland, and the US have located the tank four meters below the surface and attached a tow cable to begin extraction.
- The cause of the accident remains under investigation, with speculation about a potential navigation system defect.
- Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda expressed hope for a miracle despite diminishing chances of survival for the soldiers.
- A church service in Vilnius honored the missing soldiers, while the US Army's European headquarters thanked NATO allies for their support in the recovery efforts.
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Sächsische Zeitung 
Augsburger Allgemeine 
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