Amongst all these special vehicles prepared for the landing in Normandy the Sherman BARV stands apart by its unique silhouette and doesn't have anything to compare with any other fighting vehicle. Following the experience of the landings in North-Africa and in Italy it was decided to complete a specially designed vehicle to evolve on the beaches to put back the landing crafts afloat and tow the damaged or stranded vehicles close to the shore. This fully watertight Sherman version, with its heightened structure, its vents and its protected air intakes, could operate in at least 2m50 of water. About 52 BARV are ready just in time to see action for the landing of Normandy where they see action with the 'Beach Groups'. The BARV also participated in the crossing of the Rhine and remained in service until in the fifties.
In 1944, three Tiger Ausf.E heavy tanks were converted to Bergetiger recovery vehicles by removing the main armament and fitting it with a small tubular crane atop the turret.
M31B1 was based on the M3A3 Lee. The 75mm gun rotor was replaced by a door fitted with a dummy tube, and a crane replaced the 37mm gun in the turret. The turret was rotated to the rear when not in use, and a dummy 37mm tube was attached to the turret rear to keep the appearance of a fighting vehicle. The turret machine gun mount was the British style seen on the cruiser tank Grant I instead of the normal Lee cupola. The crane could lift 10,000lbs (4500kg) without the supporting boom jacks extended, 12,000lbs (5400kg) with the jacks attached to the front hull, or 30,000lbs (14,000kg) with the support legs on the ground. A 60,000lb (27,000kg) capacity winch was added in the fighting compartment, and the cable was spooled out of the turret and over the crane boom or out the rear of the TRV. Tool boxes were also added to the rear sponsons and above the dummy 75mm gun.