The Caterpillar 988B RTCH Rough Terrain Container Handler is used for handling standard 20 ft and 40 ft ISO containers with a maximum weight of up to 22.6 t. This container handler is used by supply, ammunition and transportation units. Production of the RTCH commenced in 1981 and ceased in 1985. A total of 320 rough terrain container handlers were delivered to the US Army.

Basically the Caterpillar 988B RTCH it is a modified commercial Caterpillar 988B Wheel Loader without lifting arms and bucket, mated with a Caterpillar model AH60 (60,000 lb. Capacity) forklift mast. Later production models were based on the Caterpillar 988F Wheel Loader. The 988B RTCH Rough Terrain Container Handler can stack and unstack containers two high. There was a variant of this container handler, fitted a low-mount fork assembly. It could lift half-height containers. The vehicle is operated by a single operator. This machine carries no armament as it is intended to operate in supply units and is designed to operate over rough terrain and in water up to 1.5 m deep. This allows the vehicle to operate at beaches.

Specification highlights:

• Engine: Caterpillar 3408 Turbocharged diesel engine
• Power: 393.0 hp
• Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight: 116.844 lb
• Lifting capacity: 26.2 tonnes
• Maximum road speed forward: 24.8 mph
• Gradient: 30%