Abstract: A grooved winch drum is driven by a reversible hydraulic motor. A pump supplies fluid to the motor through a system using an electrically controlled four-way, flow direction valve associated with a counterbalance valve and a manually adjustable flow control valve. The four-way valve controls the direction of drum rotation and the flow control valve regulates the drum rotational speed. The motor drives the drum through a planetary gearing which includes a ring gear normally held from rotation by a friction clutch band, spring biased into engaged position but releasable by the application of hydraulic pressure from a separate pump supplied through a second system that includes a second flow control valve. The flow control valves for the motor and clutch are each associated with a cam operator mounted on a shaft rotated by a lever which also carries a three position electrical switch to control the four-way valve.