M60 AVLB

The M60 AVLB is an armored vehicle based on the M60 Patton main battle tank chassis used for the launching and retrieval of a 60 feet (18 m) scissors-type bridge. The AVLB consists of three major sections: the launcher, the vehicle hull, and the bridge.^[1]

Design

The M60 AVLB is based on a M60 Patton tank chassis, but instead of the tank's gun turret, it is equipped with a bridge launcher integrated into the chassis and mounted on top. When emplaced, the bridge is capable of supporting tracked and wheeled vehicles with a military load bearing capacity up to Class 70. The bridge can be retrieved from either end. The roadway width of the AVLB is 12 feet 6 inches (3.81 m). During deployments, bridge emplacement can be accomplished in 2 minutes, and retrieval can be accomplished in 10 minutes under armor protection.^[1]

Deployment

As of 1996, the U.S. Marines had an inventory of 55 bridges and 37 launchers.

Replacement

The U.S. Army and Marine Corps are planning to replace the AVLB with the DRS Technologies Joint Assault Bridge (JAB), which is an M1 Abrams tank chassis combined with an 18.3 metres (60 ft)-long scissor bridge. The M60-based AVLB was found to be slower and unable to keep pace with Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley armored vehicles, and its age was making it difficult to maintain and sustain with parts becoming obsolete. The JAB also has a faster deployment time, with a set-up of three minutes compared to AVLB’s six-minute set-up. First deliveries are planned in mid-2017, with low-rate initial production expected to be reached in 2019.^[2]

Statistics

General Information

Primary function: Armored vehicle used for launching and retrieving a 60-foot scissors-type bridge.

Manufacturer: Anniston Army Depot (ANAD)

Contractor: General Dynamics Land Systems Division

Power plant: AVDS-1790-2DA 12-cylinder diesel engine

Power train: CD-850-6A 2 speeds forward, 1 reverse

Introduction date: February 1987

Unit Replacement Cost: $749,000

M60A1 Tank Chassis

Weight, combat loaded: 56.6 tons (51.33 metric tons)

Ground clearance: 18 inches (0.4572 meters)

Length: 31 feet (9.44 meters)

Width: 12 feet (3.66 meters)

Maximum speed (governed): 30 miles/hour (48.3 km/h)

Cross country speed: 8–12 miles/hour (12–19 km/h)

Trench crossing: 8.5 feet (2.59 meters)

Range: 290 miles (464 kilometers)

Fuel capacity: 375 gallons (14.19 hectoliters)

Crew: 2 enlisted

Bridge

Length, extended: 63 feet (19.19 meters)

Length, folded: 32 feet (9.75 meters)

Bridge span: 60 feet (18.28 meters)

Width, overall: 13.1 feet (3.99 meters)

Width, roadway: 12.5 feet (3.81 meters)

Width, treadway: 5.75 feet (1.75 meters)

Height, unfolded: 3.1 feet (0.94 meters)

Weight: 14.65 tons (13.28 metric tons)

Variants

• M60 AVLB – based on the baseline M60 MBTs chassis
• M60A1 AVLB – upgraded version based on the M60A1 MBTs chassis

Operators

Exercise REFORGER '85, an M60 AVLB deploying its bridge on the banks of Lahn River in Central Germany.

•  Israel: 10× M60 AVLB in service with Israeli Army^[3]
•  Pakistan: M60A1 AVLB in service with the Pakistan Army^[4]
•  Singapore: 12× M60 AVLB in service with Singapore Army^[3]
•  Spain: 15× M60 AVLB in service with Spanish Army^[3]
•  United States: United States Army and United States Marine Corps
•  Greece: 12

See also

• List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
• G-numbers (SNL G301)
• M104 Wolverine
• M3 Amphibious Rig

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to M60 AVLB.

• Global Security's page on the M60A1 AVLB
• Marine Corps description