Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge M48A51-5

AVLB M48A5: General
Manufacturer Unit Rig and Equipment Co. Crew
2 men:
  • Commander in hull center right
  • Operator in hull center left
AVLB M48A5: Dimensions
Weight with bridge 126,700lbs
57,470kg		 Height with bridge 152.4"
387.1cm
Length with bridge 444"
1,130cm		 Width with bridge 158.4"
402.3cm
Tread 115.0"
292.1cm		 Ground clearance 15"
38cm
Ground pressure, with bridge 14.4psi
1.01kg/cm²
AVLB M48A5: Armament
None
Night vision
AN/VVS-2 Night Vision Viewer or Infrared periscope M24
AVLB M48A5: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 4.33"
11.0cm		 60°
Lower front 4.0" to 2.4"
10cm to 6.1cm		 53°
Front sides 3.0" equivalent
7.6cm equivalent		 0°
Rear sides 2.0" equivalent
5.1cm equivalent		 0°
Exhaust grille 1.0" equivalent
2.5cm equivalent		 0°
Lower rear 1.6" to 1.2"
4.1cm to 3.0cm		 30° to 60°
Top 2.25"
5.72cm		 90°
Front floor 1.5"
3.8cm		 90°
Rear floor 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
AVLB M48A5: Automotive
Engine Continental AVDS-1790-2D or -2DA; 12 cylinder, 4 cycle, 90° vee, supercharged diesel
Horsepower Net: 643@2,400rpm
Gross: 750@2,400rpm		 Torque Net: 1,575 ft-lb@1,750rpm
Gross: 1,710 ft-lb@1,800rpm		 Fuel capacity 385gal
1,460L
Transmission General Motors CD-850-6A, 2 ranges forward, 1 reverse
Steering Mechanical, T-bar
Brakes Multiple disc
AVLB M48A5: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 6 independently sprung dual/track 5 dual/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
11-tooth rear drive Dual compensating at front of track On first 2 and last road wheels/track
AVLB M48A5: Track
T97E2
Center guide, double pin, rubber chevron
Width 28"
71cm		 Pitch 6.94"
17.6cm		 Shoes/track 80 Ground contact length 166.72"
423.47cm
T142
Center guide, double pin, replaceable rubber pad
Width 28"
71cm		 Pitch 6.94"
17.6cm		 Shoes/track 80 Ground contact length 166.72"
423.47cm
AVLB M48A5: Performance
Max level road speed 30mph sustained
48kph sustained		 Max trench 84"
210cm
Max grade 30% Max sideslope 15%
Max vertical obstacle 18"
46cm		 Min turning diameter Pivot
Max fording depth 48"
120cm

The hulls of the M48 tank were converted into bridgelayers, with the M48A2C being the standardized model (though some M48A1s were also converted). The conversion involved removing the turret and housing the crew within the turret ring under cupolas with rear-hinged hatches. The bridge launching and resting equipment was installed on the hull roof, and the scissors-type bridge was stowed on the top of the hull. Class 60 bridges spanning either a 40' (12m) or 60' (18m) span with a roadway width of 150" (380cm) were carried. Hydraulic cylinders raised the bridge from the chassis, lowered it to the ground, and finally unfolded it. AVLBs were upgraded with the diesel engine from the M48A5 beginning in the late 1970s, so the diesel vehicles could have either 3 or 5 return rollers. Improved cupolas with pivoting hatches were mounted with the diesel conversions. The bridge could be emplaced in 2-5 minutes, and slope limits when launching the bridge were 15% uphill and downhill and 8% to the side. Without the bridge, the vehicle was 339.6" (862.6cm) long, 118.8" (301.8cm) tall, and 142.8" (362.7cm) wide, and it weighed 97,200lb (44,100kg) with a 9.0psi (.63kg/cm²) ground pressure.

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References

  1. TM 5-5420-226-10 C9 Operator's Manual Launcher and M48A5 Tank Chassis, Transporting: For Bridge, Armored-Vehicle-Launched Scissoring Type, Class 60 5420-01-076-6096. Washington, D.C.: Headquarters, Dept. of the Army, 1 Dec 2006.
  2. TM 5-5420-226-20-1 C8 Organizational Maintenance Manual M48A5 Tank Chassis, Transporting: For Bridge, Armored-Vehicle-Launched; Scissoring Type, Class 60 (5420-01-076-6096). Washington, D.C.: Headquarters, Dept. of the Army, 2 Feb 2007.
  3. TM 5-5420-226-34 C4 Direct Support and General Support Maintenance M48A5 Tank Chassis, Transporting: For Bridge, Armored-Vehicle-Launched; Scissoring Type, Class 60 (5420-01-076-6096). Washington, D.C.: Headquarters, Dept. of the Army, 29 Dec 2006.
  4. Hunnicutt, R.P. Patton: A History of the American Main Battle Tank, volume 1. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1984.
  5. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
Last updated 9 Jan 2023.
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