Chieftain AVLB

The Chieftain AVLB is an Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridge based on the chassis of the Chieftain main battle tank. It is designed to rapidly deploy a bridge over gaps and obstacles, allowing other vehicles to cross.

Developed in the late 1960s to replace aging Centurion-based systems, the Chieftain AVLB was created to ensure armored engineers could keep pace with the British Army's heavy Chieftain main battle tanks. Entering service in 1974, the vehicle became a cornerstone of British armored division mobility, particularly during its extensive deployment with the British Army of the Rhine. It saw active combat operations during the 1991 Gulf War, where it successfully cleared obstacles for advancing Coalition forces. The Chieftain AVLB was eventually retired in the early 2000s, replaced by the Challenger 2-based Titan AVLB after nearly three decades of frontline service.