M60 AVLB

The M60 AVLB (Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge) is a combat engineering vehicle designed to deploy a 60-foot (18-meter) scissors-type bridge. It is based on the chassis of the M60 Patton main battle tank and is used to cross gaps, ditches, and small rivers.

Developed in the late 1950s to replace aging M48-based bridging systems, the M60 AVLB officially entered service with the United States Army in 1963 to provide rapid mobility support for armored divisions. The vehicle saw extensive combat deployment during the Vietnam War, where it cleared obstacles in difficult jungle terrain, and later played a crucial role in breaching Iraqi defensive lines during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Although the U.S. military has largely transitioned to the modern Joint Assault Bridge (JAB), the M60 AVLB remains in active service with several international partners, cementing its legacy as a highly reliable engineering asset.