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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
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AVLB question
Jack_Turmoil
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Michigan, United States
Joined: February 09, 2016
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Posted: Tuesday, October 09, 2018 - 08:03 AM UTC
I've been researching the M48 AVLB. I found some decent images, but one thing bothers me. I can't find any type of accurate information on the service lives of the M48 AVLB or M60 AVLB. One site said the M60 AVLB was currently being used, as the M1 version wasn't going to be fielded until 2017. Another site said the M60 AVLB was retired in 2008. Information on the M48 AVLB seems pretty much nonexistent, online.

Anyway, does anyone know the service dates of both the M48 AVLB & M60 AVLB? Also, which version of the M48 uses 3 rollers and which one uses 5? I read something about A3s possibly having either.

Thanks
HeavyArty
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Posted: Tuesday, October 09, 2018 - 09:33 AM UTC
M48A5 based AVLBs as in the Dragon kit were fielded in the mid-'70s to augment the M60 AVLBs and were still in use by Army National Guard units well into the '90s. As to the number of return rollers, it depends on which hull they were built on. Most M48A3 and A5 hulls had 5 rollers, but could have only 3 if upgraded from an earlier hull. Earlier marks (A1 and A2) had only 3 return rollers.

Most active Army units fielded M60 AVLBs by the early-'70s. M60 AVLBs are still in use in most units as the M1 JAB (Joint Assault Bridge) is just now being fielded.

Jack_Turmoil
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Posted: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 - 08:47 AM UTC
Thanks Gino!
GulfWarrior
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 - 09:07 AM UTC
I still wanna build one though, even with it's flaws. It still looks like it would make a cool dio.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2018 - 01:27 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I still wanna build one though, even with it's flaws. It still looks like it would make a cool dio.


Agreed. I plan on transfering all the bridging parts to an M60 hull to buid an M60 AVLB.
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
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Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2018 - 05:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I've been researching the M48 AVLB. I found some decent images, but one thing bothers me. I can't find any type of accurate information on the service lives of the M48 AVLB or M60 AVLB. One site said the M60 AVLB was currently being used, as the M1 version wasn't going to be fielded until 2017. Another site said the M60 AVLB was retired in 2008. Information on the M48 AVLB seems pretty much nonexistent, online.

Anyway, does anyone know the service dates of both the M48 AVLB & M60 AVLB? Also, which version of the M48 uses 3 rollers and which one uses 5? I read something about A3s possibly having either.

Thanks

M48A3s were rebuilt from M48, M48A1 and M48A2 tanks. So you will get a mix of support rollers. Then M48A5s were rebuilt from M48A3s and M48A1s.

I don't know about the life span, but as late as 1986, my guard unit had the M48A5 hulled AVLB. The 50th Armor Division was an M48A5 equipped tank division. I had trained on the M60 AVLB at school and there were some differences in bridge launching controls. I do not know what variant of the M60 that hull was based on.
Kenaicop
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Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2018 - 06:01 AM UTC
We also had at least one M48 AVLB in 1/3 ACR At Ft. Bliss from when I got there in 1985 until I left in 1989 or so. It was all green. We also had a few M60 bridges too, not sure if any were old M60A2 hulls.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2018 - 06:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text

the M60 AVLB at school and there were some differences in bridge launching controls. I do not know what variant of the M60 that hull was based on.


Many of the later M60 AVLBs were based on M60A2 hulls after the M60A2 was removed from service in 1981. These M60A2 AVLB retained the CBSS bulge at the rear of the hull. This is the version I plan to build.






Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
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Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2018 - 05:38 PM UTC
Yes, but in 1983, the AVLB I trained on was very old. A2s hadn't been out of the system for very long and might have been still in use somewhere.

I'm not saying it wasn't an A2, but an M60A2 AVLB would have been brand spanking new in 1983.

This is a quote from wiki, and if more or less true, I probably trained on an M60 (A-nothing) hulled AVLB. Since they say A2 ones didn't begin until 1987. But I really don't know for sure.

I'd almost think that the M48A5 AVLB was a newer vehicle than the M60 AVLB I trained on. Much like the M48A5 came after the M60 and original M60A1s.


Quoted Text

The M60 AVLB is based on the M60 or the M60A1 hulls. Initial construction of the M60 AVLB was from 1963 to 1967. Most of the hulls for the M60A1 AVLB were former M60A2 Pattons converted to AVLBs from 1987 to 1996.
Reforger-Victim
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Hessen, Germany
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Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2018 - 07:03 PM UTC
I ll wait for the AFV Club M60 AVLB
tankerken6011
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Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 04:02 PM UTC
Is AFV Club doing one?
Ken.
chnoone
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Armed Forces Europe, United States
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Posted: Friday, November 23, 2018 - 11:25 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I've been researching the M48 AVLB. I found some decent images, but one thing bothers me. I can't find any type of accurate information on the service lives of the M48 AVLB or M60 AVLB. One site said the M60 AVLB was currently being used, as the M1 version wasn't going to be fielded until 2017. Another site said the M60 AVLB was retired in 2008. Information on the M48 AVLB seems pretty much nonexistent, online.

Anyway, does anyone know the service dates of both the M48 AVLB & M60 AVLB? Also, which version of the M48 uses 3 rollers and which one uses 5? I read something about A3s possibly having either.

Thanks


This magazine:
Journal Of Armored And Heliborne Warfare (6): 7806: v. 6 (Concord - Assault Series)

.... features some pics of "Iron Journey EX" in Oct. 2002 in Germany and it seems the 40th Engineer Battalion still operated M48 AVBLs with 3 return rollers at this time.

Hope this helps
Cheers
Christopher

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