Ukraine, according to the new military aid package announced by the White House yesterday, March 3, will receive armored vehicle launched bridges from the United States for the first time.
The White House statement did not specify which model was mentioned, but the American media have established that these will be M60 AVLBs, created on the basis of the M60A1 tanks of the Cold War, according to The Drive.
The total number of bridgelayers that will be included in this aid package is not yet known. The entire package is estimated at about $400 million. and is a so-called “withdrawal”, that is, it will be formed directly from the US military’s own stocks.
The AVLB, based on the M60 series, was used by the US Marines in service in the 1980s, but the basic design is much older. The US Army put them into service for the first time in the early 1960s.
The basic version of the M60 tank, on which the initial versions were based, began to enter service with the army in 1957. These AVLBs have been built over time using the hulls of several M60 variants.
It is noted that the most significant difference between the M60 AVLB, which is operated by a crew of only two, and the M60 tank is the removal of the tank turret and its replacement with a hydraulic bridge launcher.
The bridge itself is kept folded in half while the vehicle is moving, and then decomposed by an appropriate mechanism. It usually takes a crew two to five minutes to install the bridge and about 10 minutes to load it back onto the vehicle.
The original construction of the bridge is about 18 m long and about 4 m wide. Subsequently improved designs that appeared were characterized primarily by an increase in the allowable weight.
The exact weight the bridge can support depends on how it is set up, as it will be able to support heavier equipment if most of it is on stable ground.
For example, versions of the bridge used with the M60 AVLB can support the weight of the current generation M1A2 SEPv3 tank, tipping the scales up to about 72 tons, but only if placed across a gap of no more than 14.5 meters wide, the publication notes. with reference to the relevant army manual.
The bridgelayer is not armed, but the armored hull provides protection for the crew during the mission. It can also be equipped with smoke grenade launchers or create a large smoke screen by pumping fuel into its exhaust systems.
For Ukrainian forces, even a relatively small number of AVLB M60s can provide additional useful mobility and flexibility on the battlefield. This can be valuable both in support of offensive operations and in opening up new avenues for units that can make strategic withdrawals or otherwise change positions during defense.
Recall that the German Embassy in Ukraine reported yesterday that this country has already transferred to Kiev nine Biber armored bridge layers, each of which can deploy a 22-meter bridge in a matter of minutes.
Source: The Drive
US announces new package of military aid to Ukraine
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.