The M48A2 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB) was developed using the M48 Patton tank chassis, and is intended to provide assault bridging capability for armored and mechanized infantry battalions. The vehicle is intended mainly to help such units conduct hasty crossings of relatively short gaps and obstacles.

The M48A2 AVLB’s crew can deploy the bridge from within the vehicle without exposing them to hostile fire, and the bridge can be retrieved from either end. The bridge itself was designed to support 60-ton loads, and can span a gap of up to 18m in three minutes.

The chassis is based on the M48A2C, modified by removing the turret, installing a boom assembly to deploy the bridge, a tongue assembly to control the bridge, and the bridge seal and hydraulic systems. The two-man crew is seated side by side below the turret ring, with the driver on the left and the commander on the right. A vision cupola was installed above each crew station. The controls for launching and retrieving the bridge are located in front of the driver‘s seat.

Three of these AVLBs were issued to the armored engineer companies of each armored brigade. The M48A2 AVLB was eventually replaced by the Biber AVLB, which was mounted on a Leopard I chassis.