A Chieftain Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridge during Exercise LIONHEART, West Germany, 1984

Photograph, West Germany, 1984.

An armoured vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB) is a type of combat support vehicle, usually operated by combat engineers. It is designed to help quickly deploy tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles across gaps and other obstacles. The AVLB is usually a tracked vehicle converted from a tank chassis to carry a folding metal bridge instead of weapons.

Held between 3 September and 5 October 1984, LIONHEART was the largest military exercise in Europe since the end of the Second World War, and the largest ever conducted by NATO. In total 131,565 NATO troops took part. It was the first major exercise with the Challenger 1 Main Battle Tank. It cost Britain more than £100 million in today's money.