TM 5-5420-203-14
g. Transport of the AVLB system (Class 60/Class 70 Bridges) for Air, Rail, Sea and Highway
Mode of Transportation
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(c) Sea For sea or waterway transport (cargo, roll on/roll-off, barge, float bridge, etc.) of the
AVLB system, it is desirable that the AVLB system (launcher and bridge) be shipped as one unit (bridge
in transport mode on the launcher).
With respect to the bridge envelope, the Class 70 bridge is
approximately 700 lbs heavier and 3.5 inches wider than the Class 60 bridge; their physical configurations
appear to be nearly the same, only that the class 70 bridge is made of four quarter-sections, while the
class 60 bridge is made of eight panels.
Both bridges fold the same at the center hinges into their
scissored transport mode aboard the launcher.
NOTE
With the bridge mounted in the transport mode on its launcher, there is a height restriction
problem (approximately 13 feet), which would obstruct crew visibility when navigating a
barge (landing craft) from its bridge. In this case, it would be desirable to ship the launcher
and bridge in two separate units.
Both the Class 60 and Class 70 bridges will have a total
of eight lift points mounted along the outboard side; of the bridge girders that can be easily
attached to for lift of the folded bridge by a crane at dockside. The crane could lift the bridge
from the hold of a ship, set it on the ground in folded configuration, and the launcher could roll
out and proceed to retrieve the bridge for transport by the unit.
(d) Highway. For highway transport, it is preferred that the whole scissored bridge (Class 60 or
Class 70) be shipped as an (OVERSIZE WIDE LOAD) by either commercial or military vehicles. The
overall maximum heights of the scissored bridge loaded on a semitrailer (lowbed or flatbed) are
approximately 13 feet and 12 feet, respectively. Shipping the whole bridge intact saves on disassembly
and re-assembly time and work. The bridge can be launched onto these trailers by its launcher or lifted
onto the trailers by use of a crane or two forklifts as explained above. The transport of the wide load
requires escort vehicles and the appropriate state highway permits
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