Technical Manual (TM 5-5420-200-12) for AVL 48A2 Launcher and AVL Bridge March 1962 FSN 5420-542-3052
$4,444.00
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TM 5-5420-200-12 (1962)
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This Technical Manual TM 5-5420-200-12 covers the AVL 48A2 Launcher and AVL Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge, identified under FSN 5420-542-3052 and FSN 5420-522-9599, and is dated March 1962. For collectors of U.S. Army technical manuals, armored engineer equipment references, bridge-launching system literature, and Cold War military publications, this is a strong period document tied to one of the Army’s specialized mobility and combat-support systems.
Because this is a -12 technical manual, it belongs to the operator and organizational maintenance side of Army documentation. In practical terms, manuals in this category were intended to support day-to-day use, inspection, servicing, and unit-level maintenance of the equipment covered. That gives this publication more value than a simple identification reference and makes it especially useful for collectors, researchers, and restorers who want original service-era documentation.
The AVL 48A2 Launcher and Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge
The AVL 48A2 Launcher and Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge belong to the broader family of U.S. military combat engineer, armored mobility, and bridge-launching equipment. As identified by their nomenclature, these were components of a vehicle-launched bridging system intended to help armored and mechanized forces cross obstacles quickly in the field.
Equipment in this class was associated with overcoming gaps, ditches, anti-tank obstacles, canal crossings, and other terrain problems that could delay or stop advancing forces. In military service, armored vehicle launched bridge systems were especially important because they combined protection, mobility, and rapid deployment, allowing engineer units to support combat operations without relying solely on fixed bridges or slower conventional bridging methods.
For collectors, that makes this manual especially interesting because it documents the technical side of Cold War armored engineer support equipment rather than more commonly seen combat hardware alone. It is also a strong crossover piece for anyone interested in military bridging systems, armored engineer vehicles, and U.S. Army mobility-support equipment. The inclusion of FSN 5420-542-3052 and FSN 5420-522-9599 adds cataloging value for collectors who prefer manuals with specific government stock-number references rather than only general nomenclature.
What This Manual Covers
As an operator and organizational maintenance technical manual, TM 5-5420-200-12 would have been intended to support the official Army use and service support of the AVL 48A2 Launcher and AVL Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge.
In practical terms, a manual like this is especially relevant for:
- nomenclature and identification
- operator-level procedures
- launch and bridge-handling reference
- inspection and servicing guidance
- organizational maintenance information
- archival and restoration research
That makes it useful not only as a collectible, but also as a practical reference for anyone studying how the Army documented armored bridge-launching equipment during the early Cold War period.
Historical Significance
The date March 1962 places this publication in the early Cold War period, when the U.S. military maintained extensive technical literature covering not only weapons and armored vehicles, but also the engineer equipment required to preserve battlefield mobility. Manuals like this reflect a period when Army documentation extended into every part of the combat-support chain, including bridge-launching systems, armored engineer support vehicles, maintenance tools, and field mobility equipment.
For collectors and historians, this manual is especially relevant to subjects such as:
- Cold War U.S. Army technical manuals
- armored vehicle launched bridge systems
- combat engineer and mobility-support equipment
- armored bridging and obstacle-crossing equipment
- dated military technical publications
Because it covers a specialized bridge-launching system rather than a more common tactical vehicle or weapon system, it also adds variety to collections that already include standard ordnance or maintenance manuals.
About This Manual
This listing is for Technical Manual TM 5-5420-200-12 for the AVL 48A2 Launcher and AVL Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge, identified under FSN 5420-542-3052 and FSN 5420-522-9599 and dated March 1962.
It is especially well suited for:
- U.S. Army technical manual collections
- Cold War engineer and armored-support displays
- bridge-launching and mobility-equipment collections
- museum exhibits on military engineer and support systems
- archive and research libraries focused on U.S. military technical publications
Because manuals were working documents, surviving examples are valued not only for their content, but also for their connection to real military training, maintenance, and support practice.
Why This Manual Matters
Many military manuals focus on tanks, artillery, or standard vehicles. This one documents the support side of battlefield mobility, specifically an armored bridge-launching system used to keep forces moving across obstacles. That makes it especially useful for collectors who want to preserve the broader technical and logistical picture of Army operations rather than only front-line combat hardware.
For collectors, it is a solid stand-alone Cold War technical manual with a specialized subject focus. For researchers, it offers a useful reference point for Army armored bridging documentation and engineer support history. For museums, it helps explain the behind-the-scenes systems that supported route opening, obstacle crossing, and operational mobility in the field.
Ideal For
This manual is a strong fit for:
- U.S. Army technical manual collections
- Cold War engineer and support-equipment displays
- armored bridge and mobility-equipment collections
- museum and archival reference libraries
- collectors of military paperwork and dated technical publications
Approx length 10", Approx width 8", Approx height .25", Approx weight 1lbs.
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