Technical Manual (TM 5-5420-200-35) for AVL 48A2 Launcher and AVL Bridge September 1961 FSN 5420-542-3052
$4,444.00
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SKU
TM 5-5420-200-35
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This Technical Manual TM 5-5420-200-35 covers the AVL 48A2 Launcher and AVL Bridge, identified under FSN 5420-542-3052, and is dated September 1961. 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 -35 technical manual, it belongs to the higher-level maintenance side of Army documentation rather than simple operator use. Manuals in this category were intended to support more advanced servicing, inspection, repair, adjustment, and technical maintenance functions. That gives this publication strong technical and workshop-oriented value for collectors, researchers, and restorers.
The AVL 48A2 Launcher and AVL Bridge
The AVL 48A2 Launcher and AVL Bridge belong to the broader family of U.S. military combat engineer, armored mobility, and bridge-launching equipment. As identified by the title, this system was designed to launch and emplace a bridge from an armored vehicle platform, placing it squarely in the support side of battlefield mobility rather than in the category of conventional weapons.
Systems in this class were associated with rapid obstacle crossing, allowing armored and mechanized forces to move across ditches, cuts, canals, and other barriers that could otherwise delay or stop an advance. That makes this manual especially interesting from a historical standpoint. Instead of documenting a tank or weapon alone, it preserves the technical side of the specialized engineer equipment that helped keep combat formations moving.
For collectors, that gives this manual added appeal. It represents the mobility and engineer side of Army readiness and fits especially well in collections focused on armored engineer vehicles, bridge-launching systems, tracked support equipment, and Cold War combat engineering.
What This Manual Covers
As a -35 technical manual, TM 5-5420-200-35 would have been intended to support higher-level maintenance and technical service functions for the AVL 48A2 Launcher and AVL Bridge.
In practical terms, a manual like this is especially relevant for:
- nomenclature and identification
- maintenance and servicing guidance
- inspection and adjustment procedures
- repair and troubleshooting reference
- higher-level technical support information
- archival and restoration research use
That makes it valuable not only as a collectible, but also as a practical reference for anyone studying how the Army maintained armored bridge-launching equipment during the early Cold War period.
Historical Significance
The date September 1961 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 5-5420-200-35 for the AVL 48A2 Launcher and AVL Bridge, identified under FSN 5420-542-3052 and dated September 1961.
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 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 .2", Approx weight 1lbs.
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