The Belgian Leguan replaced twelve ageing M48A2 AVLBs and, with the Pionierpanzer AEV, are the Last of the Breed of Leopards (or any tracked, armoured vehicle) in service in Belgium.
The name Leguan is an adaptation of the German word legen, meaning ‘to lay’. The main task of an AVLB (Assault Vehicle Launch Bridge) is to provide an armoured and/or mechanised combat formation with a fast solution to overcome natural obstacles, or artificial obstacles created by the enemy. This gives an attacking unit the element of surprise, not limiting the unit to the available intact civilian road and bridge infra-structure.
For the armour enthusiast, it describes the Belgian version of this rare bridgelayer in great detail, and shows you how it operates.
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