The Nigerian orders for Vickers Mark 3 MBTs placed in 1981, 1985 and 1991 each included six bridgelayers. The Vickers Armoured Bridgelayer (VAB) is designed to transport, launch and recover a tank bridge which is 13.41 m long and to provide a clear span of military bridge of Class 60/70. The bridge is launched over the front of the vehicle, with the bridge launching equipment hydraulically operated with power supplied by a pump driven by a PTO from the main engine.