The Probert Encyclopaedia of Warfare

AVRE

The AVRE (Armoured Vehicle, Royal Engineers) was a British tank designed during the Second World War, following the failure of the 1942 Dieppe raid when engineers were prevented from clearing obstacles by enemy fire, to defeat various types of obstacle. It was based on the Churchill Tank, and was armed with a special short-range mortar firing a heavy demolition charge, for use against pillboxes. The use of various modular attachments allowed it to fill ditches, lay bridges, set demolition charges, or lay tracks for soft vehicles.
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