The prototype of the bridgelayer was based on the chassis of a Pz 61 tank but production vehicles, designated the Bruckenlegepanzer 68, were based on the Pz 68 tank chassis. The bridge is launched as follows: the vehicle stops short of the obstacle and the bridge is tilted forwards, a beam is slid over to the far bank and the bridge is then advanced along the beam. Once the bridge has reached the far bank, the beam is retracted. The bridge has an overall length of 18.23 m and a maximum capacity of 60,000 kg, its normal capacity being 50,000 kg. The bridgelayer has a crew of three and weighs 44,600 kg complete with the bridge. More recently these have been fitted with a fully automatic hydraulic bridgelaying system and redesignated the Bru Pz 68/88. The bridge and bridgelaying system used with this vehicle have also been utilised by Jung Jungenthal of Germany for its M47 and M48 tank chassis conversion to the armoured bridgelayer role.