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    HomeMilitaryMarine Corps' New Amphibious Vehicles Face Sea-Based Operation Challenges

    Marine Corps’ New Amphibious Vehicles Face Sea-Based Operation Challenges

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    The U.S. Marine Corps has reached a critical milestone in testing the operational capabilities of its new amphibious combat vehicles (ACVs) during their first deployment, this time from a ship rather than land.

    090708-N-5538K-109 U.S. Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit direct an amphibious assault vehicle to the well deck of the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9) during Talisman Sabre 2009, a training exercise in the Coral Sea on July 8, 2009. Talisman Sabre is a biennial combined training exercise designed to train Australian and United States forces in planning and conducting combined task force operations. DoD photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey H. Kyhl, U.S. Navy. (Released)

    The deployment, part of the Balikatan exercises in the Philippines, not only demonstrates the ACVs’ combat readiness but also presents a unique opportunity to learn valuable lessons in maintaining and operating the fleet from a maritime platform.

    The ACVs, which are set to replace the dated amphibious assault vehicles, saw action with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Amphibious Combat Vehicles Platoon conducting a live-fire, waterborne gunnery range exercise.

    This event marked the ACVs’ first operational use in an overseas environment since their introduction.

    Program Executive Officer for Land Systems, Stephen Bowdren, emphasized the significance of this deployment.

    He stating, “Performing repairs and routine care from the well deck of an amphibious ship raises a whole other set of challenges for the Marines.”

    The drills also tested the service’s ability to predict and supply the parts that would be in demand during normal operations.

    “So we’re going to gain a lot of great information on how that goes,” Bowdren said.

    The Readiness Control Board, established by the Corps, is tasked with studying the lessons learned from the ACV’s maintenance, training, and any other aspects affecting readiness.

    070501-N-0193M-288 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (May 1, 2007) – During a capabilities exercise, amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs) maneuver on the beach as part of a comparison exhibit with the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) for Department of Defense personnel and Marines at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. The exercise showcased the capabilities of the new EFV, a concept vehicle designed to replace the amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) currently used by Marine forces. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elizabeth Merriam (RELEASED)

    Findings from these studies could lead to engineering change proposals that might alter the production of future ACVs.

    120211-M-UY543-013 A U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle assigned to Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit comes ashore during a mechanized raid in support of Cobra Gold 2012 in Hat Klad, Thailand, on Feb. 11, 2012. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled joint/combined exercise designed to ensure regional peace and strengthen the ability of the Royal Thai Armed Forces to defend Thailand or respond to regional contingencies. DoD photo by Cpl. Jonathan Wright, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

    BAE Systems was contracted by the Marine Corps to create and manufacture four different models of the vehicle.

    The personnel and command-and-control variants are currently being produced, while the ACV 30mm cannon variant is undergoing testing.

    The design and development phase of the ACV recovery vehicle has already been finalized, as stated by BAE Systems.

    Discussing the project, Bowdren mentioned that the variants share approximately 80% of their components.

    Consequently, based on the insights gained during the current deployment, the program office may decide to limit modifications to solely the personnel variant or opt for changes across the entire class during production.

    Relevant articles:
    Amphibious combat vehicle’s first deployment may yield repair lessons, yahoo.com
    Amphibious combat vehicle’s first deployment may yield repair lessons, Defense News
    Marines’ New Amphibious Combat Vehicle Makes Operational Debut in Annual Philippines Exercise, Military.com
    Amphibious Combat Vehicles Mark Operational Debut in Pacific, Seapower

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