US Marines Receiving New ACV and AAV and conducting live firing in Action

As disciplinary hearings continued at Camp Pendleton for Marine Corps officers involved in the deadly sinking of an amphibious vehicle in 2020, a new type of amphibious troop carrier splashed into the chilly Pacific waters at the west end of the base as the service prepared for its first deployment. The Amphibious Combat Vehicle, or ACV, has been in development for years as a replacement for the Vietnam War-era Assault Amphibious Vehicle, commonly called an AAV or “amtrack.” The service’s need for new amphibious transports was brought to the forefront in July 2020 when the 35-year-old amtrack sank off the coast of San Diego, costing the lives of eight Marines and a sailor. The Marines of 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, alongside troops from the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, took their ACVs into the sea last week for the first time since the service halted all waterborne amphibious operations in December. The Corps at that time pulled AAVs from waterborne operations permanently, barring any crisis or other need; they continue to serve on land. The new ACVs also were pulled from waterborne use after an issue with their tow ropes was found. That’s been corrected, the Marines said, and operations resumed a week ago.