Marines halt new amphibious vehicle use at sea after mishaps

The U.S. Marine Corps will keep its new amphibious combat vehicle — a kind of seafaring tank — out of the water while it investigates why two of the vehicles ran into trouble off Southern California’s coast this week amid high surf, military officials said Wednesday.

No Marines or sailors were injured when one of the vehicles rolled onto its side Tuesday in waves that were unusually high because of a storm in the southern hemisphere. The other one became disabled when waves as high as 8-feet (2.4 meters) slammed the coastline.

The mishaps prompted troops to leap out of the vehicles and make their way to shore at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. The mishaps were first reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The new vehicles were introduced to replace Vietnam War-era amphibious assault vehicles, one of which was involved in one of Marine Corps’ deadliest training accidents of its kind two years ago off Southern California’s coast.

Lt. Gen. David J. Furness, the deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for plans, policies, and operations, said the officials decided to halt waterborne operations involving the newer vehicles as a precaution while an investigation is underway. The Marine Corps will continue using the vehicles for land operations.

“This is the right thing to do,” Furness said in a statement. The effort will allow time to “ensure our assault amphibian community remains ready to support our nation,” he added.

In the July 30, 2020 amphibious vehicle accident, eight Marines and one sailor died when the vehicle sank rapidly in 385 feet (117 meters) of water off San Clemente Island. Seven of the Marines were rescued.

A Marine Corps investigation found that inadequate training, shabby maintenance and poor judgment by leaders led to the sinking.

The Marines use the amphibious vehicles to transport troops and their equipment from Navy ships to land. The armored vehicles that have machine guns and grenade launchers look like tanks as they roll ashore for beach attacks, with Marines pouring out of them to take up positions.

By NC ScoutPublished On: July 22, 2022Categories: Uncategorized1 Comment

About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

One Comment

CPL Antero Rokka July 22, 2022 at 06:21

Am I missing something here? I read both articles on these ACVs, and NOWHERE did it say who makes these POS. The Corps launched this bucket ‘o bolts two years ago.

Someone’s arse and nuggets at the drawing board, factory, and testing range should be in a sling or the brig. As well as all the salespeople and grifters who sucked on this contract.

“The competition for the final project ended in 2018 which saw the birth of an eight-wheel drive armoured fighting vehicle based on the Italian Iveco SuperAV produced by BAE Systems and Iveco starting ….” (When have Italian Marines won anything?)

…concept of rough surf or high waves…unfathomable by the original designers…coulda asked any Marine of a MEU: “Whadya need to safely and quickly get ashore?”

Same old BS: “General Dynamics and DARPA…”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibious_Combat_Vehicle

If this multi-million-dollar robbery had happened in China or NORK–the promoters, designers, and builders (maybe their entire extended family) would have gotten the Nicolae Ceaușescu “Wall of Shame Treatment,” and in RUSS–they would be in a frozen Siberian gulag.