Tag Archives: Marine ACV

Looks like the ACV is really happening

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How about this photo series recently posted by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, showing operational Marine Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) at play from a big ‘phib.

An amphibious combat vehicle with Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, launches from amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 14, 2025. Elements of the 11th MEU embarked Boxer to conduct integrated training off the coast of Camp Pendleton, California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms)

A U.S. Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicle with Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducts an open-water transit prior to embarking the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 14, 2025. Elements of the 11th MEU embarked Boxer to conduct integrated training off the coast of Camp Pendleton, California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms)

U.S. Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicles with Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to embark the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 14, 2025. Elements of the 11th MEU embarked Boxer to conduct integrated training off the coast of Camp Pendleton, California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms)

Based on the Italian Iveco SuperAV 8×8, the BAE-produced ACV is the replacement for the troubled and long-serving (circa 1972) AAVP-7A1, the last of the Marine Corps amtracs.

These guys:

The legacy AAVP7.. AAV7A1 assault amphibious vehicles transport Marines with 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion and 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, both with 2d Marine Division, for a wet-gap amphibious crossing as part of a company-sized infiltration on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 10, 2021. The infiltration focused on maneuvering across complex terrain and picket lines with near-peer capabilities in an unscripted force-on-force scenario. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline C. Arre)

Whereas the 29 ton AAVP-7A1 was a giant (26 foot long, 11 tall and wide) bread box that was clad in 45mm of armor and was good for 45mph on surfaced roads and 7 knots in the water, the even heavier (32 ton) and larger (30 feet by 10 by 10) ACV can carry about half the personnel (13 Marine passengers vs 21) but can at least do it faster, with a published speed of 65mph on paved roads and 6 knots on the water.

The Corps announced the delivery of the 300th ACV at its BAE production facility in York, Pennsylvania, earlier this month. That’s about half of the way to the finish line of 623 vehicles, based on the latest program of record, to equip its three active and one reserve Assault Amphibian Battalions.

2d Amtrac Battalion Hangs Up its Tracks

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Earlier this year, the Marines’ 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion received its first new 32-ton Amphibious Combat Vehicles. Based on the Italian Iveco SuperAV, the Marines plan to buy 632 of these big 8x8s to replace the Corps’ 1,300-odd remaining circa 1970s tracked AAVP-7 variants.

The new ACV. This is the P transport variant. About a half of the ACVs will carry either a stabilized dual-mount M2/Mark 19 grenade launcher turret in a support role or a 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II (XM813) chain gun in a fighting role (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Leo Amaro)

The legacy AAVP7. “AAV7A1 assault amphibious vehicles transport Marines with 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion and 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, both with 2d Marine Division, for a wet-gap amphibious crossing as part of a company-sized infiltration on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 10, 2021. The infiltration focused on maneuvering across complex terrain and picket lines with near-peer capabilities in an unscripted force-on-force scenario. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline C. Arre)

While the AAV is as tall as a house and can carry two dozen uncomfortably, it also does it slowly and with a terrible safety record, giving the ACV, which can only carry 13 passengers but make 65 mph on roadways, a bright shining ray of hope.

The 2d AABn just completed the first amphibious combat vehicle crewmember course on Camp Lejeune, making the redesigation official this week. 

U.S. Marines and instructors with 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2d Marine Division, pose for a photo upon completion of the first amphibious combat vehicle crewmember course on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 28, 2025. The crewmembers are tasked with the operation and maintenance of the Marine Corps next-generation amphibious combat vehicle platform in support of 2d MARDIV. (U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Lance Cpl. Frank Sepulveda Torres)

The ACVs have arrived

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U.S. Marines assigned to Alpha Company, BLT 1/5, 15th MEU, recently made history by launching the new Amphibious Combat Vehicles from the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) to conduct a live-fire, waterborne gunnery range during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Oyster Bay, Philippines, on 4 May. A promised upgrade from the troublesome (and often extremely dangerous) AAVP-7A1, which was first entered service in 1972.

U.S. Marine Corps photos by Sgt. Patrick Katz, Cpl. Aidan Hekker, and Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle:

A U.S. Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicle attached to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, splashes off the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during Exercise Balikatan 24 in Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Palawan, Philippines, May 4, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared

Amphibious combat vehicles attached to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, drive in formation back to the amphibious landing dock USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) following a waterborne gunnery live-fire training during Exercise Balikatan 24 in Oyster Bay, Philippines, May 4, 2024.  

U.S. Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicles attached to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct an open water transit to return to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during Exercise Balikatan 24 in Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Palawan, Philippines, May 4, 2024.  

As noted by the USMC PAO:

The waterborne operations and live-fire training marked the first employment of the ACV platform in the region, underscoring the United States Marine Corps’ commitment to modernizing the force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.