The United States Marine Corps uses a vehicle known as the AAV (Amphibious Assault Vehicle), officially named the AAV-7A1, to transport Marines wherever they need to be. It is fully tracked and and is now made by BAE Systems Land and Armaments, formerly known as FMC Corporation.

In a single lift, the Amphibious Assault Vehicle can transport the Marines and their gear to inland objectives as well as conduct mechanized operations and perform combat support in the water. Not only is it used by the Marines Corps, but also by other US forces.

FMC first introduced the LVT-7 in 1972, but then converted that model into the AAV-7A1 after it was ordered to implement the Service Life Extension Program. Those improvements added a better engine, transmission, and various weapons and operational capabilities of the vehicle. The AAV-7A1 has a Cummins VT400 diesel engine with an HS-400-3A1 transmission, electric motors for the hydraulics system and elevation controls of the weapons, stronger suspension and shock absorbers, the fuel tank was made a lot safer, and a smoke generator system was added. It was also equipped with eight smoke grenade launchers that were strategically located around the armament station. The Driver of the vehicle was granted with an improved instrument panel, a night vision sight, and a better ventilation system.

A further enhancement for the AAV-7A1 was the Cadillac Gage Weapon Station, also known as the Up-Gunned Weapon Station. It was armed with both a 12.7 mm M2HB machine gun and a Mk-19 40 mm grenade launcher.

The AAV-7A1 received an Enhanced Applique Armor Kit, while the additional weight required that the vehicle use a bow plane kit when on water.

The AAV RAM/RS (Assault Amphibious Vehicle Reliability, Availability, Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard) Program added new parts from the engine and suspension designs from the M2 Bradley Infrantry Fighting Vehicle.

There are several types of AAVs:

AAVP-7A1

The AAVP-7A1 is a Personnel vehicle and is easily the most common in variant of the AAV in the Marines. It’s equipped with a M2HB caliber heavy machine gun, a Mk19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher, four radios, and a AN/VIC-2 intercom system. It also holds a standard crew of three (The Driver, The Gunner, and the Vehicle Commander) along with 25 combat ready soldiers.

AAVC-7A1

The AAVC-7A1 is a Command vehicle that doesn’t have a turret and even a lot of the internal cargo space is taken up by large communications equipment. The AAVC-7A1 carries 5 radios (two MRC-145s, one VRC-89, one PRC-103 UHF, and one MRC-83) along with the MSQ Internetworking System, which is used to control those radios. The AAVC-7A1 carries a crew of three, five radio operations, three staff members, and two commanding officers. The AAVC-7A1 now uses the Harris Falcon II class radios, which includes the PRC-117 to link with VHF/UHF/SATCOM signals and the PRC-150 to link with HF.

AAVR-7A1

The AAVR-7A1 is a Reovery vehicle which doesn’t have a turret yet is equipped with a crain and just about all the tools and equipment you could think of to repair any vehicle on the battlefield. As it is the heaviest of all three Amphibious Assault Vehicles, it sits a lot lower in the water. The crew consists of the Driver, Commander, and Gunner, while repairmen are often aboard as well.

A large amount of these types of vehicles are able to carry the Mine Clearance Line Charge. The kit can launch three demolition charges in a row to break down a pathway through a minefield. These kits were used a lot during the Gulf War and in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Back in the 1970s, the United States Army and other forces used the LVT-7 to base their new designs for a high energy anti-aircraft laser weapon. After a few test firings were shot off, the device was then shipped to NASA.

Combat history

Argentina used twenty LVTP-7s to invade the Falkland Islands and every single one of them returned to Argentina by time the war ended. Many LVTPs have been used in the war in Iraq and several have been lost by RPG, mortar, tank, and artillery fire. One LVTP-7 was even hit by friendly fire from an A-10 Warthog attack place, resulting in the vehicle’s destruction and the death of eighteen Marines. Despite these incidents, the USMC still uses the Amphibious Assault Vehicle today, although it will soon be replaced by the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle in 2015.

Replacement

The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle that has been dubbed to replace the Amphibious Assault Vehicle will be three times faster in water and it will have twice the armor plating. The EFV will also have much stronger firepower than the AAV and will soon become the USMC’s favorite ground weapon. The EFV will be able to maintain and possibly even exceed the speeds of the M1 Abrams and will be able to carry Marine rifles units to and from the shore.