Marine Corps Retires Iconic AAV After 50 Years, Welcomes ACV Era
The Marine Corps has officially retired the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) after over five decades of service. The AAV, first introduced in 1972, has been replaced by the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV).
The AAV's legacy is intertwined with the Marines who operated it, as noted by Col. Lynn Berendsen, commander of the Assault Amphibious School. It first saw combat in August 1942, replacing the Landing Vehicle, Tracked (LVT) in Guadalcanal. Over its nearly five decades of service, the AAV underwent several iterations to improve maneuverability, firepower, and protections. Produced by BAE Systems Platforms & Services, previously by United Defense, a former division of FMC Corporation, the AAV provided Marines with mobility, armored protection, and the ability to close with the enemy and seize objectives at speed.
In 2018, service officials decided to retire the AAV and replace it with a more modern vehicle. The ACV has been in the field since late 2020, but it has faced setbacks, including issues with tow ropes and vehicle rollovers. Tragically, in 2020, eight Marines and a sailor were killed when their AAV sank off the coast of California, leading to investigations and the firing of Maj. Gen. Robert Castellvi.
The AAV's decommissioning marks the end of an era for the Marine Corps. Its successor, the ACV, is expected to build upon the AAV's legacy, providing enhanced capabilities for amphibious operations. Despite the recent setbacks, the ACV is seen as a crucial step forward in modernizing the Marine Corps' amphibious capabilities.
