The Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV)--official designation AAV-P7/A1 (formerly known as Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel-7 abbr. LVTP-7)--is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle manufactured by U.S. Combat Systems (previously by United Defense, a former division of FMC Corporation).
The AAV-P7/A1 is the current amphibious troop transport of the United States Marine Corps. It is used by U.S. Marine Corps Assault Amphibian Battalions to land the surface assault elements of the landing force and their equipment in a single lift from assault shipping during amphibious operations to inland objectives and to conduct mechanized operations and related combat support in subsequent mechanized operations ashore. It is also operated by other forces. Marines call them "amtracks," a shortening of their original designation, "amphibious tractor."
Video Assault Amphibious Vehicle
Development
The LVTP-7 was first introduced in 1972 as a replacement for the LVTP-5. In 1982, FMC was contracted to conduct the LVTP-7 Service Life Extension Program, which converted the LVT-7 vehicles to the improved AAV-7A1 vehicle by adding an improved engine, transmission, and weapons system and improving the overall maintainability of the vehicle. The Cummins VT400 diesel engine replaced the GM 8V53T, and this was driven through FMC's HS-400-3A1 transmission. The hydraulic traverse and elevation of the weapon station was replaced by electric motors, which eliminated the danger from hydraulic fluid fires. The suspension and shock absorbers were strengthened as well. The fuel tank was made safer, and a fuel-burning smoke generator system was added. Eight smoke grenade launchers were also placed around the armament station. The headlight clusters were housed in a square recess instead of the earlier round type. The driver was provided with an improved instrument panel and a night vision device, and a new ventilation system was installed. These upgraded vehicles were originally called LVT-7A1, but the Marine Corps renamed the LVTP-7A1 to AAV-7A1 in 1984.
Another improvement was added starting in 1987 in the form of a Cadillac Gage weapon station or Up-Gunned Weapon Station (UGWS) which was armed with both a .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2HB machine gun and a Mk-19 40 mm grenade launcher.
Enhanced Applique Armor Kits (EAAK) were developed for the AAV-7A1 in 1989 and fitted by 1993, and the added weight of the new armor necessitated the addition of a bow plane kit when operating afloat.
The Assault Amphibian Vehicle Reliability, Availability, Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard (AAV RAM/RS) Program was approved in 1997. It encompassed all AAV systems and components to return the AAV to the original vehicle's performance specifications and ensure acceptable readiness until the EFV should become operational. The program replaced both the AAV engine and suspension with US Army M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) components modified for the AAV. Ground clearance returned to 16 inches (40.6 cm) and the horsepower to ton ratio increased from 13 to 1 to its original 17 to 1. Introduction of the BFV components and the rebuild to standard effort was expected to reduce maintenance costs for the expected remaining life of the AAV through the year 2013.
"Limited Reset"
Due to the cancellation of the EFV, the AAV will remain in service for some years to come. In July 2013, the U.S. Marine Corps began seeking industry assistance for a "limited reset" of the service's AAVs to enhance reliability.
On 28 January 2016, U.S. Marine and SAIC officials unveiled the AAV survivability upgrade (SU). Survivability enhancements include replacing the angled Enhanced Applique Armor Kit with 49 advanced buoyant ceramic armor panels, a bonded spall liner, and armor-protected external fuel tanks, all developed by Armatec Survivability, as well as a 2.25 in (5.7 cm)-thick aluminum armor underbelly providing MRAP-equivalent blast protection with 18 blast mitigating seats in an alternating high and low pattern with elevated foot stands. The Naval Research Laboratory is experimenting with a specific type of rubber called polyurea that stretches with the armor without cracking, which can better absorb the kinetic energy of bullets and blast fragments. To handle the extra weight and increase land speed, it has a VT903 engine that boosts power from 525 hp to 675 hp, as well as a new power take-off unit and transmission. Shocks have been replaced by a new suspension system that uses rotary dampers and upgraded torsion bars, which raises the hull by 3 inches (7.6 cm) and gives a smoother ride. The troop compartment of provisions for the crew and embarked Marines is also revamped, increasing supplies to operate from one day to three. Speed on water is expected to increase due to new axial flow water jets, and reserve buoyancy is increased from 18 to 22 percent.
SAIC was awarded the contract to perform AAV upgrades in March 2015. The upgrade costs $1.65 million per vehicle, and will be applied to enough AAV personnel variants to lift four infantry battalions. Testing will be conducted throughout 2016, with low-rate initial production (LRIP) was approved on 17 August 2017. Initial operational capability is expected in 2019, and full operational capability in 2023. Roughly 40 percent of the 1,064-vehicle fleet are to go through the survivability upgrade to lift six infantry battalions and keep them in service up to 20 years, while vehicles of the non-upgraded portion of the fleet will be replaced as the Amphibious Combat Vehicle enters service. Numbers modified each year will vary from 22 to 96 vehicles. Although it was originally planned that only personnel-variant vehicles would be upgraded, it was decided a few dozen command and control vehicles would be included.
The AAV's service life is now planned to end in 2030. The Marines released a request for proposals for the AAV Survivability Upgrade Program on 29 October 2013.
Maps Assault Amphibious Vehicle
Variants
- LVTP-7: Original series introduced from 1972. Originally armed with a M85 .50cal machine gun.
- LVTP-7A1: 1982 upgraded. Renamed to AAVP-7A1 from 1984.
- AAVP-7A1 (Personnel): This is the most common AAV, as it carries a turret equipped with an M2HB .50 caliber heavy machine gun, and a Mk19 40mm automatic grenade launcher. It carries four crew radios as well as the AN/VIC-2 intercom system. It is capable of carrying 25 combat equipped Marines in addition to the crew of 4: driver, crew chief/vehicle commander, gunner, and rear crewman.
- AAVC-7A1 (Command): This vehicle does not have a turret, and much of the cargo space of the vehicle is occupied by communications equipment. This version only has two crew radios, and in addition to the VIC-2, it also carries two VRC-92s, a VRC-89, a PRC-103 UHF radio, a MRC-83 HF radio and the MSQ internetworking system used to control the various radios. This AAV has a crew of 3, and additionally carries 5 radio operators, three staff members, and two commanding officers. Recently, the C7 has been upgraded to use Harris Falcon II class radios, specifically the PRC-117 for VHF/UHF/SATCOM, and the PRC-150 for HF.
- AAVR-7A1 (Recovery): This vehicle also does not have a turret. The R7 is considered the "wrecker", as it has a crane as well as most tools and equipment needed for field repairs. It is by far the heaviest of the three, and sits considerably lower in the water. Crew of three, not including the repairmen.
Many P7s have been modified to carry the Mk 154 MCLC, or Mine Clearance Line Charge. The MCLC kit can fire three linear demolition charges to breach a lane through a minefield. MCLCs were used in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and again in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
In the 1970s, the US Army used an LVTP-7 as the basis for their Mobile Test Unit (MTU), a ground-based anti-aircraft high energy laser. After several successful test firings at Redstone Army Arsenal, the laser was reportedly transferred to NASA.
- AAVP7A1 RAM/RS
- AAV SU
- KAAV7A1: KAAV7A1 amphibious vehicle series based on AAV-7A1 by Samsung Techwin (now Hanwha Techwin) and BAE systems developed and manufactured in South Korea by Samsung Techwin.
Combat history
Twenty U.S.-built LVTP-7s were used by Argentina during the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands with all of them returning to the Argentine mainland before the war ended. From 1982-1984, LVTP-7s were deployed with U.S. Marines as part of the multi-national peacekeeping force in Beirut, Lebanon. As Marines became increasingly involved in hostilities, several vehicles sustained minor damage from shrapnel and small arms fire. On October 25, 1983 U.S. Marine LVTP-7s conducted a highly successful amphibious landing on the island of Grenada as part of Operation Urgent Fury. It was heavily used in the 1991 Gulf War and Operation Restore Hope. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, AAV-7A1s were criticized for providing poor protection for the crew and passengers compared with other vehicles such as the M2 Bradley. Eight were disabled or destroyed during the Battle of Nasiriyah, where they faced RPG, mortar, tank and artillery fire. At least one vehicle was destroyed by fire from friendly A-10 Warthog attack planes. In August 2005, 14 Marines were killed when their AAV struck a roadside bomb in the Euphrates River valley.
Cancelled replacement
Renamed from the Advanced Assault Amphibious Vehicle in late 2003, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) was designed to replace the ageing AAV. Able to transport a full Marine rifle squad to shore from an amphibious assault ship beyond the horizon with three times the speed in water and about twice the armor of the AAV, and superior firepower as well it was the Marine Corps' number one priority ground weapon system acquisition. The EFV was intended for deployment in 2015. However, in January 2011 United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced plans to cancel the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. In 2012, the USMC dropped the EFV and cancelled the program.
Training systems
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the Virtual Training and Environments (VIRTE) program, led by then LCDR Dylan Schmorrow, developed a prototype training system called the AAV Turret Trainer. The system consists of an actual surplus turret mounted with ISMT (Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer) weapons firing on a projected screen displaying the VIRTE Virtual Environment. At total of 15 systems were produced for the USMC and one system for Taiwan.
Operators
Current operators
- Argentina: Naval Infantry Command: 21 LVTP7s, upgraded locally by MECATROL with Caterpillar C7 diesel engines and minor changes to running gear and other components
- Brazil: Brazilian Marine Corps: 49
- Indonesia: 15 in service with the Indonesian Marine Corps. Donated by South Korea
- Italy: Due to be replaced by the Italian Marines.
- ROC: Republic of China Marine Corps: 54 and 1 AAV Turret Trainer. 36 currently on order for $375 million USD.
- United States: United States Marine Corps: 1,311
- Spain: Spanish Navy Marines: 19 (16 personnel, 2 command and 1 recovery)
- Thailand: Royal Thai Marine Corps: 36, AAVP-7A1, AAVC-7A1, AAVR-7A1. Upgraded locally by Chaiseri
- South Korea: South Korean Marine Corps
Future operators
- Japan: JGSDF: After a period of testing 6 AAVP-7A1s, Japan on 7 April 2016 announced it would purchase 30 systems. Vehicles are AAV7A1 Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard (RAM/RS) versions, with a more powerful engine and drive train and an upgraded suspension system, providing improved mobility, command, control, and repair capabilities. Deliveries to take place in mid to late 2017.
- Philippines: Philippine Marine Corps: 8 units (KAAV7AI variant) on order.
See also
- 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion
- WWII/Korea LVT Museum
Notes
External links
- FAS AAV article
- AAV Fact File at the official USMC website
- Paper regarding high energy lasers and the MTU
- Images of the MTU
- AAV 7A1 on Armour.ws
- USMC Amtrac Association Website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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