I wonder if it was the garden-variety AAV7 Amphibious Tractor or whether it might have been a training accident with the new Marine Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). Looks kinda like a LAV.
Posted on 07/31/2020 10:26:04 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Search and rescue efforts are still underway Friday morning for the eight missing individuals with support from the Navy and Coast Guard.
At least two others were injured in the accident, which occurred Thursday, and have been transported to Southern California hospitals, according to a news release from the US Marine Corps 1st Expeditionary Force.
...
The incident occurred during a 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group routine training exercise in the vicinity of San Clemente Island, according to the Marines.
The incident began around 5:45 p.m. local time on Thursday when Marines in an amphibious assault vehicle, or AAV, reported they were taking on water. Sixteen people were inside the vehicle at the time of the accident...
All of the service members in the incident are assigned to the 15th MEU based out of Camp Pendleton
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
Prayers up for these Marines.
NOT good. When you swear in, you are putting your life on the line. Combat or not. There are a lot of ways to go in the military. Thanks for your service Marines. Hopefully someone will be found.
Prayers for all involved. Training is not easy. God bless them all.
Death on the Potomac 1968
On a bright spring day a number of years ago eight men and a coxswain set out for a routine training exercise on the Potomac River across from George Washington’s Mt. Vernon Estate. The afternoon temperatures were approaching 50 degrees, the water was calm and 36 degrees, and they were all strong swimmers in top physical condition from the Marine Corps’ water survival program. When their boat capsized and they were thrown into the river “it was,” a Marine Corps spokesman said, “like plunging a hot poker into ice water.” None of them had a chance.
Lousy way to go, I’m sorry brothers. It’s up to us who remain to be eternally vigilant, may God watch over your families in this terrible time.
Very cold water can seize people up pretty easily. We would practise and cut holes on the ice and go in. We would be able to swim decent distances in dang near frozen water. Upon exit though, getting core temperature back up was an immediate concern.
Thanks Obama.
Cancelled: Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle
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.[16] 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.
Thanks Obama.
Interestingly, Mattis does that all the time.
I was with the 15th MEU in 1998. Sounds like someone forgot to put the hull plugs in before launching. We lost one in Subic Bay in 1986 off of USS Bristol County in this manner.
RIP Marines.
Participated in a large amphibious operation on the Atlantic coast of SW Spain, just north of Rota. Our Marine unit based at Camp Lejeune, NC went ashore in Amtracs ... the bow of our LST opened up, a ramp dropped in place, and our vehicle roared of the ramp plunging into the sea about a mile offshore. The Amtrac for a short period of time was actually submerged after coming off the ramp. Interesting experience.
I wonder if it was the garden-variety AAV7 Amphibious Tractor or whether it might have been a training accident with the new Marine Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). Looks kinda like a LAV.
Small world. My ship USS PELELIU took the 15th MEU to the gulf in ‘96.
“The Amtrac for a short period of time was actually submerged after coming off the ramp. Interesting experience.”
We hit the beach in Vietnam in the old P5 Amtracs. Came off the ramp and looking up through those little slit view-ports you could see the surface of the ocean sparkling about 12-15 feet above us. Water leaking in all around the front ramp hatch.
Scared? you bet!
One of the other ‘Tracs engine stalled and iit sank near the beach, with the top hatches awash. Everyone got out safely, though. PTL!
RIP. Prayers for the others.
Yep, Peleliu and Anchorage. I cross-decked from Essex every now and then. The AC aboard Anchorage went out when we were in the Persian Gulf. My pillow was a sweat sponge and everyone was in PT gear. Good times.
Prayers Up!
Even when the tracks don’t sink, it’s a miserable ride.
Crammed in, diesel stink, bobbing around, in the dark except for one red light on the forward bulkhead, someone always pukes.
And after the first one pukes, everyone pukes. And you’re all crammed in, shoulder to shoulder, legs interleaved with the Marines on the bench across from you.
So, you end up wearing your puke and that of those around you.
It’s easy to pick out the boots after exiting the track on the beach because they have heads covered in puke from using their helmets as a bucket.
and as bad as the ride in is, I can only imagine the joy the crew must feel on having to clean all that up.
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