Marines Remove AAVs From Deployment, Water Ops
The amphibious assault vehicle associated with the deadly 2020 sinking will no longer be used for deployments or offshore training.
By Jennifer Hlad
News Editor
December 15, 2021 04:42 PM ET
Marine Corps
The Marine Corps will stop operating its amphibious assault vehicles, known as AAVs, on scheduled deployments or or in the water, except as needed for crisis response, the service announced Wednesday.
The decision comes after investigations into the deadly July 2020 AAV accident in California revealed a litany of training and maintenance failures, along with leadership and accountability problems. The training accident off the coast of Camp Pendleton, California, killed eight Marines and a sailor.
Though the Marines believe “the AAV is a safe and effective vehicle for amphibious operations” when operated as recommended by the investigators, Commandant Gen. David Berger “has decided the AAV will no longer serve as part of regularly scheduled deployments or train in the water during military exercises,” spokesman Maj. Jim Stenger said in an email statement.
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/12/marines-remove-aavs-deployment-water-ops/359813/
