Marines say new ACV is the future of amphibious warfare despite 4 flipping in surf off Camp Pendleto

[rangerrebew]

Marines say new ACV is the future of amphibious warfare despite 4 flipping in surf off Camp Pendleton in a year

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER • October 22, 2022
 
(Tribune News Service) — The Marine Corps’ new armored Amphibious Combat Vehicles, intended to become the main transport in the future for getting troops and gear from ship to shore, won’t be available for their first planned deployment this fall and are now being restricted in water training at Camp Pendleton because of safety concerns.

Four of the new ACVs flipped in the surf in just the last year – in all cases, the Marines were able to get out and swim to shore. Three of the 36-ton vehicles were damaged beyond repair.

The ACVs, which use eight wheels and have a shape designed to better survive a bomb blast, are replacing the Marine’s aging fleet of 800 tracked Amphibious Assault Vehicles, which have been in use for decades and now require many hours of maintenance to keep operational. The ACVs have been designed to have a swim capability similar to the AAVs and have equal or greater mobility when compared to the M1 Abrams tank, another vehicle on its way out.

https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2022-10-22/marines-acv-future-amphibious-warfare-despite-flipping-episodes-7772343.html

[Smokin Joe]

THe ACV's issues might be remedied by taking a tip from farmers who put a Calcium Chloride solution in their tractor tires (not full, only partially so), which adds ballast, improves traction and tire life, but doesn't freeze until temperatures are very low. That added ballast, while affecting bouyancy a little, might help keep the vehicles from flipping in the surf.

[Kamaji]

Which Marines are saying this?  The leadership, or those who actually have to use the darned things?