The Marine Corps has achieved a significant milestone with the first overseas deployment of the new Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) during the annual Balikatan training exercises in the Philippines,this event marks a pivotal moment for the ACVs.
According to a statement by the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) spokesman Capt. Brian Tuthill, the deployment saw ACVs launched from the amphibious landing ship USS Harpers Ferry in a waterborne live-fire exercise at Oyster Bay, on the island of Palawan. A platoon of combat vehicles carried out a simulated assault on shore targets with remote-controlled Mark 19 40mm grenade machine guns mounted externally. The soldiers shot training rounds that marked targets with orange chalk upon impact, providing a safer but effective alternative to high explosives.
“The hard work and dedication of our Marines is what made today’s training successful,” Col. Sean Dynan, 15th MEU commander, noted. “Today’s training is a proof of concept across the Marine Corps for successful ACV employment in its intended environment.”
The Balikatan exercise, involving 16,000 U.S. and Philippine troops, comes at a time when there have been escalating tensions in the region, particularly Chinese coast guard vessels interfering with Philippine resupply efforts at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
The ACVs represent a significant upgrade from the Corps’ aging amphibious assault vehicles, which were decommissioned following an incident that led to the loss of nine Marines in July 2020. BAE Systems was contracted to develop the ACV, leading to a full production contract worth $184 million.
The ACVs fit into the Marine Corps’ force redesign, transforming the service into a distributed, light strike force capable of operating across the Pacific islands.The multi-wheeled vehicles are designed to transport troops from ship to shore and to maneuver effectively close to shore during assaults.
Despite setbacks, such as the USS Boxer’s notable absence due to repairs and previous operational pauses from training mishaps, the 15th MEU successfully completed its mission.
This initial operational deployment overseas validates the ACV’s capabilities and its integration into Marine operations. The exercise will provide valuable insights into the ACV’s performance, particularly in terms of employment, embarkation, maintenance needs, logistics, and collaboration with allies.
Relevant articles:
– Marines put new amphibious vehicle to work in Philippines during first overseas deployment, Stripes, 05/08/2024
– VIDEO: Marine ACVs Make Operational Premiere in Balikatan 2024 Exercise, USNI News, 05/07/2024
– Marines’ New Amphibious Combat Vehicle Makes Operational Debut in Annual Philippines Exercise, Military.com, 05/06/2024
– US Holds ‘Ground-Breaking Drills’ In China’s Backyard; F/A-18 Super Hornet Involved In Historic Milestone, EurAsian Times, 05/06/2024
– Amphibious Combat Vehicles Mark Operational Debut in Pacific, SEAPOWER Magazine Online, 05/07/2024