Marines conduct a capabilities display with the Amphibious Combat Vehicle at Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 17, 2020. U.S. Marine Corps / Staff Sgt. Kyle C. Talbot
The Marine Corps has suspended waterborne operations for all their new amphibious combat vehicles, after Marines found a problem with the vehicle’s sea tow quick release mechanism.
The suspension was made “out of an abundance of caution,” and the service is trying to find and fix the cause of the problem with the mechanism, Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Jim Stenger said in a statement Friday.
“In operations of the ACV, Marines reported they either could not actuate the quick release or the tow rope detached unexpectedly,” Stenger said in an email response to questions from Defense One.
This is the first suspension for the ACVs, which were built to replace the aging Amphibious Assault Vehicles. An AAV sank in July 2020 during a pre-deployment training exercise off the California coast, killing eight Marines and a sailor. AAVs were suspended from water training for about nine months after that accident.
The program office for the ACV received an after-action report from the field that described the tow mechanism problem, he said. The suspension affects all 54 fielded ACVs in the Marine Corps; the first of the vehicles were fielded late last year.
“Realistic training is a vital component of readiness, and the Marine Corps is committed to ensuring Marines train under the safest conditions possible; this includes ensuring the functionality of vehicles and equipment,” Stenger said in the statement.