The Marine Corps has suspended all waterborne operations involving their new Amphibious Combat Vehicle, following a rollover in California.
High surf training operations at Camp Pendleton resulted in one of the Italian-designed ACVs becoming disabled, while another rolled over.
According to the Marine Times, the vehicle crews were able to escape without injury.
“Preliminary accounts indicate (the Marines) performed as trained, conducted the correct responsive actions during an uncertain and chaotic situation, and were able to get to shore as safely as possible,” Marine Spokesman Captain Ryan Bruce said.
The incident, which took place earlier this week, has been seen as sufficient justification to pause operations.
“This is the right thing to do,” said Lt. Gen. David J. Furness, deputy commandant of Marine Corps Plans, Policies and Operations. “A pause on ACV waterborne operations will give us time to conduct an investigation, learn from this event, and ensure our assault amphibian community remains ready to support our nation.”
Video provided by the US Naval Institute showed Marines escaping from one of the stricken vehicles.
Designed for US specifications as part of a program to replace the aging Amphibious Assault Vehicles, the ACVs are the product of a long-running program that began over a decade ago.
The Italian Iveco SuperAV platform was ultimately selected and tweaked to meet the needs of the US Marine Corps.
Around 570 are to be produced.
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