From the shores of Grenada to the deserts of Iraq, the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) shielded and carried Marines from ship to sea to shore for over 50 years.
After a ceremony on September 26, 2025, the AAV has been officially decommissioned. Col. Lynn Berendsen, the commander of the Assault Amphibian School at Camp Pendleton, California, remarked during the ceremony that the AAVs were integral to the legacy of the Marines who operated them. He stated, “The AAV gave Marines both mobility and armored protection, allowing them to close with the enemy and seize objectives at speed.” Berendsen emphasized that the AAV was more than just a connector; it was a fighting vehicle central to the Marine Air Ground Task Force.
The Assault Amphibious Vehicles are being replaced by a newer model known as the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV), an eight-wheeled vehicle that has been in the field for the past several years. The commemoration on September 26 marked the official end of the historic AAV.
Col. Berendsen acknowledged the various roles the AAV-P7 played throughout its service, including as a ship-to-shore connector, armored fighting vehicle, troop carrier, logistics platform, and even a lifeboat. He remarked that it had been integral to historic combat actions, stating, “It was in a place where Marines made their mark in combat in service and in sacrifice.”
The AAV became part of the Marine Corps’ arsenal after United Defense (formerly a division of FMC Corporation, now part of BAE) was awarded a $78.5 million contract for its production in 1972. The AAV replaced the Landing Vehicle, Tracked (LVT), which first saw combat in August 1942 during the Guadalcanal Campaign. The LVT played a significant role in delivering Marines to crucial beachheads throughout various conflicts, including World War II and the Vietnam War.
Over its nearly five decades of service, the AAV underwent multiple upgrades to improve maneuverability, firepower, and protections as combat needs evolved. However, in 2018, military officials decided it was time to retire the AAV and replace it with a more modern vehicle better suited for expeditionary and large-scale combat operations.
The AAV came under intense scrutiny in 2020 when eight Marines and a sailor were killed after their vehicle sank off the coast of California during an exercise. A subsequent command investigation revealed that the sinking was caused by poor training, a vehicle in “horrible condition,” and lapses in safety procedures. A second investigation led to the dismissal of Maj. Gen. Robert Castellvi from his position as Inspector General of the Marine Corps due to failures in adequately training Marines for deployment.
The Amphibious Combat Vehicle also faced challenges after its fielding in late 2020. Operations with the ACV were paused from September 2021 to January 2022 due to issues with the tow rope. A vehicle rollover in July 2022 caused further suspensions, but the vehicles returned to water operations in late September of the same year. However, further mishaps led to continued hesitance in training in choppy waters. The ACV made its official overseas debut in May 2024 during a live-fire exercise in Oyster Bay, Philippines.
Col. Berendsen concluded by noting the AAV’s legacy, stating, “Its legacy is not only in its capabilities but also in the countless Marines who operated it and relied on it to accomplish their missions.”
Claire Barrett is the Strategic Operations Editor for Sightline Media and a World War II researcher with a deep affinity for Sir Winston Churchill and Michigan football.
